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) 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	226						675,609		675,609	(18,853)
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		66	637	7		(604,127)	6,533,667	(9,668)	5,920,582	44,768
Balance at Dec. 31, 2022		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		5,191
Common Stock
Issued/(converted) including tax benefits from exercise of stock options	15,238			12				15,226		15,238
Repurchased	(674,980)			(34)				(674,946)		(674,980)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	43,626							43,626		43,626
Dividends paid	(53,815)						(53,815)			(53,815)
Stock option expense	54,289							54,289		54,289
Change in redemption amount of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(7,144)	7,144						(7,144)		(7,144)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(5,860)	(650)									(5,860)
Purchase of ownership interests by minority members	22,056										22,056
Comprehensive income:
Net income to UHS / noncontrolling interests	1,161,503							1,142,097		1,142,097	19,406
Other								(17)	17
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		1,608
Foreign currency translation adjustments (net of income tax effect)	(3,941)								(3,941)	(3,941)
Minimum pension liability (net of income tax effect)	1,836								1,836	1,836
Subtotal - comprehensive income	1,159,398							1,142,080	(2,088)	1,139,992	19,406
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		1,608
Balance at Dec. 31, 2024	6,749,523		$ 66	$ 577	$ 7		$ (713,705)	$ 7,372,061	$ 7,201	$ 6,666,207	$ 83,316
Balance at Dec. 31, 2024	$ 13,000	$ 13,293