Acquisition of Aetna - Pro Forma Financials (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ 60,206	$ 119,299
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CVS Health	$ (1,940)	$ (133)
Basic earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations attributable to CVS Health (in dollars per share)	$ (1.50)	$ (0.10)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations attributable to CVS Health (in dollars per share)	$ (1.50)	$ (0.10)

Per basic share amount of pro forma income from continuing operations, after tax, as if the business combination had been completed at the beginning of a period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
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Per diluted share amount of pro forma income from continuing operations, after tax, as if the business combination had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

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Amount after tax of pro forma income from continuing operations as if the business combination had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

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The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

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