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)	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	(4,208)	(1,050)									(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		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		4,719
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)	11,031			11				11,020		11,031
Repurchased, including excise tax	(424,077)			(21)				(424,056)		(424,077)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	30,746							30,746		30,746
Dividends paid and accrued	(40,597)						(40,597)			(40,597)
Stock option expense	41,025							41,025		41,025
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		(649)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(5,142)										(5,142)
Purchase (sale) of ownership interests by (from) minority members	17,537										17,537
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss) to UHS / noncontrolling interests	824,981	1,081						809,700		809,700	15,281
Other								(17)	17
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	28,867								28,867	28,867
Subtotal - comprehensive income	853,848							809,683	28,884	838,567	15,281
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		1,081
Balance at Sep. 30, 2024	6,681,086		66	589	7	0	(700,487)	7,267,348	38,173	6,605,696	75,390
Balance at Sep. 30, 2024	6,000	5,623
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		5,418
Common Stock
Issued/(converted)	3,637			3				3,634		3,637
Repurchased, including excise tax	(184,139)			(8)				(184,131)		(184,139)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	12,867							12,867		12,867
Dividends paid and accrued	(13,472)						(13,472)			(13,472)
Stock option expense	13,356							13,356		13,356
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(702)										(702)
Purchase (sale) of ownership interests by (from) minority members	3,668										3,668
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss) to UHS / noncontrolling interests	265,705	205						258,714		258,714	6,991
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	29,361								29,361	29,361
Subtotal - comprehensive income	295,066							258,714	29,361	288,075	6,991
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		205
Balance at Sep. 30, 2024	6,681,086		$ 66	$ 589	$ 7	$ 0	$ (700,487)	$ 7,267,348	$ 38,173	$ 6,605,696	$ 75,390
Balance at Sep. 30, 2024	$ 6,000	$ 5,623