Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs, Net

No definition available.

Name:	cvs_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountandDebtIssuanceCostsNet
Namespace Prefix:	cvs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section S99
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt premium.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775985&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28541-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedPremium
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6031897-161870

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt, classified as current. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs of long-term debt classified as noncurrent and excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(19)(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16)(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

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+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Debt - Schedule of Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	May 16, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt gross	$ 74,265	$ 27,170
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium	302	28
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs, Net	(1,138)	(196)
Long-term Debt	73,429	27,002
Short-term Debt	(720)	(1,276)
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	(1,265)	(3,545)
Long-term debt	$ 71,444	22,181
Senior Notes \| 1.9% senior notes due July 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	1.90%
Long-term debt gross	$ 0	2,250
Senior Notes \| 2.25% senior notes due December 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	2.25%
Long-term debt gross	$ 0	1,250
Senior Notes \| 2.2% senior notes due March 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	2.20%
Long-term debt gross	$ 375	0
Senior Notes \| 2.25% senior notes due August 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	2.25%
Long-term debt gross	$ 850	850
Senior Notes \| 3.125% senior notes due March 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	3.125%
Long-term debt gross	$ 2,000	0
Senior Notes \| 2.8% senior notes due July 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	2.80%
Long-term debt gross	$ 2,750	2,750
Senior Notes \| 3.35% senior notes due March 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	3.35%
Long-term debt gross	$ 3,000	0
Senior Notes \| 4.125% senior notes due May 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	4.125%
Long-term debt gross	$ 550	550
Senior Notes \| 2.125% senior notes due June 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	2.125%		2.125%
Long-term debt gross	$ 1,750	1,750
Senior Notes \| 4.125% senior notes due June 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	4.125%
Long-term debt gross	$ 500	0
Senior Notes \| 5.45% senior notes due June 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	5.45%
Long-term debt gross	$ 600	0
Senior Notes \| 3.5% senior notes due July 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	3.50%
Long-term debt gross	$ 1,500	1,500
Senior Notes \| 2.75% senior notes due November 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	2.75%
Long-term debt gross	$ 1,000	0
Senior Notes \| 5.45% senior notes due June 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	2.75%
Long-term debt gross	$ 1,250	1,250
Senior Notes \| 4.75% senior notes due December 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	4.75%		4.75%
Long-term debt gross	$ 399	399
Senior Notes \| 3.7% senior notes due March 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	3.70%
Long-term debt gross	$ 6,000	0
Senior Notes \| 2.8% senior notes due June 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	2.80%
Long-term debt gross	$ 1,300	0
Senior Notes \| 4% senior notes due December 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	4.00%
Long-term debt gross	$ 1,250	1,250
Senior Notes \| 3.375% senior notes due August 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	3.375%
Long-term debt gross	$ 650	650
Senior Notes \| 3.5% senior notes due November 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	3.50%
Long-term debt gross	$ 750	0
Senior Notes \| 5% senior notes due December 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	5.00%		5.00%
Long-term debt gross	$ 299	299
Senior Notes \| 4.1% senior notes due March 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	4.10%
Long-term debt gross	$ 5,000	0
Senior Notes \| 3.875% senior notes due July 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	3.875%		3.875%
Long-term debt gross	$ 2,828	2,828
Senior Notes \| 2.875% senior notes due June 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	2.875%		2.875%
Long-term debt gross	$ 1,750	1,750
Senior Notes \| 6.25% senior notes due June 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	6.25%		6.25%
Long-term debt gross	$ 372	372
Senior Notes \| 4.3% senior notes due March 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	4.30%
Long-term debt gross	$ 9,000	0
Senior Notes \| 4.875% senior notes due July 2035
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	4.875%		4.875%
Long-term debt gross	$ 652	652
Senior Notes \| 3.25% senior exchange debentures due December 2035
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	3.25%
Long-term debt gross	$ 0	1
Senior Notes \| 6.625% senior notes due June 2036
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	6.625%
Long-term debt gross	$ 771	0
Senior Notes \| 6.75% senior notes due December 2037
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	6.75%
Long-term debt gross	$ 533	0
Senior Notes \| 4.78% senior notes due March 2038
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	4.78%
Long-term debt gross	$ 5,000	0
Senior Notes \| 6.125% senior notes due September 2039
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	6.125%		6.125%
Long-term debt gross	$ 447	447
Senior Notes \| 5.75% senior notes due May 2041
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	5.75%		5.75%
Long-term debt gross	$ 133	133
Senior Notes \| 4.5% senior notes due May 2042
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	4.50%
Long-term debt gross	$ 500	0
Senior Notes \| 4.125% senior notes due November 2042
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	4.125%
Long-term debt gross	$ 500	0
Senior Notes \| 5.3% senior notes due December 2043
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	5.30%
Long-term debt gross	$ 750	750
Senior Notes \| 4.75% senior notes due March 2044
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	4.75%
Long-term debt gross	$ 375	0
Senior Notes \| 5.125% senior notes due July 2045
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	5.125%
Long-term debt gross	$ 3,500	3,500
Senior Notes \| 3.875% senior notes due August 2047
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	3.875%
Long-term debt gross	$ 1,000	0
Senior Notes \| 5.05% senior notes due March 2048
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	5.05%
Long-term debt gross	$ 8,000	0
Notes Payable \| Floating rate notes due March 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt gross	1,000	0
Notes Payable \| Floating rate notes due March 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt gross	1,000	0
Notes Payable \| 3-Year tranche loan due November 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt gross	3,000	0
Capital Lease Obligations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt gross	642	670
Other Debt Obligations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt gross	$ 19	$ 43