Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions		Total	Common Stock	Treasury Stock		Common Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital		Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	CVS Health Shareholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest
Shares outstanding, balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			1,712	(698)	[1]
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017		$ 37,695		$ (37,796)	[1]	$ 32,096	[2]	$ 43,556	$ (165)	$ 37,691	$ 4
Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		998						998		998
Other comprehensive income (loss)		344							344	344
Stock option activity, stock awards and other (in shares)			2
Stock option activity, stock awards and other		112				112	[2]			112
Purchase of treasury shares, net of ESPP issuances		49		$ 49	[1]					49
Common stock dividends		(508)						(508)		(508)
Shares outstanding, balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018			1,714	(698)	[1]
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2018		38,677		$ (37,747)	[1]	32,208	[2]	44,040	172	38,673	4
Shares outstanding, balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			1,712	(698)	[1]
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017		37,695		$ (37,796)	[1]	32,096	[2]	43,556	(165)	37,691	4
Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss)		301
Shares outstanding, balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018			1,717	(698)	[1]
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2018		36,622		$ (37,731)	[1]	32,377	[2]	41,843	129	36,618	4
Shares outstanding, balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018			1,714	(698)	[1]
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2018		38,677		$ (37,747)	[1]	32,208	[2]	44,040	172	38,673	4
Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		(2,563)						(2,563)		(2,563)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(31)							(31)	(31)
Stock option activity, stock awards and other (in shares)			2
Stock option activity, stock awards and other		73				73	[2]			73
Purchase of treasury shares, net of ESPP issuances (in shares)	[1]			(1)
Purchase of treasury shares, net of ESPP issuances		(33)		$ (33)	[1]					(33)
Common stock dividends		(512)						(512)		(512)
Shares outstanding, balance at end of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018			1,716	(699)	[1]
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2018		35,611		$ (37,780)	[1]	32,281	[2]	40,965	141	35,607	4
Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		1,390						1,390		1,390
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(12)								(12)
Stock option activity, stock awards and other (in shares)			1
Stock option activity, stock awards and other		96				96	[2]			96
Purchase of treasury shares, net of ESPP issuances (in shares)	[1]			1
Purchase of treasury shares, net of ESPP issuances		49		$ 49	[1]					49
Common stock dividends		(512)						(512)		(512)
Shares outstanding, balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018			1,717	(698)	[1]
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2018		36,622		$ (37,731)	[1]	32,377	[2]	41,843	129	36,618	4
Shares outstanding, balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			1,720	(425)	[3]
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018		58,543		$ (28,228)	[3]	45,440	[4]	40,911	102	58,225	318
Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		1,427						1,421		1,421	6
Other comprehensive income (loss)		331							331	331
Stock option activity, stock awards and other (in shares)			2
Stock option activity, stock awards and other		175				175	[4]			175
Purchase of treasury shares, net of ESPP issuances (in shares)	[3]			1
Purchase of treasury shares, net of ESPP issuances		7		$ 7	[3]					7
Common stock dividends		(651)						(651)		(651)
Other (decreases) increases in noncontrolling interests		(4)									(4)
Shares outstanding, balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019			1,722	(424)	[3]
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2019		60,006		$ (28,221)	[3]	45,615	[4]	41,859	433	59,686	320
Shares outstanding, balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			1,720	(425)	[3]
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018		58,543		$ (28,228)	[3]	45,440	[4]	40,911	102	58,225	318
Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss)		848
Shares outstanding, balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019			1,725	(424)	[3]
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2019		62,933		$ (28,207)	[3]	45,854	[4]	44,017	950	62,614	319
Shares outstanding, balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019			1,722	(424)	[3]
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2019		60,006		$ (28,221)	[3]	45,615	[4]	41,859	433	59,686	320
Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		1,931						1,936		1,936	(5)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		251							251	251
Stock option activity, stock awards and other (in shares)			2
Stock option activity, stock awards and other		104				104	[4]			104
Purchase of treasury shares, net of ESPP issuances (in shares)	[3]			(1)
Purchase of treasury shares, net of ESPP issuances		(36)		$ (36)	[3]					(36)
Common stock dividends		(659)						(659)		(659)
Other (decreases) increases in noncontrolling interests		2									2
Shares outstanding, balance at end of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019			1,724	(425)	[3]
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2019		61,599		$ (28,257)	[3]	45,719	[4]	43,136	684	61,282	317
Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		1,529						1,530		1,530	(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		266								266
Stock option activity, stock awards and other (in shares)			1
Stock option activity, stock awards and other		135				135	[4]			135
Purchase of treasury shares, net of ESPP issuances (in shares)	[3]			1
Purchase of treasury shares, net of ESPP issuances		50		$ 50	[3]					50
Common stock dividends		(649)						(649)		(649)
Other (decreases) increases in noncontrolling interests		3									3
Shares outstanding, balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019			1,725	(424)	[3]
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2019		$ 62,933		$ (28,207)	[3]	$ 45,854	[4]	$ 44,017	$ 950	$ 62,614	$ 319

[1] Treasury shares include 1 million shares held in trust as of September 30, 2018, June 30, 2018, March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Treasury stock includes $29 million related to shares held in trust as of September 30, 2018 and $31 million related to shares held in trust as of June 30, 2018, March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

[2] Common stock and capital surplus includes the par value of common stock of $17 million as of September 30, 2018, June 30, 2018, March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

[3] Treasury shares includes 1 million shares held in trust and treasury stock includes $29 million related to shares held in trust as of September 30, 2019, June 30, 2019, March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

[4] Common stock and capital surplus includes the par value of common stock of $17 million as of September 30, 2019, June 30, 2019, March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.