Financing Arrangements (Other Information, Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended											12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 18.1	[1]	$ 24.0	$ 12.1	$ 14.9	$ 18.4	$ 45.0	[2]	$ 16.5	$ (24.0)	[3]	$ 69.1	$ 55.9	$ (8.4)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in unrealized holding gains on investments in securities												4.7	0.2	4.5
Change in unfunded pension liability												61.7	(112.4)	31.8
Change in fair value of other post-retirement benefit plans												(0.9)	0	0.9
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes												65.5	(112.2)	37.2
Change in Income tax (expense) benefit												(25.2)	43.2	(14.1)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes												40.3	(69.0)	23.1
Comprehensive income (loss)												109.4	(13.1)	14.7
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests												(7.2)	1.4	(3.6)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. stockholders												102.2	(11.7)	11.1
Parent [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements [Line Items]
Net income (loss)												61.9	57.3	(12.0)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in unrealized holding gains on investments in securities												0	0	0
Change in unfunded pension liability												0	0	0
Change in fair value of other post-retirement benefit plans												0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes												0	0	0
Change in Income tax (expense) benefit												0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes												0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)												61.9	57.3	(12.0)
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests												0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. stockholders												61.9	57.3	(12.0)
Issuers of Senior Notes and Term Debt [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements [Line Items]
Net income (loss)												(207.5)	(180.9)	(145.5)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in unrealized holding gains on investments in securities												0	0	0
Change in unfunded pension liability												0	0	0
Change in fair value of other post-retirement benefit plans												0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes												0	0	0
Change in Income tax (expense) benefit												0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes												0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)												(207.5)	(180.9)	(145.5)
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests												0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. stockholders												(207.5)	(180.9)	(145.5)
Issuers of Senior Discount Notes [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements [Line Items]
Net income (loss)												(1.6)	(43.4)	(32.9)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in unrealized holding gains on investments in securities												0	0	0
Change in unfunded pension liability												0	0	0
Change in fair value of other post-retirement benefit plans												0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes												0	0	0
Change in Income tax (expense) benefit												0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes												0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)												(1.6)	(43.4)	(32.9)
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests												0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. stockholders												(1.6)	(43.4)	(32.9)
Guarantor subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements [Line Items]
Net income (loss)												328.2	324.6	114.4
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in unrealized holding gains on investments in securities												0	0	0
Change in unfunded pension liability												61.7	(112.4)	31.8
Change in fair value of other post-retirement benefit plans												(0.9)		0.9
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes												60.8	(112.4)	32.7
Change in Income tax (expense) benefit												(23.4)	43.3	(12.4)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes												37.4	(69.1)	20.3
Comprehensive income (loss)												365.6	255.5	134.7
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests												0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. stockholders												365.6	255.5	134.7
Combined non-guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements [Line Items]
Net income (loss)												(22.4)	(28.5)	45.3
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in unrealized holding gains on investments in securities												4.7	0.2	4.5
Change in unfunded pension liability												0	0	0
Change in fair value of other post-retirement benefit plans												0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes												4.7	0.2	4.5
Change in Income tax (expense) benefit												(1.8)	(0.1)	(1.7)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes												2.9	0.1	2.8
Comprehensive income (loss)												(19.5)	(28.4)	48.1
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests												(7.2)	1.4	(3.6)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. stockholders												(26.7)	(27.0)	44.5
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements [Line Items]
Net income (loss)												(89.5)	(73.2)	22.3
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in unrealized holding gains on investments in securities												0	0	0
Change in unfunded pension liability												0	0	0
Change in fair value of other post-retirement benefit plans												0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes												0	0	0
Change in Income tax (expense) benefit												0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes												0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)												(89.5)	(73.2)	22.3
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests												0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. stockholders												$ (89.5)	$ (73.2)	$ 22.3

[1] These amounts include a gain on the disposition of equipment, certain current assets and third-party customer relationships associated with certain lab services. Related to this sale, the Company received approximately $15.5 million in cash and recognized a gain on sale for approximately $15.2 million ($9.3 million net of taxes or $0.12 per diluted share) during the quarter ended June 30, 2013.

[2] These amounts include the positive impact of recognizing revenues related to the rural floor provision for approximately $40.6 million and directly related expenses of approximately $7.8 million. The net impact on the quarter ended March 31, 2012 was an increase to net income for approximately $32.8 million ($21.7 million net of taxes or $0.28 per diluted share).

[3] This quarterly amount includes a charge of $38.9 million ($25.3 million or $0.32 per diluted share net of taxes) related to the debt extinguishment costs recognized in connection with the majority redemption of the Senior Discount Notes.