Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Comprehensive Income Statement) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	$ 8,893	$ 7,998		$ 27,245	$ 24,077
Provision for doubtful accounts	831	740		2,666	2,164
Revenues	8,062	7,258		24,579	21,913
Salaries and benefits	3,781	3,333		11,224	9,948
Supplies	1,375	1,263		4,216	3,833
Other operating expenses	1,510	1,369		4,496	4,017
Electronic health record incentive income	(131)	(51)		(256)	(90)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	6	68		26	217
Depreciation and amortization	417	362		1,254	1,078
Interest expense	446	519		1,336	1,572
Losses (gains) on sales of facilities	(7)	2		(4)	3
Losses on retirement of debt		406	(75)		481
Termination of management agreement					181
Total expenses including equity in earnings of a affiliates	7,385	7,135		22,240	20,806
Income (loss) before income taxes	677	123		2,339	1,107
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	222	(23)		760	307
Net income (loss)	455	146		1,579	800
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	95	85		288	270
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	360	61		1,291	530
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	369	(24)		1,291	534
HCA Holdings, Inc. Issuer [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Equity in earnings of affiliates	379	77		1,348	581
Interest expense	30	20		90	80
Total expenses including equity in earnings of a affiliates	(349)	(57)		(1,258)	(501)
Income (loss) before income taxes	349	57		1,258	501
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(11)	(4)		(33)	(29)
Net income (loss)	360	61		1,291	530
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	360	61		1,291	530
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	360	61		1,291	530
HCA Inc. Issuer [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Other operating expenses	3	1		7	5
Interest expense	545	776		1,603	2,208
Losses on retirement of debt		406			481
Termination of management agreement					181
Total expenses including equity in earnings of a affiliates	548	1,183		1,610	2,875
Income (loss) before income taxes	(548)	(1,183)		(1,610)	(2,875)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(208)	(357)		(597)	(1,055)
Net income (loss)	(340)	(826)		(1,013)	(1,820)
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	(340)	(826)		(1,013)	(1,820)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	(357)	(898)		(1,055)	(1,823)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	4,672	4,530		14,328	13,602
Provision for doubtful accounts	484	424		1,505	1,298
Revenues	4,188	4,106		12,823	12,304
Salaries and benefits	1,995	1,901		5,928	5,669
Supplies	711	702		2,202	2,133
Other operating expenses	761	697		2,241	2,064
Electronic health record incentive income	(85)	(39)		(174)	(60)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	1	24		4	(84)
Depreciation and amortization	205	193		614	582
Interest expense	(98)	(245)		(274)	(561)
Losses (gains) on sales of facilities		2		3	18
Management fees	(170)	(128)		(498)	(381)
Total expenses including equity in earnings of a affiliates	3,318	3,059		10,038	9,380
Income (loss) before income taxes	870	1,047		2,785	2,924
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	325	293		1,014	1,055
Net income (loss)	545	754		1,771	1,869
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	18	16		51	47
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	527	738		1,720	1,822
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	531	742		1,733	1,833
Subsidiary Non-Guarantors [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	4,221	3,468		12,917	10,475
Provision for doubtful accounts	347	316		1,161	866
Revenues	3,874	3,152		11,756	9,609
Salaries and benefits	1,786	1,432		5,296	4,279
Supplies	664	561		2,014	1,700
Other operating expenses	746	671		2,248	1,948
Electronic health record incentive income	(46)	(12)		(82)	(30)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	5	44		22	(133)
Depreciation and amortization	212	169		640	496
Interest expense	(31)	(32)		(83)	(155)
Losses (gains) on sales of facilities	(7)			(7)	(15)
Management fees	170	128		498	381
Total expenses including equity in earnings of a affiliates	3,489	2,873		10,502	8,471
Income (loss) before income taxes	385	279		1,254	1,138
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	116	45		376	336
Net income (loss)	269	234		878	802
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	77	69		237	223
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	192	165		641	579
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	214	148		670	575
Eliminations [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(379)	(77)		(1,348)	(581)
Total expenses including equity in earnings of a affiliates	379	77		1,348	581
Income (loss) before income taxes	(379)	(77)		(1,348)	(581)
Net income (loss)	(379)	(77)		(1,348)	(581)
Net income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	(379)	(77)		(1,348)	(581)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	$ (379)	$ (77)		$ (1,348)	$ (581)