COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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DEAR FELLOW STOCKHOLDERS,

We are pleased to announce the Community Health Systems, Inc. 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. (Central Daylight Time) at the Hilton Franklin Cool Springs, 601 Corporate Centre Drive, Franklin, Tennessee 37067. The attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement describe the business to be considered and voted on during that meeting. We encourage you to read the Proxy Statement carefully for more information.

It is important that your shares be represented at the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan on attending the meeting, please promptly vote your shares. Additional information on how to vote your shares can be found in the Proxy Statement.

We do not believe that communication with our stockholders begins and ends with the Annual Meeting. We appreciate the dialogue we have with our stockholders throughout the year and look forward to continuing this dialogue in the future. The Proxy Statement provides additional information regarding how to contact the Company.

Thank you for your investment in Community Health Systems, Inc. and your continued support.

Sincerely,

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

8:00 a.m. (Central Daylight Time)

Hilton Franklin Cool Springs, 601 Corporate Centre Drive, Franklin, Tennessee 37067

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Community Health Systems, Inc. (the “Annual Meeting”) will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. (Central Daylight Time) at the Hilton Franklin Cool Springs, 601 Corporate Centre Drive, Franklin, Tennessee 37067.

The Annual Meeting will be held for the purpose of considering and acting upon the following matters:

To elect fourteen (14) directors, each to serve for a term of one year to expire at the 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

To hold an advisory vote on executive compensation;

To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026;

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The close of business on March 16, 2026 has been fixed as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

YOU ARE REQUESTED, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, TO VOTE VIA THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE, OR COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE (IF APPLICABLE). IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING AND WISH TO VOTE YOUR SHARES PERSONALLY, YOU MAY DO SO AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE PROXY IS EXERCISED. IF YOU HOLD YOUR SHARES THROUGH A BANK, BROKER OR OTHER NOMINEE, YOU MAY VOTE YOUR SHARES BY THE METHODS SPECIFIED ON THE VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM THAT THEY PROVIDE. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YOUR SHARES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

By Order of the Board of Directors, Christopher G. Cobb Vice President-Legal and Corporate Secretary

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF

PROXY STATEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Proxy Statement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risk and uncertainties. All statements in this Proxy Statement other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding projections, expected operating results, and other events that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “thinks,” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and may be beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, the Company cannot give any assurance that its expectations will in fact occur and cautions that actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. A number of factors could affect the future results of the Company or the healthcare industry generally and could cause the Company’s expected results to differ materially from those expressed in this Proxy Statement. These factors including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties disclosed in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 19, 2026. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise.