Dec 12 (Reuters) - U.S. health insurer Centene ( CNC )

forecast a better-than-expected profit for 2025 on Thursday,

betting on the strength of its commercial plans to neutralize

higher costs in its government-backed health plans.

The insurer expects 2025 adjusted profit greater than $7.25

per share, compared with analysts' average estimate of $6.97,

according to data compiled by LSEG.

Centene ( CNC ) gave the forecast ahead of its investor day, which

was changed to a virtual event after the fatal shooting of Brian

Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group's ( UNH ) health

insurance unit, in New York last week.

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny and Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru;

Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)