XML 117 R110.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Postretirement Benefits (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Mar. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Two $ 172us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo    
Expected amortization of actuarial loss from stockholders' equity in 2016 (47)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFutureAmortizationOfGainLoss    
Other postretirement plan expected future benefit payments, 2021 through 2025 333us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter    
Expected contributions for postretirement benefit plans in 2016 54us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInNextFiscalYear    
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Three 75us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree    
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Four 94us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour    
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Five 66us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive    
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Two   0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo
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Net actuarial gains (losses) for post retirement plans (1)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesBeforeTax
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8us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesBeforeTax
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Net prior service credits for post retirement plans 1us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetPriorServiceCostCreditBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
1us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetPriorServiceCostCreditBeforeTax
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= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Net actuarial gains (loss) for changes in benefit obligations (9)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmountsRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetGainLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
2us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmountsRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetGainLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
7us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmountsRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetGainLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Expected amortization of actuarial loss from stockholders' equity in 2016 1us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFutureAmortizationOfGainLoss
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Amortization of actuarial loss from stockholders' equity 4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfGainsLosses
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Five Fiscal Years Beginning 2016 10mck_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsBeginning2015
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Other postretirement plan expected future benefit payments, 2021 through 2025 44us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Expected contributions for postretirement benefit plans in 2016 10us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInNextFiscalYear
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Weighted-average discount rates used to estimate postretirement welfare benefit expenses 4.07%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
3.84%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
4.44%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Weighted-average discount rates for actuarial present value of benefit obligations 3.61%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
4.08%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
3.84%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Actuarial Gain Loss Postretirement Welfare Benefit Plan Amortization Period 3 years    
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Three   0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree
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Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Four   0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour
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Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Five   $ 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive
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= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Prescription Drugs [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Assumed health care cost trend rate 6.75%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanHealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedForNextFiscalYear
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= mck_PrescriptionDrugsMember
7.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanHealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedForNextFiscalYear
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= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
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= mck_PrescriptionDrugsMember
 
Dental [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Assumptions Used Calculating Postretirement Benefit Obligation 5.00%mck_PensionandOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAssumptionsUsedCalculatingPostretirementBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ mck_PensionandOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAssumptionsUsedCalculatingPostretirementBenefitObligationAxis
= mck_DentalMember
5.00%mck_PensionandOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAssumptionsUsedCalculatingPostretirementBenefitObligation
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= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
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= mck_DentalMember
 
Pre-65 [Member] | Medical [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Assumptions Used Calculating Postretirement Benefit Obligation 7.25%mck_PensionandOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAssumptionsUsedCalculatingPostretirementBenefitObligation
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/ mck_PensionandOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAssumptionsUsedCalculatingPostretirementBenefitObligationAxis
= mck_MedicalMember
7.50%mck_PensionandOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAssumptionsUsedCalculatingPostretirementBenefitObligation
/ mck_DefinedBenefitPlanParticipantAgeRangeAxis
= mck_Pre65MedicalMember
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= mck_MedicalMember
 
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Assumptions Used Calculating Postretirement Benefit Obligation, Age Threshold pre-65    
Post-65 [Member] | Medical [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Assumptions Used Calculating Postretirement Benefit Obligation 6.75%mck_PensionandOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAssumptionsUsedCalculatingPostretirementBenefitObligation
/ mck_DefinedBenefitPlanParticipantAgeRangeAxis
= mck_Post65MedicalMember
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/ mck_PensionandOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAssumptionsUsedCalculatingPostretirementBenefitObligationAxis
= mck_MedicalMember
7.00%mck_PensionandOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAssumptionsUsedCalculatingPostretirementBenefitObligation
/ mck_DefinedBenefitPlanParticipantAgeRangeAxis
= mck_Post65MedicalMember
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= mck_MedicalMember
 
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Assumptions Used Calculating Postretirement Benefit Obligation, Age Threshold post-65