Quarterly Financial Data (Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Net operating revenues	$ 3,453	$ 3,451	$ 3,562	$ 3,689	$ 3,059	$ 3,666	$ 4,144	$ 4,486	$ 14,155	$ 15,353	$ 18,438
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(369)	(204)	(129)	(13)	(2,379)	(147)	(131)	(176)	(715)	(2,833)	(1,715)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of taxes	(299)	(308)	(91)	(6)	(2,004)	(88)	(116)	(176)	(704)	(2,384)	(1,611)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes					(3)	(2)	(6)	(1)		(12)	(15)
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (328)	$ (325)	$ (110)	$ (25)	$ (2,013)	$ (110)	$ (137)	$ (199)	$ (788)	$ (2,459)	$ (1,721)
Basic loss per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ (2.91)	$ (2.88)	$ (0.97)	$ (0.22)	$ (17.95)	$ (0.96)	$ (1.17)	$ (1.78)	$ (6.99)	$ (21.89)	$ (15.41)
Discontinued operations					(0.03)	(0.02)	(0.06)	(0.01)		(0.11)	(0.13)
Net loss	(2.91)	(2.88)	(0.97)	(0.22)	(17.98)	(0.98)	(1.22)	(1.79)	(6.99)	(22.00)	(15.54)
Diluted loss per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations	(2.91)	(2.88)	(0.97)	(0.22)	(17.95)	(0.96)	(1.17)	(1.78)	(6.99)	(21.89)	(15.41)
Discontinued operations					(0.03)	(0.02)	(0.06)	(0.01)		(0.11)	(0.13)
Net loss	$ (2.91)	$ (2.88)	$ (0.97)	$ (0.22)	$ (17.98)	$ (0.98)	$ (1.22)	$ (1.79)	$ (6.99)	$ (22.00)	$ (15.54)
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	112,909,869	112,865,482	112,837,944	112,291,496	111,971,628	111,935,738	111,909,858	111,252,331	112,728,274	111,769,821	110,730,971
Diluted	112,909,869	112,865,482	112,837,944	112,291,496	111,971,628	111,935,738	111,909,858	111,252,331	112,728,274	111,769,821	110,730,971