Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 196	$ 563	$ 238	$ 184
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	2,352	2,384
Supplies	402	444
Prepaid income taxes	3	17
Prepaid expenses and taxes	196	198
Other current assets	400	462
Total current assets	3,549	4,068
Property and equipment, net	6,139	7,052
Goodwill	4,559	4,723	6,521
Deferred income taxes	69	62
Other assets, net	1,543	1,545
Total assets	15,859	17,450
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	204	33
Accounts payable	887	967
Accrued interest	206	229
Accrued liabilities	1,095	1,127
Total current liabilities	2,392	2,356
Long-term debt	13,392	13,880
Deferred income taxes	26	19
Other long-term liabilities	1,008	1,360
Total liabilities	16,818	17,615
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	504	527
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit:
Preferred stock
Common stock	1	1
Additional paid-in capital	2,017	2,014
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(10)	(21)	(62)
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings	(3,543)	(2,761)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit	(1,535)	(767)
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	72	75
Total stockholders' deficit	(1,463)	(692)	1,728	4,105
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	15,859	17,450
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Intercompany receivable	(23,889)	(26,265)
Other assets, net		(1,043)
Net investment in subsidiaries	(33,217)	(32,731)
Total assets	(57,106)	(60,039)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	(60,215)	(59,806)
Other long-term liabilities		(1,042)
Total liabilities	(60,215)	(60,848)
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit:
Additional paid-in capital	731	(182)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	24	30
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings	2,354	961
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit	3,109	809
Total stockholders' deficit	3,109	809
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	(57,106)	(60,039)
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Prepaid income taxes	3	17
Total current assets	3	17
Deferred income taxes	69	62
Other assets, net		15
Total assets	72	94
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	1,572	833
Deferred income taxes	26	19
Other long-term liabilities	9	9
Total liabilities	1,607	861
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit:
Common stock	1	1
Additional paid-in capital	2,017	2,014
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(10)	(21)
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings	(3,543)	(2,761)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit	(1,535)	(767)
Total stockholders' deficit	(1,535)	(767)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	72	94
Issuer [Member]
Current assets:
Intercompany receivable	12,698	13,369
Other assets, net	25	39
Net investment in subsidiaries	21,519	21,605
Total assets	34,242	35,013
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	155
Accrued interest	206	228
Total current liabilities	361	228
Long-term debt	13,167	12,998
Intercompany payable	22,178	21,458
Other long-term liabilities	2	1,018
Total liabilities	35,708	35,702
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit:
Additional paid-in capital	(327)	(252)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(10)	(21)
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings	(1,129)	(416)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit	(1,466)	(689)
Total stockholders' deficit	(1,466)	(689)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	34,242	35,013
Other Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	135	499	159	55
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	1,972	1,938
Supplies	261	291
Prepaid expenses and taxes	132	148
Other current assets	120	149
Total current assets	2,620	3,025
Intercompany receivable	4,875	5,794
Property and equipment, net	3,992	4,489
Goodwill	2,760	2,882
Other assets, net	956	1,728
Net investment in subsidiaries	11,698	11,126
Total assets	26,901	29,044
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	22	25
Accounts payable	593	670
Accrued interest		1
Accrued liabilities	635	651
Total current liabilities	1,250	1,347
Long-term debt	147	779
Intercompany payable	24,646	24,600
Other long-term liabilities	714	1,031
Total liabilities	26,757	27,757
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit:
Additional paid-in capital	162	963
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5)	(5)
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings	(13)	329
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit	144	1,287
Total stockholders' deficit	144	1,287
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	26,901	29,044
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	61	64	$ 79	$ 129
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	380	446
Supplies	141	153
Prepaid expenses and taxes	64	50
Other current assets	280	313
Total current assets	926	1,026
Intercompany receivable	6,316	7,102
Property and equipment, net	2,147	2,563
Goodwill	1,799	1,841
Other assets, net	562	806
Total assets	11,750	13,338
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	27	8
Accounts payable	294	297
Accrued liabilities	460	476
Total current liabilities	781	781
Long-term debt	78	103
Intercompany payable	11,819	12,915
Other long-term liabilities	283	344
Total liabilities	12,961	14,143
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	504	527
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit:
Additional paid-in capital	(566)	(529)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(9)	(4)
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings	(1,212)	(874)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit	(1,787)	(1,407)
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	72	75
Total stockholders' deficit	(1,715)	(1,332)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	$ 11,750	$ 13,338