Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Equity (Deficit) [Member]	American Well Corporation Stockholder Equity (Deficit) [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 1,246,197	$ 2,357	$ (37,568)	$ 1,841,405	$ 297	$ (582,359)	$ 1,224,132	$ 22,065
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		235,604,105
Exercise of common stock options	10,130	$ 34		10,096			10,130
Exercise of common stock options, Shares		3,474,375
Vesting of restricted stock units		$ 9		(9)
Vesting of restricted stock units ,Shares		853,842
Retirement of treasury stock			37,568	(15)		(37,553)
Shares withheld related to net share settlement and retired treasury stock in 2021	(9,771)	$ (4)		4		(9,771)	(9,771)
Shares withheld related to net share settlement and retired treasury stock, Shares		(402,060)
Stock-based compensation expense	8,642			8,642			8,642
Currency translation adjustment	(52)				(52)		(52)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	34				34		34
Net loss	(39,805)					(39,188)	(39,188)	(617)
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2021	1,215,375	$ 2,396		1,860,123	279	(668,871)	1,193,927	21,448
Ending balance, Shares at Mar. 31, 2021		239,530,262
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020	1,246,197	$ 2,357	$ (37,568)	1,841,405	297	(582,359)	1,224,132	22,065
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		235,604,105
Currency translation adjustment	(72)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	(85)
Net loss	(77,941)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2021	1,192,643	$ 2,422		1,877,497	140	(708,587)	1,171,472	21,171
Ending balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2021		242,118,903
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2021	1,215,375	$ 2,396		1,860,123	279	(668,871)	1,193,927	21,448
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021		239,530,262
Exercise of common stock options	6,674	$ 18		6,656			6,674
Exercise of common stock options, Shares		1,812,491
Vesting of restricted stock units		$ 9		(9)
Vesting of restricted stock units ,Shares		844,900
Shares withheld related to net share settlement and retired treasury stock in 2021	(1,857)	$ (1)		1		(1,857)	(1,857)
Shares withheld related to net share settlement and retired treasury stock, Shares		(68,750)
Stock-based compensation expense	10,726			10,726			10,726
Currency translation adjustment	(20)				(20)		(20)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	(119)				(119)		(119)
Net loss	(38,136)					(37,859)	(37,859)	(277)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2021	1,192,643	$ 2,422		1,877,497	140	(708,587)	1,171,472	21,171
Ending balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2021		242,118,903
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2021	1,260,875	$ 2,620		2,054,275	(6,353)	(811,284)	1,239,258	21,617
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021		261,871,587
Exercise of common stock options	2,465	$ 10		2,455			2,465
Exercise of common stock options, Shares		976,644
Vesting of restricted stock units		$ 14		(14)
Vesting of restricted stock units ,Shares		1,398,305
Issuance of stock under employee stock purchase plan	1,501	$ 4		1,497			1,501
Issuance of stock under employee stock purchase plan,Shares		425,114
Issuance of common stock related to Conversa/SilverCloud earn-out settlement	4,298	$ 10		4,288			4,298
Issuance of common stock related to Conversa/SilverCloud earn-out settlement, Shares		1,020,964
Stock-based compensation expense	12,085			12,085			12,085
Capital contributed by selling shareholders of acquired businesses	2,019			2,019			2,019
Currency translation adjustment	(2,951)				(2,951)		(2,951)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	(1,251)				(1,251)		(1,251)
Net loss	(70,253)					(70,037)	(70,037)	(216)
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2022	1,208,788	$ 2,658		2,076,605	(10,555)	(881,321)	1,187,387	21,401
Ending balance, Shares at Mar. 31, 2022		265,692,614
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2021	1,260,875	$ 2,620		2,054,275	(6,353)	(811,284)	1,239,258	21,617
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021		261,871,587
Currency translation adjustment	(13,130)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	(1,362)
Net loss	(139,905)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2022	1,160,893	$ 2,734		2,108,576	(20,845)	(950,466)	1,139,999	20,894
Ending balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2022		273,343,017
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2022	1,208,788	$ 2,658		2,076,605	(10,555)	(881,321)	1,187,387	21,401
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022		265,692,614
Exercise of common stock options	1,926	$ 10		1,916			1,926
Exercise of common stock options, Shares		1,083,571
Vesting of restricted stock units		$ 16		(16)
Vesting of restricted stock units ,Shares		1,606,976
Issuance of common stock related to Conversa/SilverCloud earn-out settlement	12,945	$ 50		12,895			12,945
Issuance of common stock related to Conversa/SilverCloud earn-out settlement, Shares		4,959,856
Receipt of Section 16(b) disgorgement	295			295			295
Stock-based compensation expense	14,907			14,907			14,907
Capital contributed by selling shareholders of acquired businesses	1,974			1,974			1,974
Currency translation adjustment	(10,179)				(10,179)		(10,179)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	(111)				(111)		(111)
Net loss	(69,652)					(69,145)	(69,145)	(507)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2022	$ 1,160,893	$ 2,734		$ 2,108,576	$ (20,845)	$ (950,466)	$ 1,139,999	$ 20,894
Ending balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2022		273,343,017