Major insurers UnitedHealth Group (UNH.N) and Humana (HUM.N) have already warned of booking higher costs due to a jump in non-urgent surgeries in the United States, highlighting demand for such procedures. HCA Healthcare, which is the biggest for-profit hospital operator in the United States, raised its full-year adjusted core earnings forecast to between $12.3 billion and $12.8 billion, from prior expectations of between $12.1 and $12.7 billion. "We anticipate the market wanted more even though HCA's outlook remains prudent as the healthcare system normalizes," said Citi analyst Jason Cassorla. Shares of rivals Tenet Healthcare (THC.N) and Universal Health Services (UHS.N) fell 2% and 1%, respectively, in morning trading. Profits at hospital operators took a hit following COVID-led lockdowns as people delayed non-urgent surgeries, and as the pandemic deepened a nursing shortage that led to a spike in costs.

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Persons: Jason Cassorla, lockdowns, Khushi Mandowara, Manas Mishra, Shinjini Ganguli, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Healthcare Inc, UnitedHealth, HCA Healthcare, Citi, Tenet Healthcare, Universal Health Services, Thomson Locations: United States, Bengaluru