Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	Common Stock Class A	Common Stock Class B	Common Stock Class C	Common Stock Class D	Cumulative Dividends	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	UHS Common Stockholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 6,401,967		$ 66	$ 778	$ 7	$ 0	$ (479,503)	$ 6,747,678	$ 48,120	$ 6,317,146	$ 84,821
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020		$ 4,569
Common Stock
Issued/(converted)	6,444			5				6,439		6,444
Repurchased	(368,080)			(23)				(368,057)		(368,080)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	6,102							6,102		6,102
Dividends paid and accrued	(33,874)						(33,874)			(33,874)
Stock option expense	30,243							30,243		30,243
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(5,414)	(203)									(5,414)
Purchase (sale) of ownership interests by (from) minority members	12,669										12,669
Comprehensive income:
Net income to UHS / noncontrolling interests	534,019	327						534,115		534,115	(96)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	(11,996)								(11,996)	(11,996)
Subtotal - comprehensive income	522,023							534,115	(11,996)	522,119	(96)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		327
Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	6,572,080		66	760	7	0	(513,377)	6,956,520	36,124	6,480,100	91,980
Balance at Jun. 30, 2021		4,693
Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	6,601,839		66	781	7	0	(496,521)	6,970,289	39,240	6,513,862	87,977
Balance at Mar. 31, 2021		4,470
Common Stock
Issued/(converted)	3,084			1				3,083		3,084
Repurchased	(360,616)			(22)				(360,594)		(360,616)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	3,240							3,240		3,240
Dividends paid and accrued	(16,856)						(16,856)			(16,856)
Stock option expense	15,478							15,478		15,478
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(889)	(203)									(889)
Purchase (sale) of ownership interests by (from) minority members	5,066										5,066
Comprehensive income:
Net income to UHS / noncontrolling interests	324,850	426						325,024		325,024	(174)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	(3,116)								(3,116)	(3,116)
Subtotal - comprehensive income	321,734							325,024	(3,116)	321,908	(174)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		426
Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	6,572,080		66	760	7	0	(513,377)	6,956,520	36,124	6,480,100	91,980
Balance at Jun. 30, 2021		4,693
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	6,193,053		66	698	7	0	(545,487)	6,604,089	30,291	6,089,664	103,389
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021		5,119
Common Stock
Issued/(converted)	6,795			6				6,789		6,795
Repurchased	(565,182)			(44)				(565,138)		(565,182)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	8,103							8,103		8,103
Dividends paid and accrued	(29,711)						(29,711)			(29,711)
Stock option expense	32,842							32,842		32,842
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(4,673)	(650)									(4,673)
Purchase (sale) of ownership interests by (from) minority members	(1,307)										(1,307)
Comprehensive income:
Net income to UHS / noncontrolling interests	309,822	(20)						317,975		317,975	(8,153)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	(45,826)								(45,826)	(45,826)
Subtotal - comprehensive income	263,996							317,975	(45,826)	272,149	(8,153)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		(20)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	5,903,916		66	660	7	0	(575,198)	6,404,660	(15,535)	5,814,660	89,256
Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	4,000	4,449
Balance at Mar. 31, 2022	5,962,578		66	676	7	0	(560,450)	6,414,808	12,765	5,867,872	94,706
Balance at Mar. 31, 2022		4,314
Common Stock
Issued/(converted)	3,150			1				3,149		3,150
Repurchased	(199,677)			(17)				(199,660)		(199,677)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	4,661							4,661		4,661
Dividends paid and accrued	(14,748)						(14,748)			(14,748)
Stock option expense	17,640							17,640		17,640
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(34)										(34)
Comprehensive income:
Net income to UHS / noncontrolling interests	158,646	135						164,062		164,062	(5,416)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	(28,300)								(28,300)	(28,300)
Subtotal - comprehensive income	130,346							164,062	(28,300)	135,762	(5,416)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		135
Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	5,903,916		$ 66	$ 660	$ 7	$ 0	$ (575,198)	$ 6,404,660	$ (15,535)	$ 5,814,660	$ 89,256
Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	$ 4,000	$ 4,449