Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Consolidated net income (loss)	$ (73,347)	$ 47,628	[1]	$ (40,180)	$ 135,954	[1]
Available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized gains, net	4,720	4,244	[1]	4,321	8,828	[1]
Adjustments for net gains reclassified into net income	(706)	(443)	[1]	(2,700)	(340)	[1]
Reclassification adjustments for amortization into net income	17,208	19,404	[1]	53,515	59,937	[1]
Other comprehensive income before income taxes	21,222	23,205	[1]	55,136	68,425	[1]
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	(8,085)	(8,863)	[1]	(21,343)	(26,240)	[1]
Other comprehensive income, net	13,137	14,342	[1]	33,793	42,185	[1]
Total consolidated comprehensive income (loss)	(60,210)	61,970	[1]	(6,387)	178,139	[1]
Total comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,485)	(6,685)	[1]	(12,804)	(21,757)	[1]
Accretion of redeemable equity securities	(19,813)		[1]	(19,813)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Health Management Associates, Inc. common stockholders	(83,508)	55,285	[1]	(39,004)	156,382	[1]
Parent Issuer [Member]
Consolidated net income (loss)	(76,832)	40,943	[1]	(52,984)	114,197	[1]
Available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized gains, net		(1)	[1]		66	[1]
Reclassification adjustments for amortization into net income	17,208	19,404	[1]	53,515	59,937	[1]
Other comprehensive income before income taxes	17,208	19,403	[1]	53,515	60,003	[1]
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	(6,680)	(7,531)	[1]	(20,774)	(23,292)	[1]
Other comprehensive income, net	10,528	11,872	[1]	32,741	36,711	[1]
Total consolidated comprehensive income (loss)	(66,304)	52,815	[1]	(20,243)	150,908	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Health Management Associates, Inc. common stockholders	(66,304)	52,815	[1]	(20,243)	150,908	[1]
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidated net income (loss)	33,324	93,291	[1]	197,388	277,232	[1]
Available-for-sale securities:
Total consolidated comprehensive income (loss)	33,324	93,291	[1]	197,388	277,232	[1]
Total comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		8	[1]		(133)	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Health Management Associates, Inc. common stockholders	33,324	93,299	[1]	197,388	277,099	[1]
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidated net income (loss)	(77,655)	7,289	[1]	(121,832)	12,310	[1]
Available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized gains, net	4,720	4,245	[1]	4,321	8,762	[1]
Adjustments for net gains reclassified into net income	(706)	(443)	[1]	(2,700)	(340)	[1]
Other comprehensive income before income taxes	4,014	3,802	[1]	1,621	8,422	[1]
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	(1,405)	(1,332)	[1]	(569)	(2,948)	[1]
Other comprehensive income, net	2,609	2,470	[1]	1,052	5,474	[1]
Total consolidated comprehensive income (loss)	(69,709)	9,759	[1]	(120,780)	17,784	[1]
Total comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,485)	(6,693)	[1]	(12,804)	(21,624)	[1]
Accretion of redeemable equity securities	(19,813)			(19,813)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Health Management Associates, Inc. common stockholders	(93,007)	3,066	[1]	(153,397)	(3,840)	[1]
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidated net income (loss)	47,816	(93,895)	[1]	(62,752)	(267,785)	[1]
Available-for-sale securities:
Total consolidated comprehensive income (loss)	47,816	(93,895)	[1]	(62,752)	(267,785)	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Health Management Associates, Inc. common stockholders	$ 47,816	$ (93,895)	[1]	$ (62,752)	$ (267,785)	[1]

[1] Restated