For-profit payers and providers have wrapped up yet another round of earnings calls. Insurance executives cited positive signs in the Medicaid space and plenty of policy uncertainty as open enrollment season gets underway, while providers noted softer surgical volumes and ongoing pressure from declining ACA enrollment.

Editor Dave Muoio, Senior Reporter Paige Minemyer and Reporter Cailey Gleeson sit down to discuss the key takeaways from third-quarter earnings reports.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
Tenet Healthcare sails past Q3 earnings estimates, boosts 2026 guidance
Humana pacing ahead of expectations during Medicare enrollment window, CEO says
Cigna offers investors a look at its new Lead to One strategy
CVS Health plans to split pharmacy business from Aetna, Caremark
Community Health Systems logs $86M net loss in Q3, hopes for return of 'pent-up' electives in 2027
UnitedHealth Group execs detail continued improvements at Optum Health
HCA Healthcare tops Q3 expectations on strong demand, but warns of persistent payer mix issues
Universal Health Services headed for 'lower end' of 2026 guidance after Q3's volume growth, softer m…
Why Centene's CEO sees opportunity for 'long-term growth' in Medicaid
Elevance Health poised for Medicaid improvements in 2027

For-profit payers and providers have wrapped up yet another round of earnings calls. Insurance executives cited positive signs in the Medicaid space and plenty of policy uncertainty as open enrollment season gets underway, while providers noted softer surgical volumes and ongoing pressure from declining ACA enrollment.
Editor Dave Muoio, Senior Reporter Paige Minemyer and Reporter Cailey Gleeson sit down to discuss the key takeaways from third-quarter earnings reports.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/tenet-healthcare-sails-past-q3-earnings-estimates-boosts-2026-guidance" data-processed-url="true">Tenet Healthcare sails past Q3 earnings estimates, boosts 2026 guidance</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/humana-boosts-guidance-it-beats-street-both-profit-revenue-q3" data-processed-url="true">Humana pacing ahead of expectations during Medicare enrollment window, CEO says</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/cigna-beats-street-14b-profit-737b-revenue-q3" data-processed-url="true">Cigna offers investors a look at its new Lead to One strategy</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/cvs-reveals-plans-split-two-companies" data-processed-url="true">CVS Health plans to split pharmacy business from Aetna, Caremark</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/community-health-systems-logs-86m-net-loss-q3-hopes-return-pent-electives-2027" data-processed-url="true">Community Health Systems logs $86M net loss in Q3, hopes for return of 'pent-up' electives in 2027</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/unitedhealth-group-beats-street-41b-profit-q3" data-processed-url="true">UnitedHealth Group execs detail continued improvements at Optum Health</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/hca-healthcare-tops-q3-expectations-strong-demand-warns-persistent-payer-mix-issues" data-processed-url="true">HCA Healthcare tops Q3 expectations on strong demand, but warns of persistent payer mix issues</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/universal-health-services-grows-revenues-trims-earnings-q3" data-processed-url="true">Universal Health Services headed for 'lower end' of 2026 guidance after Q3's volume growth, softer m&hellip;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/centene-posts-71m-loss-506b-revenue-q3" data-processed-url="true">Why Centene's CEO sees opportunity for 'long-term growth' in Medicaid</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/elevance-health-posts-14b-profit-q3-earnings-beat" data-processed-url="true">Elevance Health poised for Medicaid improvements in 2027</a></li>
</ul>

Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podnosis

Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.