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, 2018	$ 5,465,793		$ 66	$ 841	$ 7	$ 0	$ (409,156)	$ 5,793,262	$ 4,242	$ 5,389,262	$ 76,531
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 4,292
Common Stock
Issued/(converted) including tax benefits from exercise of stock options	10,940			10				10,930		10,940
Repurchased	(753,927)			(57)				(753,870)		(753,927)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	8,222							8,222		8,222
Dividends paid	(53,003)						(53,003)			(53,003)
Stock option expense	60,106							60,106		60,106
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(15,359)	(500)									(15,359)
Other	1,446										1,446
Comprehensive income:
Net income to UHS / noncontrolling interests	827,002							814,854		814,854	12,148
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		541
Foreign currency translation adjustments (net of income tax effect)	24,193								24,193	24,193
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges (net of income tax effect)	(2,997)								(2,997)	(2,997)
Minimum pension liability (net of income tax effect)	6,455								6,455	6,455
Subtotal - comprehensive income	854,653							814,854	27,651	842,505	12,148
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		541
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	5,578,871		66	794	7		(462,159)	5,933,504	31,893	5,504,105	74,766
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019		4,333
Common Stock
Issued/(converted) including tax benefits from exercise of stock options	12,758			4				12,754		12,758
Repurchased	(206,719)			(20)				(206,699)		(206,719)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	9,505							9,505		9,505
Dividends paid	(17,344)						(17,344)			(17,344)
Stock option expense	54,661							54,661		54,661
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(19,305)	(500)									(19,305)
Purchase of ownership interests by minority members	17,959										17,959
Other	3,300										3,300
Comprehensive income:
Net income to UHS / noncontrolling interests	952,054							943,953		943,953	8,101
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		736
Foreign currency translation adjustments (net of income tax effect)	12,870								12,870	12,870
Minimum pension liability (net of income tax effect)	3,357								3,357	3,357
Subtotal - comprehensive income	968,281							943,953	16,227	960,180	8,101
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		736
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	6,401,967		66	778	7		(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	$ 5,000	$ 5,119