Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									$ 18,398	$ 21,275	$ 22,564
Provision for bad debts									3,045	2,837	3,127
Net operating revenues	$ 3,059	$ 3,666	$ 4,144	$ 4,486	$ 4,469	$ 4,380	$ 4,590	$ 4,999	15,353	18,438	19,437
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									7,376	8,624	8,991
Supplies									2,672	3,011	3,048
Other operating expenses									3,864	4,248	4,520
Government and other legal settlements and related costs									(31)	16	4
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(28)	(70)	(160)
Rent									394	450	457
Depreciation and amortization									861	1,100	1,172
Impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, net									2,123	1,919	68
Total operating costs and expenses									17,231	19,298	18,100
(Loss) income from operations									(1,878)	(860)	1,337
Interest expense, net									931	962	973
Loss from early extinguishment of debt									40	30	16
Gain on sale of investments in unconsolidated affiliates										(94)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(16)	(43)	(63)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(2,379)	(147)	(131)	(176)	(152)	(83)	(1,543)	63	(2,833)	(1,715)	411
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									(449)	(104)	116
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(2,004)	(88)	(116)	(176)	(189)	(54)	(1,405)	37	(2,384)	(1,611)	295
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale									(6)	(7)	(27)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale									(6)	(8)	(5)
Loss on sale, net											(4)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(3)	(2)	(6)	(1)	(9)	(2)	(1)	(1)	(12)	(15)	(36)
Net (loss) income									(2,396)	(1,626)	259
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									63	95	101
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (2,013)	$ (110)	$ (137)	$ (199)	$ (220)	$ (79)	$ (1,432)	$ 11	(2,459)	(1,721)	158
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									2,459	1,721	(158)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(2,459)	(1,721)	158
(Loss) income from continuing operations									(2,459)	(1,721)	158
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net (loss) income									(2,459)	(1,721)	158
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									(2,459)	(1,721)	158
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									(22)	(25)	(20)
Net operating revenues									(22)	(25)	(20)
Operating costs and expenses:
(Loss) income from operations									(22)	(25)	(20)
Interest expense, net									327	241	107
Loss from early extinguishment of debt									40	30	16
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									1,955	1,466	(220)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(2,344)	(1,762)	77
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									115	(41)	(81)
(Loss) income from continuing operations									(2,459)	(1,721)	158
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net (loss) income									(2,459)	(1,721)	158
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									(2,459)	(1,721)	158
Other Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									10,765	11,089	11,063
Provision for bad debts									2,063	1,707	1,944
Net operating revenues									8,702	9,382	9,119
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									3,614	3,754	3,688
Supplies									1,628	1,660	1,586
Other operating expenses									2,376	2,238	2,120
Government and other legal settlements and related costs									(31)	16	4
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(12)	(37)	(76)
Rent									198	199	189
Depreciation and amortization									501	614	615
Impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, net									1,212	1,262	55
Total operating costs and expenses									9,486	9,706	8,181
(Loss) income from operations									(784)	(324)	938
Interest expense, net									587	631	717
Gain on sale of investments in unconsolidated affiliates										(94)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									865	585	(125)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(2,236)	(1,446)	346
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									(297)	19	130
(Loss) income from continuing operations									(1,939)	(1,465)	216
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale									(4)	(9)	(7)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale									(5)	(1)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes									(9)	(10)	(7)
Net (loss) income									(1,948)	(1,475)	209
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									(1,948)	(1,475)	209
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									7,655	10,211	11,521
Provision for bad debts									982	1,130	1,183
Net operating revenues									6,673	9,081	10,338
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									3,762	4,870	5,303
Supplies									1,044	1,351	1,462
Other operating expenses									1,488	2,010	2,400
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(16)	(33)	(84)
Rent									196	251	268
Depreciation and amortization									360	486	557
Impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, net									911	657	13
Total operating costs and expenses									7,745	9,592	9,919
(Loss) income from operations									(1,072)	(511)	419
Interest expense, net									17	90	149
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(1,089)	(601)	270
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									(267)	(82)	67
(Loss) income from continuing operations									(822)	(519)	203
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale									(2)	2	(20)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale									(1)	(7)	(5)
Loss on sale, net											(4)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes									(3)	(5)	(29)
Net (loss) income									(825)	(524)	174
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									63	95	101
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									(888)	(619)	73
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(5,295)	(3,815)	440
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									5,295	3,815	(440)
(Loss) income from continuing operations									5,295	3,815	(440)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net (loss) income									5,295	3,815	(440)
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									$ 5,295	$ 3,815	$ (440)