Condensed Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	$ 11,967	$ 11,110	$ 35,156	$ 33,241
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,271	840	3,104	2,392
Revenues	10,696	10,270	32,052	30,849
Salaries and benefits	5,081	4,740	14,878	14,133
Supplies	1,777	1,699	5,369	5,131
Other operating expenses	2,075	1,896	5,970	5,617
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(13)	(22)	(36)	(44)
Depreciation and amortization	539	495	1,581	1,463
Interest expense	427	432	1,257	1,275
Gains on sales of facilities	(7)	(3)	(10)	(8)
Losses on retirement of debt	39	4	39	4
Legal claim costs		11		33
Total expenses including equity in earnings of affiliates	9,918	9,252	29,048	27,604
Income before income taxes	778	1,018	3,004	3,245
Provision for income taxes	248	273	902	898
Net income	530	745	2,102	2,347
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	104	127	360	377
Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc.	$ 426	$ 618	$ 1,742	$ 1,970
Per share data:
Basic earnings per share	$ 1.18	$ 1.63	$ 4.77	$ 5.09
Diluted earnings per share	$ 1.15	$ 1.59	$ 4.64	$ 4.93
Shares used in earnings per share calculations (in millions):
Basic	360,170	378,199	365,398	386,968
Diluted	369,834	389,592	375,013	399,577