Leases Leases (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating Leases, Rent Expense		$ 207	$ 205
Lessee, Operating Lease, Lease Not yet Commenced, Term of Contract	12 years
Lessee, Operating Lease, Lease Not yet Commenced, Description	are expected to commence on various dates during 2020 and 2021 when the construction is complete and we take possession of the buildings.
Lessee, Operating Lease, Lease Not Yet Commenced Expense	$ 394
Minimum [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Term of Contract	1 year
Maximum [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Term of Contract	15 years

Represents undiscounted lease payments.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	antm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of rent expense incurred for leased assets, including but not limited to, furniture and equipment, that is not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of lessee's operating lease that has not yet commenced. Including, but not limited to, nature of involvement with construction or design of underlying asset for lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888426&loc=SL77918673-209980

+ Details

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

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease not yet commenced, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888426&loc=SL77918673-209980

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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- Details

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