Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ 66,889	$ 64,810	$ 63,431	$ 61,646	$ 54,424	$ 47,490	$ 46,922	$ 45,743	$ 256,776	$ 194,579	$ 184,786
Operating income	3,037	2,928	3,332	2,690	824	2,574	(1,373)	1,996	11,987	4,021	9,538
Income from continuing operations	1,744	1,529	1,931	1,427	(422)	1,390	(2,562)	998	6,631	(596)	6,631
Net income attributable to CVS Health	$ 1,747	$ 1,530	$ 1,936	$ 1,421	$ (419)	$ 1,390	$ (2,563)	$ 998	$ 6,634	$ (594)	$ 6,622
Basic earnings per common share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CVS Health (in dollars per share)	$ 1.34	$ 1.17	$ 1.49	$ 1.09	$ (0.37)	$ 1.36	$ (2.52)	$ 0.98	$ 5.10	$ (0.57)	$ 6.48
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to CVS Health (in dollars per share)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(0.01)
Net income (loss) attributable to CVS Health (in dollars per share)	1.34	1.17	1.49	1.09	(0.37)	1.36	(2.52)	0.98	5.10	(0.57)	6.47
Diluted earnings per common share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CVS Health (in dollars per share)	1.33	1.17	1.49	1.09	(0.37)	1.36	(2.52)	0.98	5.08	(0.57)	6.45
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to CVS Health (in dollars per share)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(0.01)
Net income (loss) attributable to CVS Health (in dollars per share)	1.33	1.17	1.49	1.09	(0.37)	1.36	(2.52)	0.98	5.08	(0.57)	6.44
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.50	$ 0.50	$ 0.50	$ 0.50	$ 0.50	$ 0.50	$ 0.50	$ 2.00	$ 2.00	$ 2.00