Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information and Other Collateral-Related Information - Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 2,006	$ 2,842	$ 1,573
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Change in operating assets and liabilities	(3,663)	(2,953)	(2,847)
Provision for doubtful accounts	3,770	2,824	2,648
Depreciation and amortization	1,679	1,465	1,421
Income taxes	96	912	27
Gains on sales of facilities	(15)	(142)	(4)
Gain on acquisition of controlling interest in equity investment		(1,522)
Impairments of long-lived assets			123
Legal claim costs	175
Losses on retirement of debt		481
Amortization of deferred loan costs	62	70	81
Share-based compensation	56	26	32
Pay-in-kind interest		(78)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(36)	(258)	(282)
Other	9	8	31
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	4,175	3,933	3,085
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(1,862)	(1,679)	(1,325)
Acquisition of hospitals and health care entities	(258)	(1,682)	(233)
Disposal of hospitals and health care entities	30	281	37
Change in investments	16	80	472
Other	11	5	10
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,063)	(2,995)	(1,039)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuances of long-term debt	4,850	5,500	2,912
Net change in revolving bank credit facilities	(685)	(449)	1,889
Repayment of long-term debt	(2,441)	(6,640)	(2,268)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(401)	(378)	(342)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests			57
Payment of debt issuance costs	(62)	(92)	(50)
Issuance of common stock		2,506
Repurchase of common stock		(1,503)
Distributions to stockholders	(3,148)	(31)	(4,257)
Income tax benefits	174	63	114
Other	(67)	48	(2)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,780)	(976)	(1,947)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	332	(38)	99
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	373	411	312
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	705	373	411
HCA Holdings, Inc. Issuer [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	1,588	2,453	1,229
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Change in operating assets and liabilities	57	6	12
Income taxes	96	912	27
Amortization of deferred loan costs	2
Share-based compensation	56	26	32
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(1,668)	(2,531)	(1,237)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	131	866	63
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuances of long-term debt	1,000		1,525
Payment of debt issuance costs	(12)		(23)
Issuance of common stock		2,506
Repurchase of common stock		(1,503)
Distributions to stockholders	(3,148)	(31)	(4,257)
Income tax benefits	174	63	114
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	1,938	(1,918)	2,590
Other	(61)	11	(6)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(109)	(872)	(57)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	22	(6)	6
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		6
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	22		6
HCA Inc. Issuer [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(1,508)	(1,988)	(1,750)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Change in operating assets and liabilities	(28)	71	13
Legal claim costs	175
Losses on retirement of debt		481
Amortization of deferred loan costs	60	70	81
Pay-in-kind interest		(78)
Other	14	9	31
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(1,287)	(1,435)	(1,625)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuances of long-term debt	3,850	5,500	1,387
Net change in revolving bank credit facilities	(685)	(449)	1,889
Repayment of long-term debt	(2,309)	(6,577)	(2,164)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(50)	(92)	(27)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	481	3,053	556
Other			(16)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	1,287	1,435	1,625
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	2,428	2,430	2,424
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Change in operating assets and liabilities	(1,927)	(1,755)	(1,759)
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,144	1,644	1,632
Depreciation and amortization	821	777	782
Gains on sales of facilities	3	(127)
Impairments of long-lived assets			58
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(5)	(86)	(107)
Other	(1)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	3,468	2,969	3,137
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(1,039)	(910)	(602)
Acquisition of hospitals and health care entities	(110)	(142)	(21)
Disposal of hospitals and health care entities	2	200	29
Change in investments	(11)	34	1
Other	(2)		(3)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,160)	(818)	(596)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of long-term debt	(20)	(17)	(32)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(60)	(77)	(61)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	(1,960)	(2,098)	(2,387)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(2,040)	(2,192)	(2,480)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	268	(41)	61
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	115	156	95
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	383	115	156
Subsidiary Non-Guarantors [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	1,166	2,478	907
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Change in operating assets and liabilities	(1,765)	(1,275)	(1,113)
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,626	1,180	1,016
Depreciation and amortization	858	688	639
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
Amortization of deferred loan costs
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(31)	(172)	(175)
Other	(4)	(1)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	1,863	1,533	1,510
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(823)	(769)	(723)
Acquisition of hospitals and health care entities	(148)	(1,540)	(212)
Disposal of hospitals and health care entities	28	81	8
Change in investments	27	46	471
Other	13	5	13
Net cash used in investing activities	(903)	(2,177)	(443)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of long-term debt	(112)	(46)	(72)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(341)	(301)	(281)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests			57
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	(459)	963	(759)
Other	(6)	37	20
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(918)	653	(1,035)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	42	9	32
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	258	249	217
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	300	258	249
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(1,668)	(2,531)	(1,237)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity in earnings of affiliates	$ 1,668	$ 2,531	$ 1,237