HCA’s bottom line suffers as ACA coverage losses mount

HCA’s bottom line suffers as ACA coverage losses mount

The hospital operator has lost about $950 million in pretax earnings this year as more patients leave the exchanges. Uncompensated care and delays in elective surgeries from the trend are hitting hospitals’ earnings.

Q3 2026 hospital earnings show ACA coverage losses and rising Medicaid risks

Changes to federal coverage and Medicaid financing are manifesting in hospital volumes, payer mix and earnings, according to Q3 2026 investor calls held over the past week by hospital companies. The most immediate issue is that coverage losses in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance marketplaces continue to create uncompensated-care pressure. For example, HCA Healthcare…