Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]

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- Definition

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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Amount after tax of income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the parent.

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Amount after tax of income (loss) from continuing operations including portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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- Definition

The amount of net income (loss) from continuing operations per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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- Definition

The amount of net income (loss) derived from continuing operations during the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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- Definition

Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of share based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method.

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- Definition

Amount of Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

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- Definition

Amount of earnings (loss) distributed and earnings (loss) allocated to participating securities for the diluted earnings (loss) per share or per unit calculation under the two-class method.

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The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

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Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ (422)	$ 1,390	$ (2,562)	$ 998	$ 3,287	$ 1,285	$ 1,097	$ 962	$ (596)	$ 6,631	$ 5,320
Income allocated to participating securities									(3)	(24)	(27)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									2	(1)	(2)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CVS Health									$ (597)	$ 6,606	$ 5,291
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding Reconciliation [Abstract]
Weighted average shares, basic (in shares)									1,044.0	1,020.0	1,073.0
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)									0.0	4.0	6.0
Weighted average shares, diluted (in shares)									1,044.0	1,024.0	1,079.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CVS Health (in dollars per share)	$ (0.37)	$ 1.36	$ (2.52)	$ 0.98	$ 3.23	$ 1.26	$ 1.07	$ 0.93	$ (0.57)	$ 6.48	$ 4.93
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CVS Health (in dollars per share)	$ (0.37)	$ 1.36	$ (2.52)	$ 0.98	$ 3.22	$ 1.26	$ 1.07	$ 0.92	$ (0.57)	$ 6.45	$ 4.91
Employee Stock Option
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding Reconciliation [Abstract]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount (in shares)									13.2	10.4	6.7
Common Equivalent Shares [Member]
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding Reconciliation [Abstract]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount (in shares)									3.0