Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions		Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]		Common Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member]	[2]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	CVS Health Shareholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Common stock, balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			1,712.0
Treasury shares, balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	[1]			(698.0)
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017				$ 37,796	[1]	$ (32,096)		$ (43,556)	$ 165	$ (37,691)
Total equity at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017		$ (37,695)
Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to CVS Health								998		998
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		0
Net income		998
Other Comprehensive Income		344							344	344
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017											$ 4
Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock option activity, stock awards and other (in shares)			2.0
Stock option activity, stock awards and other		112				112				112
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired, Cost Method, Net Of ESPP Issuance	[1]			0.0
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method, Net Of ESPP Issuance		49		$ 49	[1]					49
Dividends declared		(508)						508		508
Common stock, balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018			1,714.0
Treasury shares, balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018	[1]			(698.0)
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2018				$ 37,747	[1]	(32,208)		(44,040)	(172)	(38,673)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at end of period at Mar. 31, 2018											4
Total equity at end of period at Mar. 31, 2018		(38,677)
Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adoption of new accounting standard	[3]	$ (13)						(6)	(7)	(13)
Common stock, balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		1,295.0	1,720.0
Treasury shares, balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	[1]			(425.0)
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 58,225		$ 28,228	[1]	(45,440)		(40,911)	(102)	(58,225)
Total equity at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018		58,543
Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to CVS Health								1,421		1,421
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		(6)									6
Net income		1,427
Other Comprehensive Income		331							331	331
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018		318									318
Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock option activity, stock awards and other (in shares)			2.0
Stock option activity, stock awards and other		175				175				175
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired, Cost Method, Net Of ESPP Issuance	[1]			1.0
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method, Net Of ESPP Issuance		7		$ 7	[1]					7
Dividends declared		(651)						651		651
Other decreases in noncontrolling interest		$ (4)									(4)
Common stock, balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		1,298.0	1,722.0
Treasury shares, balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019	[1]			(424.0)
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2019		$ 59,686		$ 28,221	[1]	$ (45,615)		$ (41,859)	(433)	(59,686)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at end of period at Mar. 31, 2019		320									$ 320
Total equity at end of period at Mar. 31, 2019		60,006
Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adoption of new accounting standard		$ 178							$ 0	$ 178

[1] (1)Treasury shares include 1 million shares held in trust as of March 31, 2019 and 2018 and December 31, 2018 and 2017. Treasury stock includes $29 million related to shares held in trust as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, and $31 million related to shares held in trust as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

[2] (2)Common stock and capital surplus includes the par value of common stock of $17 million as of March 31, 2019 and 2018 and December 31, 2018 and 2017.

[3] (3)Reflects the adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which resulted in a reduction to retained earnings of $13 million and the adoption of ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which resulted in a reduction to accumulated other comprehensive income and an increase to retained earnings of $7 million.