Debt Instrument Redemption Amount

No definition available.

Name:	hca_DebtInstrumentRedemptionAmount
Namespace Prefix:	hca_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12317-112629

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

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-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12355-112629

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the credit facility terminates, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityExpirationDate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3291-108585

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=hca_SeniorSecuredNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyFourMember
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Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=hca_SeniorUnsecuredNotesDueTwoThousandFourteenMember
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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=hca_SeniorUnsecuredNotesDueTwoThousandFifteenMember
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- Details

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Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	May. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Pretax loss on retirement of debt		$ 125,000,000	$ 226,000,000
Debt instrument, repayment amount		$ 3,702,000,000	$ 3,525,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Secured Term Loan Facility Maturing on June 10, 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount				$ 1,400,000,000
Debt instrument maturity date		Jun. 10, 2020
Pretax loss on retirement of debt		$ 3,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Secured Notes Due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount	$ 1,500,000,000							$ 600,000,000
Debt instrument, stated interest	3.75%							4.25%	8.50%
Redemption of aggregate principal amount									$ 1,500,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Secured Notes Due 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount	$ 2,000,000,000
Pretax loss on retirement of debt		226,000,000
Debt instrument, stated interest	5.00%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2014 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, stated interest	5.75%
Debt instrument, repayment amount	$ 500,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Secured Notes Due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Pretax loss on retirement of debt		109,000,000
Debt instrument, stated interest							7.25%		7.875%
Redemption of aggregate principal amount							$ 1,400,000,000		$ 1,250,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Secured Notes Due 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount					$ 1,600,000,000	$ 1,000,000,000		$ 1,400,000,000
Debt instrument, stated interest					5.375%	5.375%		5.25%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount						$ 750,000,000
Debt instrument, stated interest						6.375%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount					$ 1,525,000,000
Pretax loss on retirement of debt		$ 122,000,000
Debt instrument, stated interest					7.75%