Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)	Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) Joseph M. Molina M.D., Professional Corporations The Joseph M. Molina, M.D. Professional Corporations (JMMPC) constitute medical provider groups originally created to advance our direct delivery business. JMMPC’s primary shareholder is Dr. J. Mario Molina, who was formerly both Molina’s CEO, and a member of our board of directors. When JMMPC was created, we concluded that we were the primary beneficiary of the JMMPC VIE because we had the power to direct the activities (excluding clinical decisions) that most significantly affected JMMPC’s economic performance, and the obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits that were potentially significant to the VIE, under the agreements described below. Because we were its primary beneficiary, we consolidated JMMPC as of December 31, 2017 and 2016. In 2017, we made the strategic decision to restructure our direct delivery business. Effective September 30, 2017, we terminated our relationship with JMMPC in Florida, Michigan, New Mexico, Washington, and Utah. Therefore, the agreements among JMMPC, our wholly owned subsidiary Molina Medical Management, Inc. (MMM), and the Florida, Michigan, New Mexico, Washington and Utah health plans were terminated effective September 30, 2017. In early January 2018, the agreements among JMMPC, MMM, and our California health plan terminated. In connection with the termination of the agreements in California, MMM entered into an asset purchase agreement with JMMPC, under which MMM sold various clinic and other assets to JMMPC for approximately $2 million. In addition, our California health plan entered into a new provider agreement with JMMPC. Following the termination of the agreements noted above, we will no longer have a) the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect JMMPC’s economic performance, or b) the obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits that are potentially significant to JMMPC. JMMPC’s assets were available to settle only JMMPC’s obligations, and JMMPC’s creditors had no recourse to the general credit of Molina Healthcare, Inc. As of December 31, 2017, JMMPC had total assets of $8 million, and total liabilities of $8 million. As of December 31, 2016, JMMPC had total assets of $18 million, and total liabilities of $18 million. The health plans were parties to primary care services agreements with JMMPC, under which the health plans paid $119 million, $122 million, and $117 million to JMMPC for such services in the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. These agreements directed our health plans to either fund JMMPC’s operating deficits, or be reimbursed for JMMPC’s operating surpluses, such that JMMPC would derive no profits or losses. MMM was a party to services agreements with JMMPC to provide clinic facilities, clinic administrative support staff, patient scheduling services, and medical supplies to JMMPC. In the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, JMMPC paid $50 million, $55 million and $69 million, respectively, to MMM for such services. The administrative services charged under these agreements were reviewed annually to assure that JMMPC would operate at break-even. New Markets Tax Credit In 2011, our New Mexico data center subsidiary entered into a financing transaction with Wells Fargo Community Investment Holdings, LLC (Wells Fargo), its wholly owned subsidiary New Mexico Healthcare Data Center Investment Fund, LLC (Investment Fund), and certain of Wells Fargo’s affiliated Community Development Entities (CDEs), in connection with our participation in the federal government’s New Markets Tax Credit Program (NMTC). The credit amounts to 39% of the original investment amount and is claimed over a period of seven years (five percent for each of the first three years, and six percent for each of the remaining four years). The investment in the CDE cannot be redeemed before the end of the seven-year period, which ends in the fourth quarter of 2018. As a result of a series of simultaneous financing transactions, Wells Fargo contributed capital of $6 million to the Investment Fund, and Molina Healthcare, Inc. loaned the principal amount of $16 million to the Investment Fund. The Investment Fund then contributed the proceeds to certain CDEs, which, in turn, loaned the proceeds of $21 million to our New Mexico data center subsidiary. We have determined that the financing arrangement with Investment Fund and CDEs is a VIE, that we are the primary beneficiary of the VIE, and we have included it in our consolidated financial statements.

Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)

Joseph M. Molina M.D., Professional Corporations

The Joseph M. Molina, M.D. Professional Corporations (JMMPC) constitute medical provider groups originally created to advance our direct delivery business. JMMPC’s primary shareholder is Dr. J. Mario Molina, who was formerly both Molina’s CEO, and a member of our board of directors. When JMMPC was created, we concluded that we were the primary beneficiary of the JMMPC VIE because we had the power to direct the activities (excluding clinical decisions) that most significantly affected JMMPC’s economic performance, and the obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits that were potentially significant to the VIE, under the agreements described below. Because we were its primary beneficiary, we consolidated JMMPC as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.

In 2017, we made the strategic decision to restructure our direct delivery business. Effective September 30, 2017, we terminated our relationship with JMMPC in Florida, Michigan, New Mexico, Washington, and Utah. Therefore, the agreements among JMMPC, our wholly owned subsidiary Molina Medical Management, Inc. (MMM), and the Florida, Michigan, New Mexico, Washington and Utah health plans were terminated effective September 30, 2017.

In early January 2018, the agreements among JMMPC, MMM, and our California health plan terminated. In connection with the termination of the agreements in California, MMM entered into an asset purchase agreement with JMMPC, under which MMM sold various clinic and other assets to JMMPC for approximately $2 million. In addition, our California health plan entered into a new provider agreement with JMMPC. Following the termination of the agreements noted above, we will no longer have a) the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect JMMPC’s economic performance, or b) the obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits that are potentially significant to JMMPC.

JMMPC’s assets were available to settle only JMMPC’s obligations, and JMMPC’s creditors had no recourse to the general credit of Molina Healthcare, Inc. As of December 31, 2017, JMMPC had total assets of $8 million, and total liabilities of $8 million. As of December 31, 2016, JMMPC had total assets of $18 million, and total liabilities of $18 million. The health plans were parties to primary care services agreements with JMMPC, under which the health plans paid $119 million, $122 million, and $117 million to JMMPC for such services in the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. These agreements directed our health plans to either fund JMMPC’s operating deficits, or be reimbursed for JMMPC’s operating surpluses, such that JMMPC would derive no profits or losses. MMM was a party to services agreements with JMMPC to provide clinic facilities, clinic administrative support staff, patient scheduling services, and medical supplies to JMMPC. In the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, JMMPC paid $50 million, $55 million and $69 million, respectively, to MMM for such services. The administrative services charged under these agreements were reviewed annually to assure that JMMPC would operate at break-even.

New Markets Tax Credit

In 2011, our New Mexico data center subsidiary entered into a financing transaction with Wells Fargo Community Investment Holdings, LLC (Wells Fargo), its wholly owned subsidiary New Mexico Healthcare Data Center Investment Fund, LLC (Investment Fund), and certain of Wells Fargo’s affiliated Community Development Entities (CDEs), in connection with our participation in the federal government’s New Markets Tax Credit Program (NMTC). The credit amounts to 39% of the original investment amount and is claimed over a period of seven years (five percent for each of the first three years, and six percent for each of the remaining four years). The investment in the CDE cannot be redeemed before the end of the seven-year period, which ends in the fourth quarter of 2018.

As a result of a series of simultaneous financing transactions, Wells Fargo contributed capital of $6 million to the Investment Fund, and Molina Healthcare, Inc. loaned the principal amount of $16 million to the Investment Fund. The Investment Fund then contributed the proceeds to certain CDEs, which, in turn, loaned the proceeds of $21 million to our New Mexico data center subsidiary. We have determined that the financing arrangement with Investment Fund and CDEs is a VIE, that we are the primary beneficiary of the VIE, and we have included it in our consolidated financial statements.