Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	Common Stock	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, 2020	$ 6,401,967			$ 66	$ 778	$ 7	$ 0	$ (479,503)	$ 6,747,678	$ 48,120	$ 6,317,146	$ 84,821
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020		$ 4,569
Common Stock
Issued/(converted) including tax benefits from exercise of stock options	13,374				5				13,369		13,374
Repurchased	(1,220,875)				(85)				(1,220,790)		(1,220,875)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	12,936								12,936		12,936
Dividends paid	(65,984)							(65,984)			(65,984)
Stock option expense	59,306								59,306		59,306
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(6,878)	(202)										(6,878)
Purchase of ownership interests by minority members	13,909											13,909
Other	16,247											16,247
Comprehensive income:
Net income to UHS / noncontrolling interests	986,880								991,590		991,590	(4,710)
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		752
Foreign currency translation adjustments (net of income tax effect)	(18,914)									(18,914)	(18,914)
Minimum pension liability (net of income tax effect)	1,085									1,085	1,085
Subtotal - comprehensive income	969,051								991,590	(17,829)	973,761	(4,710)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		752
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	6,193,053			66	698	7		(545,487)	6,604,089	30,291	6,089,664	103,389
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021		5,119
Common Stock
Issued/(converted) including tax benefits from exercise of stock options	14,207				11				14,196		14,207
Repurchased	(832,918)				(72)				(832,846)		(832,918)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	17,649								17,649		17,649
Dividends paid	(58,640)							(58,640)			(58,640)
Stock option expense	66,244								66,244		66,244
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in majority owned business	(48,882)								(11,274)		(11,274)	(37,608)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(4,741)	(650)										(4,741)
Purchase of ownership interests by minority members	2,581											2,581
Comprehensive income:
Net income to UHS / noncontrolling interests	656,756								675,609		675,609	(18,853)
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		226
Foreign currency translation adjustments (net of income tax effect)	(37,779)									(37,779)	(37,779)
Minimum pension liability (net of income tax effect)	(2,180)									(2,180)	(2,180)
Subtotal - comprehensive income	616,797								675,609	(39,959)	635,650	(18,853)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		226
Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	5,965,350		$ 5,965,350	66	637	7		(604,127)	6,533,667	(9,668)	5,920,582	44,768
Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	4,695	4,695
Common Stock
Issued/(converted) including tax benefits from exercise of stock options	13,763				3				13,760		13,763
Repurchased	(552,608)				(41)				(552,567)		(552,608)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	22,032								22,032		22,032
Dividends paid	(55,763)							(55,763)			(55,763)
Stock option expense	64,243								64,243		64,243
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(5,780)	(1,050)										(5,780)
Purchase of ownership interests by minority members	8,760											8,760
Comprehensive income:
Net income to UHS / noncontrolling interests	717,761								717,795		717,795	(34)
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		1,546
Foreign currency translation adjustments (net of income tax effect)	15,791									15,791	15,791
Minimum pension liability (net of income tax effect)	3,166									3,166	3,166
Subtotal - comprehensive income	736,718								717,795	18,957	736,752	(34)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		1,546
Balance at Dec. 31, 2023	6,196,715			$ 66	$ 599	$ 7		$ (659,890)	$ 6,798,930	$ 9,289	$ 6,149,001	$ 47,714
Balance at Dec. 31, 2023	$ 5,000	$ 5,191