Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Comprehensive Income Statement (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues before provision for doubtful accounts		$ 9,411	$ 8,893	$ 28,078	$ 27,245
Provision for doubtful accounts		955	831	2,732	2,666
Revenues		8,456	8,062	25,346	24,579
Salaries and benefits		3,916	3,781	11,681	11,224
Supplies		1,457	1,375	4,406	4,216
Other operating expenses		1,564	1,510	4,594	4,496
Electronic health record incentive income		(75)	(131)	(166)	(256)
Equity in earnings of affiliates		(9)	(6)	(29)	(26)
Depreciation and amortization		443	417	1,292	1,254
Interest expense		458	446	1,392	1,336
Losses (gains) on sales of facilities		1	(7)	13	(4)
Loss on retirement of debt	17			17
Management fees
Total expenses including equity in earnings of a affiliates		7,755	7,385	23,200	22,240
Income (loss) before income taxes		701	677	2,146	2,339
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		234	222	704	760
Net income (loss)		467	455	1,442	1,579
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		102	95	310	288
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.		365	360	1,132	1,291
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.		417	369	1,215	1,291
HCA Holdings, Inc. Issuer [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues before provision for doubtful accounts
Provision for doubtful accounts
Revenues
Salaries and benefits
Supplies
Other operating expenses		2		4
Electronic health record incentive income
Equity in earnings of affiliates		(443)	(379)	(1,303)	(1,348)
Depreciation and amortization
Interest expense		41	30	138	90
Losses (gains) on sales of facilities
Loss on retirement of debt
Management fees
Total expenses including equity in earnings of a affiliates		(400)	(349)	(1,161)	(1,258)
Income (loss) before income taxes		400	349	1,161	1,258
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(17)	(11)	(54)	(33)
Net income (loss)		417	360	1,215	1,291
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.		417	360	1,215	1,291
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.		417	360	1,215	1,291
HCA Inc. Issuer [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues before provision for doubtful accounts
Provision for doubtful accounts
Revenues
Salaries and benefits
Supplies
Other operating expenses		(1)	3	(1)	7
Electronic health record incentive income
Equity in earnings of affiliates
Depreciation and amortization
Interest expense		549	545	1,651	1,603
Losses (gains) on sales of facilities
Loss on retirement of debt				17
Management fees
Total expenses including equity in earnings of a affiliates		548	548	1,667	1,610
Income (loss) before income taxes		(548)	(548)	(1,667)	(1,610)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(214)	(208)	(639)	(597)
Net income (loss)		(334)	(340)	(1,028)	(1,013)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.		(334)	(340)	(1,028)	(1,013)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.		(331)	(357)	(961)	(1,055)
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues before provision for doubtful accounts		4,945	4,672	14,829	14,328
Provision for doubtful accounts		560	484	1,611	1,505
Revenues		4,385	4,188	13,218	12,823
Salaries and benefits		2,090	1,995	6,275	5,928
Supplies		773	711	2,340	2,202
Other operating expenses		771	761	2,260	2,241
Electronic health record incentive income		(53)	(85)	(115)	(174)
Equity in earnings of affiliates			(1)	(2)	(4)
Depreciation and amortization		216	205	636	614
Interest expense		(104)	(98)	(319)	(274)
Losses (gains) on sales of facilities		1		20	3
Loss on retirement of debt
Management fees		(183)	(170)	(547)	(498)
Total expenses including equity in earnings of a affiliates		3,511	3,318	10,548	10,038
Income (loss) before income taxes		874	870	2,670	2,785
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		334	325	1,005	1,014
Net income (loss)		540	545	1,665	1,771
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		19	18	48	51
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.		521	527	1,617	1,720
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.		532	531	1,637	1,733
Subsidiary Non-Guarantors [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues before provision for doubtful accounts		4,466	4,221	13,249	12,917
Provision for doubtful accounts		395	347	1,121	1,161
Revenues		4,071	3,874	12,128	11,756
Salaries and benefits		1,826	1,786	5,406	5,296
Supplies		684	664	2,066	2,014
Other operating expenses		792	746	2,331	2,248
Electronic health record incentive income		(22)	(46)	(51)	(82)
Equity in earnings of affiliates		(9)	(5)	(27)	(22)
Depreciation and amortization		227	212	656	640
Interest expense		(28)	(31)	(78)	(83)
Losses (gains) on sales of facilities			(7)	(7)	(7)
Loss on retirement of debt
Management fees		183	170	547	498
Total expenses including equity in earnings of a affiliates		3,653	3,489	10,843	10,502
Income (loss) before income taxes		418	385	1,285	1,254
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		131	116	392	376
Net income (loss)		287	269	893	878
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		83	77	262	237
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.		204	192	631	641
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.		242	214	627	670
Eliminations [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues before provision for doubtful accounts
Provision for doubtful accounts
Revenues
Salaries and benefits
Supplies
Other operating expenses
Electronic health record incentive income
Equity in earnings of affiliates		443	379	1,303	1,348
Depreciation and amortization
Interest expense
Losses (gains) on sales of facilities
Loss on retirement of debt
Management fees
Total expenses including equity in earnings of a affiliates		443	379	1,303	1,348
Income (loss) before income taxes		(443)	(379)	(1,303)	(1,348)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
Net income (loss)		(443)	(379)	(1,303)	(1,348)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.		(443)	(379)	(1,303)	(1,348)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.		$ (443)	$ (379)	$ (1,303)	$ (1,348)