The healthcare industry is reckoning with a litany of challenges heading into 2026.
Major policy revisions, technological innovations that promise to change how care is delivered and shifting headwinds have providers, insurers and health IT companies preparing for the years ahead. This year, healthcare organizations will focus on reshoring finances and stabilizing operations to meet headwinds.
One of those headwinds includes the loss of more generous subsidies on the Affordable Care Act exchanges. The subsidies expired at the end of last year, causing premiums to skyrocket for beneficiaries and threatening to decimate enrollment in the plans.
Insurers are waiting to see how the expiration of the subsidies shakes out, though experts worry the lapse could cause a “death spiral” where healthier beneficiaries drop exchange coverage, leaving sicker individuals in the plans. Some insurers may see an opportunity to expand into the ACA market while others may leave entirely, experts told Healthcare Dive.
At the same time, insurers are hoping efforts to recover margins will begin to pan out in 2026 after enduring years of higher healthcare spending.
Providers are also reckoning with multiple headwinds, including the loss of ACA subsidies, looming Medicaid cuts and other policy changes from the Trump administration. As margins improve, providers will use this year to bolster efficiency initiatives to prepare for impending hits to their bottom line.
Easing acute workforce shortages in particular could give providers more time to address longer-term imbalances in the sector and reduce administrative burden for clinicians. Successful preparation could make the difference between strong practices and those that are forced to shut their doors, experts say.
For artificial intelligence companies in healthcare, this year will see more competition from legacy companies hoping to embrace the technology. As electronic healthcare giants like Epic and Oracle release AI products, startups will look to tailor their offerings to woo providers. AI companies may see benefits in combining to add new capabilities and offer a more complete package to buyers.
These are the most important healthcare trends to watch in 2026:
