Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
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, Basic	$ 2,261	$ (3,406)	$ 6,298	$ 1,977
Net income (loss) attributable to CVS Health, Diluted	$ 2,261	$ (3,406)	$ 6,298	$ 1,977
Denominator for earnings (loss) per share calculation:
Weighted average shares, basic (in shares)	1,287	1,315	1,284	1,313
Weighted average shares, diluted (in shares)	1,290	1,315	1,289	1,324
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.76	$ (2.59)	$ 4.90	$ 1.51
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.75	$ (2.59)	$ 4.88	$ 1.49
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)	9	4	7	4
Denominator for earnings (loss) per share calculation:
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	1	0	2	5
Restricted stock units and performance stock units
Denominator for earnings (loss) per share calculation:
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	2	0	3	6