Accounting Policies - Impact of New Revenue Recognition Standard on Financial Statement Line Items (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
Net revenue	$ 46,708		$ 92,401
Cost of revenue	39,507	$ 38,759	78,341	$ 76,702
Gross profit	7,201	6,926	14,060	13,497
Operating profit (loss)	(1,587)	2,117	359	3,910
Income (loss) before income tax provision	(2,065)	1,863	(595)	3,397
Income tax provision	497	766	969	1,338
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(2,562)	1,097	(1,564)	2,059
Net income (loss)	(2,563)	1,098	(1,565)	2,051
Net income (loss) attributable to CVS Health	(2,563)	1,098	(1,565)	2,050
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
Accrued expenses	7,640		7,640		$ 6,626	$ 6,609
Deferred income taxes	3,054		3,054		2,992	2,996
Total Liabilities	97,679		97,679		57,449	57,436
Retained earnings	40,965		40,965		43,543	43,556
Total CVS Health shareholders’ equity	35,607		35,607		37,678	37,691
Total shareholders’ equity	35,611		35,611		37,682	$ 37,695
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(2,563)	$ 1,098	(1,565)	2,051
Deferred income taxes and other noncash items			252	21
Accrued expenses			1,143	$ 1,345
ASU 2014-09 | Adjustment
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
Net revenue	(3)		(10)
Cost of revenue	(2)		(6)
Gross profit	(1)		(4)
Operating profit (loss)	(1)		(4)
Income (loss) before income tax provision	(1)		(4)
Income tax provision			(1)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(1)		(3)
Net income (loss)	(1)		(3)
Net income (loss) attributable to CVS Health	(1)		(3)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
Accrued expenses	21		21		17
Deferred income taxes	(5)		(5)		(4)
Total Liabilities	16		16		13
Retained earnings	(16)		(16)		(13)
Total CVS Health shareholders’ equity	(16)		(16)		(13)
Total shareholders’ equity	(16)		(16)		$ (13)
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(1)		(3)
Deferred income taxes and other noncash items			(1)
Accrued expenses			4
ASU 2014-09 | As previously reported
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
Net revenue	46,711		92,411
Cost of revenue	39,509		78,347
Gross profit	7,202		14,064
Operating profit (loss)	(1,586)		363
Income (loss) before income tax provision	(2,064)		(591)
Income tax provision	497		970
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(2,561)		(1,561)
Net income (loss)	(2,562)		(1,562)
Net income (loss) attributable to CVS Health	(2,562)		(1,562)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
Accrued expenses	7,619		7,619
Deferred income taxes	3,059		3,059
Total Liabilities	97,663		97,663
Retained earnings	40,981		40,981
Total CVS Health shareholders’ equity	35,623		35,623
Total shareholders’ equity	35,627		35,627
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (2,562)		(1,562)
Deferred income taxes and other noncash items			253
Accrued expenses			$ 1,139