Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information and Other Collateral-Related Information - Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Comprehensive Income Statement (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues before provision for doubtful accounts									$ 36,783	$ 32,506	$ 30,683
Provision for doubtful accounts									3,770	2,824	2,648
Revenues	8,434	8,062	8,112	8,405	7,769	7,258	7,249	7,406	33,013	29,682	28,035
Salaries and benefits									15,089	13,440	12,484
Supplies									5,717	5,179	4,961
Other operating expenses									6,048	5,470	5,004
Electronic health record incentive income									(336)	(210)
Equity in earnings of affiliates									(36)	(258)	(282)
Depreciation and amortization									1,679	1,465	1,421
Interest expense									1,798	2,037	2,097
Losses (gains) on sales of facilities	(6)	(5)	(1)	(1)	(84)	(1)	(1)	(2)	(15)	(142)	(4)
Gain on acquisition of controlling interest in equity investment					(1,424)					(1,522)
Impairments of long-lived assets											123
Legal claim costs	110								175
Losses on retirement of debt						256	47			481
Termination of management agreement								149		181
Management fees											18
Total expenses including equity in earnings of affiliates									30,119	26,121	25,804
Income (loss) before income taxes									2,894	3,561	2,231
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									888	719	658
Net income (loss)	427	455	485	639	2,042	146	320	334	2,006	2,842	1,573
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									401	377	366
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	314	360	391	540	1,935	61	229	240	1,605	2,465	1,207
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.									1,588	2,453	1,229
HCA Holdings, Inc. Issuer [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Other operating expenses									3
Equity in earnings of affiliates									(1,668)	(2,531)	(1,237)
Interest expense									123	120	12
Total expenses including equity in earnings of affiliates									(1,542)	(2,411)	(1,225)
Income (loss) before income taxes									1,542	2,411	1,225
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									(46)	(42)	(4)
Net income (loss)									1,588	2,453	1,229
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.									1,588	2,453	1,229
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.									1,588	2,453	1,229
HCA Inc. Issuer [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Other operating expenses									5	4	5
Interest expense									2,167	2,390	2,700
Legal claim costs									175
Losses on retirement of debt										481
Termination of management agreement										181
Total expenses including equity in earnings of affiliates									2,347	3,056	2,705
Income (loss) before income taxes									(2,347)	(3,056)	(2,705)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									(839)	(1,068)	(955)
Net income (loss)									(1,508)	(1,988)	(1,750)
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.									(1,508)	(1,988)	(1,750)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.									(1,526)	(1,969)	(1,667)
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues before provision for doubtful accounts									19,415	18,126	17,647
Provision for doubtful accounts									2,144	1,644	1,632
Revenues									17,271	16,482	16,015
Salaries and benefits									7,959	7,584	7,315
Supplies									2,995	2,851	2,825
Other operating expenses									3,013	2,741	2,634
Electronic health record incentive income									(219)	(126)
Equity in earnings of affiliates									(5)	(86)	(107)
Depreciation and amortization									821	777	782
Interest expense									(468)	(342)	(761)
Losses (gains) on sales of facilities									3	(127)
Impairments of long-lived assets											58
Management fees									(569)	(491)	(454)
Total expenses including equity in earnings of affiliates									13,530	12,781	12,292
Income (loss) before income taxes									3,741	3,701	3,723
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									1,313	1,271	1,299
Net income (loss)									2,428	2,430	2,424
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									62	63	44
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.									2,366	2,367	2,380
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.									2,339	2,341	2,343
Subsidiary Non-Guarantors [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues before provision for doubtful accounts									17,368	14,380	13,036
Provision for doubtful accounts									1,626	1,180	1,016
Revenues									15,742	13,200	12,020
Salaries and benefits									7,130	5,856	5,169
Supplies									2,722	2,328	2,136
Other operating expenses									3,027	2,725	2,365
Electronic health record incentive income									(117)	(84)
Equity in earnings of affiliates									(31)	(172)	(175)
Depreciation and amortization									858	688	639
Interest expense									(24)	(131)	146
Losses (gains) on sales of facilities									(18)	(15)	(4)
Gain on acquisition of controlling interest in equity investment										(1,522)
Impairments of long-lived assets											65
Management fees									569	491	454
Total expenses including equity in earnings of affiliates									14,116	10,164	10,795
Income (loss) before income taxes									1,626	3,036	1,225
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									460	558	318
Net income (loss)									1,166	2,478	907
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									339	314	322
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.									827	2,164	585
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.									855	2,159	561
Eliminations [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Equity in earnings of affiliates									1,668	2,531	1,237
Total expenses including equity in earnings of affiliates									1,668	2,531	1,237
Income (loss) before income taxes									(1,668)	(2,531)	(1,237)
Net income (loss)									(1,668)	(2,531)	(1,237)
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.									(1,668)	(2,531)	(1,237)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.									$ (1,668)	$ (2,531)	$ (1,237)