Intangibles (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Intangibles
Intangible assets, gross	$ 784	$ 794
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization	276	241
Intangible liabilities, gross	208	194
Intangible liabilities, accumulated amortization	$ 105	$ 90

Accumulated amount of amortization of liabilities, excluding financial liabilities, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_FiniteLivedIntangibleLiabilitiesAccumulatedAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before amortization of liabilities, excluding financial liabilities, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_FiniteLivedIntangibleLiabilitiesGross
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	hcp_IntangiblesDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant