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.

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) from sale and disposal of integrated set of activities and assets capable of being conducted and managed for purpose of providing return in form of dividend, lower cost, or other economic benefit to investor, owner, member and participant.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109239629&loc=SL4582445-111684

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the number of stores.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a portion of the company's business, for example a segment, division, branch or other business, during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=cvs_RetailLongTermCareSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationsDisposedOfBySaleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=cvs_CoventryHealthCareWorkersCompensationBusinessMember
Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=cvs_HealthCareBenefitsSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

- Details

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Balance Type:
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Divestitures - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
Divestitures - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	Jul. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) store	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2019 store
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary		$ 0	$ 840	$ 0
Gain (loss) on sale of subsidiaries		$ 0	269	(205)
Retail/ LTC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of stores \| store		9,900
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale \| Coventry Health Care Workers Compensation Business \| Health Care Benefits
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary	$ 850		850
Gain (loss) on sale of subsidiaries			$ 269
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale \| Brazil Subsidiary \| Retail/ LTC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of stores \| store					50
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale \| Drogaria onofre Ltda. \| Retail/ LTC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale of subsidiaries				$ (205)