Business Segments [Disclosure] Schedule of Segment Reporting Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

	2019			2018			2017
Revenues:
LCD	$	7,000.1		$	7,030.8		$	6,858.2
CDD	4,578.1			4,313.1			3,451.6
Intercompany eliminations	(23.4		)	(10.5		)	(1.8		)
Total revenues	$	11,554.8		$	11,333.4		$	10,308.0
Operating Earnings (Loss):
LCD	$	1,086.0		$	1,166.7		$	1,300.9
CDD	411.5			303.6			144.9
General corporate expenses	(167.3		)	(144.6		)	(140.6		)
Total operating income	1,330.2			1,325.7			1,305.2
Non-operating expenses, net	(225.3		)	(57.4		)	(227.7		)
Earnings before income taxes	1,104.9			1,268.3			1,077.5
Provision for income taxes	280.0			384.4			(155.4		)
Net earnings	824.9			883.9			1,232.9
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1.1		)	(0.2		)	(5.8		)
Net income attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings	$	823.8		$	883.7		$	1,227.1

	2019		2018		2017
Depreciation and Amortization
LCD	$	301.0	$	293.3	$	304.7
CDD	261.1		247.3		217.4
General corporate	2.6		2.6		1.2
Total depreciation and amortization	$	564.7	$	543.2	$	523.3

	LCD		CDD		Intercompany Eliminations			Total
Geographic distribution of revenues
US	$	6,662.6	$	2,341.8	$	(23.4	)	$	8,981.0
Canada	333.3		—		—			333.3
United Kingdom	—		507.9		—			507.9
Switzerland	—		532.9		—			532.9
Other	4.2		1,195.5		—			1,199.7
Total revenues	$	7,000.1	$	4,578.1	$	(23.4	)	$	11,554.8

	LCD		CDD		Total
Geographic distribution of property, plant and equipment, net
U.S.	$	1,385.1	$	694.8	$	2,079.9
Canada	94.9		—		94.9
U.K.	—		196.2		196.2
Switzerland	—		92.9		92.9
Other	—		172.7		172.7
Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	1,480	$	1,156.6	$	2,636.6