Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 277	$ 196	$ 424	$ 563
Patient accounts receivable	2,360	2,352
Supplies	397	402
Prepaid income taxes	3	3
Prepaid expenses and taxes	197	196
Other current assets	361	400
Total current assets	3,595	3,549
Property and equipment, net	6,086	6,139
Goodwill	4,553	4,559
Deferred income taxes	66	69
Other assets, net	2,009	1,543
Total assets	16,309	15,859
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	205	204
Current operating lease liabilities	143
Accounts payable	863	887
Accrued interest	250	206
Accrued liabilities	1,047	1,095
Total current liabilities	2,508	2,392
Long-term debt	13,385	13,392
Deferred income taxes	29	26
Long-term operating lease liabilities	495
Other long-term liabilities	977	1,008
Total liabilities	17,394	16,818
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	505	504
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit:
Preferred stock
Common stock	1	1
Additional paid-in capital	2,007	2,017
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(10)	(10)
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings	(3,661)	(3,543)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit	(1,663)	(1,535)
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	73	72
Total stockholders' deficit	(1,590)	(1,463)	(701)	(692)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	16,309	15,859
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Intercompany receivable	(23,640)	(23,889)
Net investment in subsidiaries	(33,600)	(33,217)
Total assets	(57,240)	(57,106)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	(60,545)	(60,215)
Total liabilities	(60,545)	(60,215)
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit:
Additional paid-in capital	776	731
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	23	24
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings	2,506	2,354
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit	3,305	3,109
Total stockholders' deficit	3,305	3,109
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	(57,240)	(57,106)
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Prepaid income taxes	3	3
Total current assets	3	3
Deferred income taxes	66	69
Total assets	69	72
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	1,694	1,572
Deferred income taxes	29	26
Other long-term liabilities	9	9
Total liabilities	1,732	1,607
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit:
Common stock	1	1
Additional paid-in capital	2,007	2,017
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(10)	(10)
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings	(3,661)	(3,543)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit	(1,663)	(1,535)
Total stockholders' deficit	(1,663)	(1,535)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	69	72
Issuer [Member]
Current assets:
Intercompany receivable	12,566	12,698
Other assets, net	22	25
Net investment in subsidiaries	21,884	21,519
Total assets	34,472	34,242
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	155	155
Accounts payable	3
Accrued interest	250	206
Accrued liabilities	1
Total current liabilities	409	361
Long-term debt	13,163	13,167
Intercompany payable	22,481	22,178
Other long-term liabilities	2	2
Total liabilities	36,055	35,708
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit:
Additional paid-in capital	(354)	(327)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(10)	(10)
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings	(1,219)	(1,129)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit	(1,583)	(1,466)
Total stockholders' deficit	(1,583)	(1,466)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	34,472	34,242
Other Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	217	135	335	499
Patient accounts receivable	1,974	1,972
Supplies	258	261
Prepaid expenses and taxes	147	132
Other current assets	100	120
Total current assets	2,696	2,620
Intercompany receivable	4,896	4,875
Property and equipment, net	3,948	3,992
Goodwill	2,754	2,760
Other assets, net	1,114	956
Net investment in subsidiaries	11,716	11,698
Total assets	27,124	26,901
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	25	22
Current operating lease liabilities	77
Accounts payable	559	593
Accrued liabilities	595	635
Total current liabilities	1,256	1,250
Long-term debt	146	147
Intercompany payable	24,648	24,646
Long-term operating lease liabilities	252
Other long-term liabilities	690	714
Total liabilities	26,992	26,757
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit:
Additional paid-in capital	161	162
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(11)	(5)
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings	(18)	(13)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit	132	144
Total stockholders' deficit	132	144
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	27,124	26,901
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	60	61	$ 89	$ 64
Patient accounts receivable	386	380
Supplies	139	141
Prepaid expenses and taxes	50	64
Other current assets	261	280
Total current assets	896	926
Intercompany receivable	6,178	6,316
Property and equipment, net	2,138	2,147
Goodwill	1,799	1,799
Other assets, net	873	562
Total assets	11,884	11,750
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	25	27
Current operating lease liabilities	66
Accounts payable	301	294
Accrued liabilities	451	460
Total current liabilities	843	781
Long-term debt	76	78
Intercompany payable	11,722	11,819
Long-term operating lease liabilities	243
Other long-term liabilities	276	283
Total liabilities	13,160	12,961
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	505	504
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit:
Additional paid-in capital	(583)	(566)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2)	(9)
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings	(1,269)	(1,212)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit	(1,854)	(1,787)
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	73	72
Total stockholders' deficit	(1,781)	(1,715)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	$ 11,884	$ 11,750