Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Numerator for earnings (loss) per share calculation:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 7,201	$ 6,631	$ (596)
Income allocated to participating securities	0	(5)	(3)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(13)	3	2
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CVS Health	$ 7,188	$ 6,629	$ (597)
Denominator for earnings (loss) per share calculation:
Weighted average shares, basic (in shares)	1,309	1,301	1,044
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	5	4	0
Weighted average shares, diluted (in shares)	1,314	1,305	1,044
Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations:
Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations, basic (USD per share)	$ 5.49	$ 5.10	$ (0.57)
Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations, diluted (USD per share)	$ 5.47	$ 5.08	$ (0.57)
Employee Stock Option
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of EPS (in shares)	15	17	13
Common Equivalent Shares
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of EPS (in shares)			3