Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of EPS (in shares)	8
Numerator for earnings (loss) per share calculation:
Net income (loss) attributable to CVS Health	$ (3,416)	$ 1,598	$ 1,847	$ 6,604
Denominator for earnings (loss) per share calculation:
Weighted average shares, basic (in shares)	1,315	1,321	1,313	1,318
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding (in shares)	1,315	1,329	1,324	1,326
Earnings (loss) per share:
Earnings (loss) per share, basic (in dollars per share)	$ (2.60)	$ 1.21	$ 1.41	$ 5.01
Earnings (loss) per share, diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (2.60)	$ 1.20	$ 1.40	$ 4.98
Restricted stock units and performance stock units
Denominator for earnings (loss) per share calculation:
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	0	4	6	5
Stock options and stock appreciation rights
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of EPS (in shares)	4	8	4	8
Denominator for earnings (loss) per share calculation:
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	0	4	5	3