Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	Common Stock Class A	Common Stock Class B	Common Stock Class C	Common Stock Class D	Cumulative Dividends	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	UHS Common Stockholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 6,193,053		$ 66	$ 698	$ 7	$ 0	$ (545,487)	$ 6,604,089	$ 30,291	$ 6,089,664	$ 103,389
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021		$ 5,119
Common Stock
Issued/(converted)	6,795			6				6,789		6,795
Repurchased, including excise tax	(565,182)			(44)				(565,138)		(565,182)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	8,103							8,103		8,103
Dividends paid and accrued	(29,711)						(29,711)			(29,711)
Stock option expense	32,842							32,842		32,842
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(4,673)	(650)									(4,673)
Purchase (sale) of ownership interests by (from) minority members	(1,307)										(1,307)
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss) to UHS / noncontrolling interests	309,822	(20)						317,975		317,975	(8,153)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	(45,826)								(45,826)	(45,826)
Subtotal - comprehensive income	263,996							317,975	(45,826)	272,149	(8,153)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		(20)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	5,903,916		66	660	7	0	(575,198)	6,404,660	(15,535)	5,814,660	89,256
Balance at Jun. 30, 2022		4,449
Balance at Mar. 31, 2022	5,962,578		66	676	7	0	(560,450)	6,414,808	12,765	5,867,872	94,706
Balance at Mar. 31, 2022		4,314
Common Stock
Issued/(converted)	3,150			1				3,149		3,150
Repurchased, including excise tax	(199,677)			(17)				(199,660)		(199,677)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	4,661							4,661		4,661
Dividends paid and accrued	(14,748)						(14,748)			(14,748)
Stock option expense	17,640							17,640		17,640
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(34)										(34)
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss) to UHS / noncontrolling interests	158,646	135						164,062		164,062	(5,416)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	(28,300)								(28,300)	(28,300)
Subtotal - comprehensive income	130,346							164,062	(28,300)	135,762	(5,416)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		135
Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	5,903,916		66	660	7	0	(575,198)	6,404,660	(15,535)	5,814,660	89,256
Balance at Jun. 30, 2022		4,449
Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	5,965,350		66	637	7	0	(604,127)	6,533,667	(9,668)	5,920,582	44,768
Balance at Dec. 31, 2022		4,695
Comprehensive income:
Subtotal - comprehensive income	187,532							171,313	18,475	189,788	(2,256)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		244
Balance at Mar. 31, 2023	6,052,417		66	633	7	0	(618,326)	6,634,774	(5,046)	6,012,108	40,309
Balance at Mar. 31, 2023		4,269
Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	5,965,350		66	637	7	0	(604,127)	6,533,667	(9,668)	5,920,582	44,768
Balance at Dec. 31, 2022		4,695
Common Stock
Issued/(converted)	6,706			6				6,700		6,706
Repurchased, including excise tax	(211,677)			(15)				(211,662)		(211,677)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	10,263							10,263		10,263
Dividends paid and accrued	(28,346)						(28,346)			(28,346)
Stock option expense	32,129							32,129		32,129
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		(1,050)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,685)										(3,685)
Purchase (sale) of ownership interests by (from) minority members	3,814										3,814
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss) to UHS / noncontrolling interests	331,108	568						334,428		334,428	(3,320)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	23,097								23,097	23,097
Subtotal - comprehensive income	354,205							334,428	23,097	357,525	(3,320)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		568
Balance at Jun. 30, 2023	6,128,759		66	628	7	0	(632,473)	6,705,525	13,429	6,087,182	41,577
Balance at Jun. 30, 2023	4,000	4,213
Balance at Mar. 31, 2023	6,052,417		66	633	7	0	(618,326)	6,634,774	(5,046)	6,012,108	40,309
Balance at Mar. 31, 2023		4,269
Common Stock
Issued/(converted)	3,611			3				3,608		3,611
Repurchased, including excise tax	(125,851)			(8)				(125,843)		(125,851)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	5,769							5,769		5,769
Dividends paid and accrued	(14,147)						(14,147)			(14,147)
Stock option expense	15,904							15,904		15,904
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		(300)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(290)										(290)
Purchase (sale) of ownership interests by (from) minority members	3,814										3,814
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss) to UHS / noncontrolling interests	169,057	244						171,313		171,313	(2,256)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	18,475								18,475	18,475
Balance at Jun. 30, 2023	6,128,759		$ 66	$ 628	$ 7	$ 0	$ (632,473)	$ 6,705,525	$ 13,429	$ 6,087,182	$ 41,577
Balance at Jun. 30, 2023	$ 4,000	$ 4,213