Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class D	Cumulative Dividends	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	UHS Common Stockholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 2,765,949		$ 66	$ 903	$ 7	$ 0	$ (205,910)	$ 2,962,433	$ (44,154)	$ 2,713,345	$ 52,604
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012		$ 234,303
Common Stock
Issued/(converted) including tax benefits from exercise of stock options	26,880			11				26,869		26,880
Repurchased	(27,201)			(4)				(27,197)		(27,201)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	664							664		664
Dividends paid	(19,621)						(19,621)			(19,621)
Stock option expense	25,835							25,835		25,835
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(13,039)	(48,290)									(13,039)
Other	(511)										(511)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	521,929							510,733		510,733	11,196
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		32,094
Amortization of terminated hedge (net of income tax effect)	(216)								(216)	(216)
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges (net of income tax effect)	10,573								10,573	10,573
Minimum pension liability (net of income tax effect)	8,987								8,987	8,987
Subtotal - comprehensive income	541,273							510,733	19,344	530,077	11,196
Subtotal - comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		32,094
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	3,300,229		66	910	7	0	(225,531)	3,499,337	(24,810)	3,249,979	50,250
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013		218,107
Common Stock
Issued/(converted) including tax benefits from exercise of stock options	41,801			14				41,787		41,801
Repurchased	(100,749)			(10)				(100,739)		(100,749)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	491							491		491
Dividends paid	(29,665)						(29,665)			(29,665)
Stock option expense	29,168							29,168		29,168
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(7,666)	(26,016)									(7,666)
Other	358										358
Comprehensive income:
Net income	557,535							545,343		545,343	12,192
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		47,461
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(2,431)								(2,431)	(2,431)
Amortization of terminated hedge (net of income tax effect)	(216)								(216)	(216)
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges (net of income tax effect)	11,139								11,139	11,139
Minimum pension liability (net of income tax effect)	(8,914)								(8,914)	(8,914)
Subtotal - comprehensive income	557,113							545,343	(422)	544,921	12,192
Subtotal - comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		47,461
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	3,791,080		66	914	7	0	(255,196)	4,015,387	(25,232)	3,735,946	55,134
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	240,000	239,552
Common Stock
Issued/(converted) including tax benefits from exercise of stock options	56,487			14				56,473		56,487
Repurchased	(224,260)			(18)				(224,242)		(224,260)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	393							393		393
Dividends paid	(39,532)						(39,532)			(39,532)
Stock option expense	37,982							37,982		37,982
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(11,114)	(51,106)									(11,114)
Other	(613)										(613)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	696,635							680,528		680,528	16,107
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		54,063
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,728)								(1,728)	(1,728)
Amortization of terminated hedge (net of income tax effect)	(216)								(216)	(216)
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges (net of income tax effect)	2,687								2,687	2,687
Minimum pension liability (net of income tax effect)	1,360								1,360	1,360
Subtotal - comprehensive income	698,738							680,528	2,103	682,631	16,107
Subtotal - comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		54,063
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	4,309,161		$ 66	$ 910	$ 7	$ 0	$ (294,728)	$ 4,566,521	$ (23,129)	$ 4,249,647	$ 59,514
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 243,000	$ 239,552