Long-term incentive compensation	9 Months Ended
Long-term incentive compensation	Sep. 30, 2020
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Long-term incentive compensation	Long-term incentive compensation Long-term incentive program (LTIP) compensation includes both stock-based awards (principally stock-settled stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, and performance stock units) as well as long-term performance-based cash awards. Long-term incentive compensation expense, which is primarily general and administrative in nature, is attributed to the Company’s U.S. dialysis business, corporate administrative support, and ancillary services. The Company’s stock-based compensation expense for stock-settled awards is measured at the estimated fair value of awards on the date of grant and recognized on a cumulative straight-line basis over the vesting terms of the awards unless the stock awards are based on non-market based performance metrics, in which case expense is adjusted for the expected ultimate shares to be issued as of the end of each reporting period. Stock-based compensation expense for cash-settled awards is based on their estimated fair values as of the end of each reporting period. The expense for all LTIP awards is recognized net of expected forfeitures. On June 11, 2020, the Company’s stockholders approved the DaVita Inc. 2020 Incentive Award Plan (the 2020 Plan). Prior to June 11, 2020 stock-based awards were granted under the DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan (the 2011 Plan). At the time of approval of the 2020 Plan there were 8,730 shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2020 Plan, which consisted of 5,000 newly authorized shares as well as 3,730 shares that were rolled over from the 2011 Plan. The 2020 Plan provides for the grant of stock appreciation rights, nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock units, restricted stock, performance stock awards, dividend equivalents, stock payments, deferred stock unit awards, deferred stock awards and performance cash awards. The 2020 Plan mandates a maximum award term of 10 years for stock appreciation rights and stock options and stipulates that awards of these types be granted with a base or exercise price per share of not less than the fair market value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. Shares available under the 2020 Plan are also stated on a full value share basis rather than on an option-equivalent basis. The 2020 Plan therefore provides that shares available for issuance under the plan are reduced by only one share available for every four shares underlying stock appreciation rights and stock options, and are reduced by one share available for every one share underlying stock-based awards other than stock appreciation rights and stock options. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company granted 991 restricted and performance stock units with an aggregate grant-date fair value of $75,945 and a weighted-average expected life of approximately 3.4 years and 2,765 stock-settled stock appreciation rights with an aggregate grant-date fair value of $73,833 and a weighted-average expected life of approximately 4.8 years. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company recognized $74,492 and $82,469, respectively, in total LTIP expense, of which $67,217 and $43,666, respectively, represented stock-based compensation expense for stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, performance stock units and discounted employee stock plan purchases, which are primarily included in general and administrative expense. The estimated tax benefits recorded for stock-based compensation for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was $8,794 and $6,798, respectively. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had $207,513 in total estimated but unrecognized stock-based compensation expense under the Company’s equity compensation and employee stock purchase plans. The Company expects to recognize this expense over a weighted average remaining period of 1.5 years. The Company no longer has any long-term performance-based cash awards outstanding in its principal U.S. dialysis business as the performance and accrual period for these awards ended December 31, 2019 with a final payout of $66,302 in 2020. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company recognized $5,049 and $2,791, respectively, in actual tax benefits upon the settlement of stock awards. On November 4, 2019, the independent members of the Board approved an award of 2,500 premium-priced stock-settled stock appreciation rights (Premium-Priced Award) to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), which award was subject to stockholder approval of a related amendment to the 2011 Plan. The Company's stockholders approved that amendment to the 2011 Plan on January 23, 2020, authorizing the grant to the Company's CEO. Since stockholder approval occurred in 2020, subsequent to the Board approval, this award had both a service inception and grant date of January 23, 2020 for accounting purposes. The base price of the Premium-Priced Award is $67.80 per share, which is a 20% premium to the clearing price of the Company's 2019 modified "Dutch auction" tender offer. The award vests 50% on each of November 4, 2022 and November 4, 2023, and expires on November 4, 2024. The award includes a requirement that the CEO hold any shares acquired upon exercise of this award, net of shares used to cover related taxes, until November 4, 2024 (that is, for the full term of the award), subject to lapse of the holding period upon a change in control of the Company or due to the CEO's death or termination due to disability.