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, 2020	$ 6,401,967		$ 66	$ 778	$ 7	$ 0	$ (479,503)	$ 6,747,678	$ 48,120	$ 6,317,146	$ 84,821
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020		$ 4,569
Common Stock
Issued/(converted)	3,360			4				3,356		3,360
Repurchased	(7,464)			(1)				(7,463)		(7,464)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	2,862							2,862		2,862
Dividends paid and accrued	(17,018)						(17,018)			(17,018)
Stock option expense	14,765							14,765		14,765
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(4,525)										(4,525)
Purchase (sale) of ownership interests by (from) minority members	7,603										7,603
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss) to UHS / noncontrolling interests	209,169	(99)						209,091		209,091	78
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	(8,880)								(8,880)	(8,880)
Subtotal - comprehensive income	200,289							209,091	(8,880)	200,211	78
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		(99)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	6,601,839		66	781	7	0	(496,521)	6,970,289	39,240	6,513,862	87,977
Balance at Mar. 31, 2021		4,470
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)	3,645			5				3,640		3,645
Repurchased	(365,505)			(27)				(365,478)		(365,505)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	3,442							3,442		3,442
Dividends paid and accrued	(14,963)						(14,963)			(14,963)
Stock option expense	15,202							15,202		15,202
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(4,639)	(650)									(4,639)
Purchase (sale) of ownership interests by (from) minority members	(1,307)										(1,307)
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss) to UHS / noncontrolling interests	151,176	(155)						153,913		153,913	(2,737)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax	(17,526)								(17,526)	(17,526)
Subtotal - comprehensive income	133,650							153,913	(17,526)	136,387	(2,737)
Subtotal attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		(155)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2022	5,962,578		$ 66	$ 676	$ 7	$ 0	$ (560,450)	$ 6,414,808	$ 12,765	$ 5,867,872	$ 94,706
Balance at Mar. 31, 2022	$ 4,000	$ 4,314