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, 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	(3,685)	(1,050)									(3,685)
Sale of ownership interests to 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		4,213
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	(290)	(300)									(290)
Sale of ownership interests to 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
Subtotal - comprehensive income	187,532							171,313	18,475	189,788	(2,256)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		244
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
Balance at Dec. 31, 2023	6,196,715		66	599	7	0	(659,890)	6,798,930	9,289	6,149,001	47,714
Balance at Dec. 31, 2023		5,191
Common Stock
Issued/(converted)	7,394			8				7,386		7,394
Repurchased, including excise tax	(239,938)			(13)				(239,925)		(239,938)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	17,879							17,879		17,879
Dividends paid and accrued	(27,125)						(27,125)			(27,125)
Stock option expense	27,669							27,669		27,669
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		(649)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(4,440)										(4,440)
Sale of ownership interests to minority members	13,869										13,869
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss) to UHS / noncontrolling interests	559,276	876						550,986		550,986	8,290
Other								(17)	17
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	(494)								(494)	(494)
Subtotal - comprehensive income	558,782							550,969	(477)	550,492	8,290
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		876
Balance at Jun. 30, 2024	6,550,805		66	594	7	0	(687,015)	7,162,908	8,812	6,485,372	65,433
Balance at Jun. 30, 2024	5,000	5,418
Balance at Mar. 31, 2024	6,305,844		66	600	7	0	(673,436)	6,921,547	7,913	6,256,697	49,147
Balance at Mar. 31, 2024		4,987
Common Stock
Issued/(converted)	3,983			(2)				3,985		3,983
Repurchased, including excise tax	(77,847)			(4)				(77,843)		(77,847)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	12,779							12,779		12,779
Dividends paid and accrued	(13,579)						(13,579)			(13,579)
Stock option expense	13,288							13,288		13,288
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(609)										(609)
Sale of ownership interests to minority members	12,148										12,148
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss) to UHS / noncontrolling interests	293,899	431						289,152		289,152	4,747
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	899								899	899
Subtotal - comprehensive income	294,798							289,152	899	290,051	4,747
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		431
Balance at Jun. 30, 2024	6,550,805		$ 66	$ 594	$ 7	$ 0	$ (687,015)	$ 7,162,908	$ 8,812	$ 6,485,372	$ 65,433
Balance at Jun. 30, 2024	$ 5,000	$ 5,418