Acquisitions and Divestitures (Schedule of Operating Results included in Consolidated Statement of Income) (Details) - Hospitals in Period [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Loss from operations before income taxes	$ (544)	$ (517)	$ 27
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(1)	(2)
Loss from operations before income taxes attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (545)	$ (518)	$ 25

Amount before tax of income (loss) from an individually significant component disposed of or held-for-sale attributable to noncontrolling interest. Excludes discontinued operations.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromIndividuallySignificantComponentDisposedOfOrHeldForSaleExcludingDiscontinuedOperationsAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestBeforeIncomeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before tax of income (loss) from an individually significant component disposed of or held-for-sale attributable to parent. Excludes discontinued operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64862545&loc=SL51724579-110230

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromIndividuallySignificantComponentDisposedOfOrHeldForSaleExcludingDiscontinuedOperationsAttributableToParentBeforeIncomeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before tax of income (loss) from an individually significant component disposed of or held-for-sale including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Excludes discontinued operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64862545&loc=SL51724579-110230

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromIndividuallySignificantComponentDisposedOfOrHeldForSaleExcludingDiscontinuedOperationsBeforeIncomeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=cyh_HospitalsInPeriodMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: