XML 89 R65.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Financial Instruments - Information on Debt and Equity Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |
Debt securities, fair value | $ 7,261 | $ 14,908
Publicly traded equity securities, fair value | 456 |
Publicly traded equity securities, fair value |  | 275
Total debt and publicly traded equity securities, fair value | 7,717 |
Total debt and publicly traded equity securities, fair value |  | 15,183
Debt securities, amortized cost | 7,340 | 14,976
Publicly traded equity securities, amortized cost |  | 265
Total debt and publicly traded equity securities, amortized cost |  | 15,241
Debt securities, gross unrealized gains | 6 | 11
Publicly traded equity securities, gross unrealized gains |  | 16
Total debt and publicly traded equity securities, gross unrealized gains |  | 27
Debt securities, gross unrealized losses | (85) | (79)
Publicly traded equity securities, gross unrealized losses |  | (6)
Total debt and publicly traded equity securities, gross unrealized losses |  | (85)
Unrealized net gains | 35 |
Commercial paper |  |
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |
Debt securities, fair value | 0 | 159
Debt securities, amortized cost | 0 | 159
Debt securities, gross unrealized gains | 0 | 0
Debt securities, gross unrealized losses | 0 | 0
Corporate notes and bonds |  |
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |
Debt securities, fair value | 4,920 | 9,806
Debt securities, amortized cost | 4,985 | 9,837
Debt securities, gross unrealized gains | 3 | 9
Debt securities, gross unrealized losses | (68) | (40)
Asset-backed securities |  |
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |
Debt securities, fair value | 1,275 | 1,542
Debt securities, amortized cost | 1,285 | 1,548
Debt securities, gross unrealized gains | 1 | 1
Debt securities, gross unrealized losses | (11) | (7)
U.S. government and agency securities |  |
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |
Debt securities, fair value | 892 | 2,042
Debt securities, amortized cost | 895 | 2,059
Debt securities, gross unrealized gains | 2 | 0
Debt securities, gross unrealized losses | (5) | (17)
Foreign government bonds |  |
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |
Debt securities, fair value | 166 | 733
Debt securities, amortized cost | 167 | 739
Debt securities, gross unrealized gains | 0 | 0
Debt securities, gross unrealized losses | (1) | (6)
Mortgage-backed securities |  |
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |
Debt securities, fair value | 8 | 626
Debt securities, amortized cost | 8 | 634
Debt securities, gross unrealized gains | 0 | 1
Debt securities, gross unrealized losses | $ 0 | $ (9)

X
- Definition Debt Securities and Equity Securities, FV-NI + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mrk_DebtSecuritiesandEquitySecuritiesFVNI
Namespace Prefix: | mrk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount, before tax, of unrealized gain in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount, before tax, of unrealized loss in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amortized cost of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before tax of unrealized gain in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investments in equity securities classified as available-for-sale. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleEquitySecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before tax of unrealized loss in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investments in equity securities classified as available-for-sale. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleEquitySecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This item represents the cost of equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments for other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleEquitySecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before tax of unrealized gain in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investments in debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before tax of unrealized loss in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investments in debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109979856&loc=d3e26610-111562 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (aa) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor as trading. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99377092&loc=SL75136599-209740 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNi
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of unrealized gain (loss) on investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 321 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84241550&loc=SL75117546-209714 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedGainLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |