SCHEDULE I - PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Condensed Balance Sheets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 4,054	$ 2,343
Investment securities	10,972	10,026
Other current assets	3,806	3,564
Total current assets	19,888	16,948
Property and equipment, net	1,955	1,735
Equity method investment in Kindred at Home	1,063	1,047
Other long-term assets	1,834	1,375
Total assets	29,074	25,413
Current liabilities:
Total current liabilities	10,929	10,077
Long-term debt	4,967	4,375
Other long-term liabilities	935	581
Total liabilities	17,037	15,252
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $1 par; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued	0	0
Common stock, $0.16 2/3 par; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 198,629,992 shares issued at December 31, 2019 and 198,594,841 shares issued at December 31, 2018	33	33
Capital in excess of par value	2,820	2,535
Retained earnings	17,483	15,072
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	156	(159)
Treasury stock, at cost, 66,524,771 shares at December 31, 2019 and 63,028,169 shares at December 31, 2018	(8,455)	(7,320)
Total stockholders’ equity	12,037	10,161	$ 9,842	$ 10,685
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	29,074	25,413
Parent Company
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,006	265
Investment securities	355	313
Receivable from operating subsidiaries	1,248	1,306
Other current assets	778	628
Total current assets	3,387	2,512
Property and equipment, net	1,403	1,209
Investments in subsidiaries	14,763	16,951
Equity method investment in Kindred at Home	1,063	1,047
Other long-term assets	778	359
Total assets	21,394	22,078
Current liabilities:
Payable to operating subsidiaries	1,975	4,487
Current portion of notes payable to operating subsidiaries	36	28
Book overdraft	40	38
Short-term debt	699	1,694
Other current liabilities	1,128	791
Total current liabilities	3,878	7,038
Long-term debt	4,967	4,375
Other long-term liabilities	512	504
Total liabilities	9,357	11,917
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $1 par; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued	0	0
Common stock, $0.16 2/3 par; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 198,629,992 shares issued at December 31, 2019 and 198,594,841 shares issued at December 31, 2018	33	33
Capital in excess of par value	2,820	2,535
Retained earnings	17,483	15,072
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	156	(159)
Treasury stock, at cost, 66,524,771 shares at December 31, 2019 and 63,028,169 shares at December 31, 2018	(8,455)	(7,320)
Total stockholders’ equity	12,037	10,161
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 21,394	$ 22,078