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)	10,534			7				10,527		10,534
Repurchased, including excise tax	(723,384)			(60)				(723,324)		(723,384)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	12,972							12,972		12,972
Dividends paid and accrued	(44,318)						(44,318)			(44,318)
Stock option expense	48,639							48,639		48,639
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in majority owned business	(48,882)							(11,274)		(11,274)	(37,608)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(4,776)	(650)									(4,776)
Purchase (sale) of ownership interests by (from) minority members	1,992										1,992
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss) to UHS / noncontrolling interests	486,519	94						500,789		500,789	(14,270)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	(28,269)								(28,269)	(28,269)
Subtotal - comprehensive income	458,250							500,789	(28,269)	472,520	(14,270)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		94
Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	5,904,080		66	645	7	0	(589,805)	6,442,418	2,022	5,855,353	48,727
Balance at Sep. 30, 2022		4,563
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
Common Stock
Issued/(converted)	3,739			1				3,738		3,739
Repurchased, including excise tax	(158,202)			(16)				(158,186)		(158,202)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	4,869							4,869		4,869
Dividends paid and accrued	(14,607)						(14,607)			(14,607)
Stock option expense	15,797							15,797		15,797
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in majority owned business	(48,882)							(11,274)		(11,274)	(37,608)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(103)										(103)
Purchase (sale) of ownership interests by (from) minority members	3,299										3,299
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss) to UHS / noncontrolling interests	176,697	114						182,814		182,814	(6,117)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	17,557								17,557	17,557
Subtotal - comprehensive income	194,254							182,814	17,557	200,371	(6,117)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		114
Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	5,904,080		66	645	7	0	(589,805)	6,442,418	2,022	5,855,353	48,727
Balance at Sep. 30, 2022		4,563
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)	9,950			7				9,943		9,950
Repurchased, including excise tax	(389,011)			(29)				(388,982)		(389,011)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	16,395							16,395		16,395
Dividends paid and accrued	(42,147)						(42,147)			(42,147)
Stock option expense	48,337							48,337		48,337
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		(1,050)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(4,208)										(4,208)
Purchase (sale) of ownership interests by (from) minority members	3,814										3,814
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss) to UHS / noncontrolling interests	498,611	1,074						501,417		501,417	(2,806)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	(608)								(608)	(608)
Subtotal - comprehensive income	498,003							501,417	(608)	500,809	(2,806)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		1,074
Balance at Sep. 30, 2023	6,106,483		66	615	7	0	(646,274)	6,720,777	(10,276)	6,064,915	41,568
Balance at Sep. 30, 2023	5,000	4,719
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		4,213
Common Stock
Issued/(converted)	3,244			1				3,243		3,244
Repurchased, including excise tax	(177,334)			(14)				(177,320)		(177,334)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	6,132							6,132		6,132
Dividends paid and accrued	(13,801)						(13,801)			(13,801)
Stock option expense	16,208							16,208		16,208
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(523)										(523)
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss) to UHS / noncontrolling interests	167,503	506						166,989		166,989	514
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	(23,705)								(23,705)	(23,705)
Subtotal - comprehensive income	143,798							166,989	(23,705)	143,284	514
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		506
Balance at Sep. 30, 2023	6,106,483		$ 66	$ 615	$ 7	$ 0	$ (646,274)	$ 6,720,777	$ (10,276)	$ 6,064,915	$ 41,568
Balance at Sep. 30, 2023	$ 5,000	$ 4,719