In 2026, healthcare organizations (HCOs) will see rising AI governance risks, increasing consumer disengagement from traditional insurance, and deepening access inequities due to the broader strain on healthcare infrastructure. Failure to appropriately manage AI risk will force a major healthcare company to cut ties with an affiliate. In addition, megabrands will expand vertically to control costs, and a leading health system will boost patient engagement with AI through medical record summarization. The industry is at an inflection point as HCOs rethink oversight, affordability, and care delivery models. In this report, we dive into Forrester’s predictions for healthcare in 2026.