Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ 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
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
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
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									6,384	7,376	8,624
Supplies									2,355	2,672	3,011
Other operating expenses									3,496	3,864	4,248
Government and other legal settlements and related costs									11	(31)	16
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(4)	(28)	(70)
Rent									337	394	450
Depreciation and amortization									700	861	1,100
Impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, net									668	2,123	1,919
Total operating costs and expenses									13,947	17,231	19,298
Income (loss) from operations									208	(1,878)	(860)
Interest expense, net									976	931	962
(Gain) Loss from early extinguishment of debt									(31)	40	30
Gain on sale of investments in unconsolidated affiliates											(94)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(22)	(16)	(43)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(369)	(204)	(129)	(13)	(2,379)	(147)	(131)	(176)	(715)	(2,833)	(1,715)
Benefit from income taxes									(11)	(449)	(104)
Loss from continuing operations	(299)	(308)	(91)	(6)	(2,004)	(88)	(116)	(176)	(704)	(2,384)	(1,611)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale										(6)	(7)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale									0	(6)	(8)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes					(3)	(2)	(6)	(1)		(12)	(15)
Net loss									(704)	(2,396)	(1,626)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									84	63	95
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (328)	$ (325)	$ (110)	$ (25)	$ (2,013)	$ (110)	$ (137)	$ (199)	(788)	(2,459)	(1,721)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(1,542)	(5,298)	(3,827)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									1,542	5,298	3,827
Loss from continuing operations									1,542	5,298	3,827
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net loss									1,542	5,298	3,827
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									1,542	5,298	3,827
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									788	2,459	1,721
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(788)	(2,459)	(1,721)
Loss from continuing operations									(788)	(2,459)	(1,721)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net loss									(788)	(2,459)	(1,721)
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									(788)	(2,459)	(1,721)
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues									(5)	(22)	(25)
Operating costs and expenses:
Impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, net									29
Total operating costs and expenses									29
Income (loss) from operations									(34)	(22)	(25)
Interest expense, net									425	327	241
(Gain) Loss from early extinguishment of debt									(32)	40	30
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									414	1,955	1,462
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(841)	(2,344)	(1,758)
Benefit from income taxes									(53)	115	(37)
Loss from continuing operations									(788)	(2,459)	(1,721)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net loss									(788)	(2,459)	(1,721)
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									(788)	(2,459)	(1,721)
Other Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues									8,712	8,851	9,534
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									3,275	3,652	3,784
Supplies									1,547	1,651	1,681
Other operating expenses									2,378	2,447	2,291
Government and other legal settlements and related costs									11	(31)	16
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(1)	(12)	(36)
Rent									174	197	199
Depreciation and amortization									452	515	626
Impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, net									333	1,219	1,262
Total operating costs and expenses									8,169	9,638	9,823
Income (loss) from operations									543	(787)	(289)
Interest expense, net									590	610	652
(Gain) Loss from early extinguishment of debt									1
Gain on sale of investments in unconsolidated affiliates											(94)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									318	868	601
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(366)	(2,265)	(1,448)
Benefit from income taxes									13	(314)	19
Loss from continuing operations									(379)	(1,951)	(1,467)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale										(4)	(9)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale										(5)	(1)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes										(9)	(10)
Net loss									(379)	(1,960)	(1,477)
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									(379)	(1,960)	(1,477)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues									5,448	6,524	8,929
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									3,109	3,724	4,840
Supplies									808	1,021	1,330
Other operating expenses									1,118	1,417	1,957
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(3)	(16)	(34)
Rent									163	197	251
Depreciation and amortization									248	346	474
Impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, net									306	904	657
Total operating costs and expenses									5,749	7,593	9,475
Income (loss) from operations									(301)	(1,069)	(546)
Interest expense, net									(39)	(6)	69
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(262)	(1,063)	(615)
Benefit from income taxes									29	(250)	(86)
Loss from continuing operations									(291)	(813)	(529)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale										(2)	2
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale										(1)	(7)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes										(3)	(5)
Net loss									(291)	(816)	(534)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									84	63	95
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									$ (375)	(879)	(629)
Operating Revenues (Net of Contractual Allowances and Discounts) [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues										18,398	21,275
Operating Revenues (Net of Contractual Allowances and Discounts) [Member] | Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues										(22)	(25)
Operating Revenues (Net of Contractual Allowances and Discounts) [Member] | Other Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues										10,932	11,253
Operating Revenues (Net of Contractual Allowances and Discounts) [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues										7,488	10,047
Provision for Bad Debts [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues										3,045	2,837
Provision for Bad Debts [Member] | Other Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues										2,081	1,719
Provision for Bad Debts [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues										$ 964	$ 1,118