Quarterly Financial Data (Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019		Sep. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2019		Mar. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Sep. 30, 2018		Jun. 30, 2018		Mar. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2019	[1]	Dec. 31, 2018	[1]	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Net operating revenues	$ 3,286		$ 3,246		$ 3,302		$ 3,376		$ 3,453		$ 3,451		$ 3,562		$ 3,689		$ 13,210		$ 14,155		$ 15,353
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(115)		(72)		(149)		(94)		(369)		(204)		(129)		(13)		(430)		(715)		(2,833)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of taxes	(346)		2		(146)		(101)		(299)		(308)		(91)		(6)		(590)		(704)		(2,384)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes																					(12)
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (373)		$ (17)		$ (167)		$ (118)		$ (328)		$ (325)		$ (110)		$ (25)		$ (675)		$ (788)		$ (2,459)
Basic loss per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ (3.27)	[2]	$ (0.15)	[2]	$ (1.47)	[2]	$ (1.04)	[2]	$ (2.91)	[2]	$ (2.88)	[2]	$ (0.97)	[2]	$ (0.22)	[2]	$ (5.93)	[2]	$ (6.99)	[2]	$ (21.89)
Discontinued operations																					(0.11)
Net loss	(3.27)	[2]	(0.15)	[2]	(1.47)	[2]	(1.04)	[2]	(2.91)	[2]	(2.88)	[2]	(0.97)	[2]	(0.22)	[2]	(5.93)	[2]	(6.99)	[2]	(22.00)
Diluted loss per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations	(3.27)		(0.15)		(1.47)		(1.04)		(2.91)		(2.88)		(0.97)		(0.22)		(5.93)		(6.99)		(21.89)
Discontinued operations																					(0.11)
Net loss	$ (3.27)		$ (0.15)		$ (1.47)		$ (1.04)		$ (2.91)		$ (2.88)		$ (0.97)		$ (0.22)		$ (5.93)		$ (6.99)		$ (22.00)
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	113,935,629		113,891,721		113,862,097		113,257,608		112,909,869		112,865,482		112,837,944		112,291,496		113,739,046		112,728,274		111,769,821
Diluted	113,935,629		113,891,721		113,862,097		113,257,608		112,909,869		112,865,482		112,837,944		112,291,496		113,739,046		112,728,274		111,769,821

[1] Total quarterly amounts may not add due to rounding.

[2] Total per share amounts may not add due to rounding.