Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions		Total	Adoption of new accounting standard, adjustment		Total CVS Health Shareholders’ Equity	Total CVS Health Shareholders’ Equity Adoption of new accounting standard, adjustment	[2]	Common Shares	Treasury Shares		Common Stock and Capital Surplus	[3]	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Adoption of new accounting standard, adjustment	[2]	Noncontrolling Interests
Shares outstanding, beginning of year balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020								1,733
Treasury shares outstanding, beginning of year balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	[1]								(423)
Beginning of year balance at Dec. 31, 2020		$ 69,701	$ (766)	[2]	$ 69,389	$ (766)			$ (28,178)	[1]	$ 46,513		$ 49,640	$ 1,414	$ (766)		$ 312
Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income		7,989	91		8,001								8,001				(12)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(314)			(314)									(314)
Stock option activity, stock awards and other (in shares)								11
Stock option activity, stock awards and other		864			864						864
ESPP issuances, net of purchase of treasury shares (in shares)	[1]								1
ESPP issuances, net of purchase of treasury shares		5			5				$ 5	[1]
Common stock dividends		(2,644)			(2,644)								(2,644)
Other increases (decreases) in noncontrolling interests		6															6
Shares outstanding, end of year balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021								1,744
Treasury shares outstanding, end of year balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021	[1]								(422)
End of year balance at Dec. 31, 2021		74,841			74,535				$ (28,173)	[1]	47,377		54,997	334			306
Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income		4,327	162		4,311								4,311				16
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(1,598)			(1,598)									(1,598)
Stock option activity, stock awards and other (in shares)								14
Stock option activity, stock awards and other		816			816						816
Purchase of treasury shares, net of ESPP issuances (in shares)	[1]								(36)
Purchase of treasury shares, net of ESPP issuances		(3,685)			(3,685)				$ (3,685)	[1]
Common stock dividends		(2,910)			(2,910)								(2,910)
Other increases (decreases) in noncontrolling interests		$ (22)															(22)
Shares outstanding, end of year balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022								1,758
Treasury shares outstanding, end of year balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022		(458)							(458)	[1]
End of year balance at Dec. 31, 2022		$ 71,769	$ 454		71,469				$ (31,858)	[1]	48,193		56,398	(1,264)			300
Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income		8,368			8,344								8,344				24
Other comprehensive income (loss)		967			967									967
Stock option activity, stock awards and other (in shares)								10
Stock option activity, stock awards and other		795			795						795
Purchase of treasury shares, net of ESPP issuances (in shares)	[1]								(22)
Purchase of treasury shares, net of ESPP issuances		(1,992)			(1,992)				$ (1,980)	[1]	(12)
Common stock dividends		(3,138)			(3,138)								(3,138)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests		66															66
Other increases (decreases) in noncontrolling interests		$ (199)			16						16						(215)
Shares outstanding, end of year balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023								1,768
Treasury shares outstanding, end of year balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023		(480)							(480)	[1]
End of year balance at Dec. 31, 2023		$ 76,636			$ 76,461				$ (33,838)	[1]	$ 48,992		$ 61,604	$ (297)			$ 175

[1] Treasury shares include 1 million shares held in trust for each of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. Treasury stock includes $29 million related to shares held in trust for each of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. See Note 1 ‘‘Significant Accounting Policies’’ for additional information.

[2] Reflects the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-12, Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts (Topic 944) during the year ended December 31, 2021. See Note 1 ‘‘Significant Accounting Policies’’ for additional information.

[3] Common stock and capital surplus includes the par value of common stock of $18 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and $17 million as of December 31, 2021.