Segments (Service Revenues And Sales And After-Tax Earnings By Business Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
After-tax Income/(Loss)	$ 50,729	$ 54,971	$ 95,396	$ 99,967
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
After-tax Income/(Loss)	64,514	57,083	116,788	112,036
VITAS [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
After-tax Income/(Loss)	37,339	31,785	66,626	63,800
Roto-Rooter [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
After-tax Income/(Loss)	27,175	25,298	50,162	48,236
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
After-tax Income/(Loss)	$ (13,785)	$ (2,112)	$ (21,392)	$ (12,069)