v2.4.1.9

Components of Changes in Health Care Costs Payable (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Less: Claims paid |  |
Health care costs payable, end of the year | $ 314,347dva_MedicalExpensePayable | $ 287,452dva_MedicalExpensePayable
Healthcare Cost |  |
Medical Expense And Medical Claims Payable [Line Items] |  |
Health care costs payable, beginning of the year | 172,310dva_MedicalExpensePayable / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember | 119,512dva_MedicalExpensePayable / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember
Acquisitions and other adjustments |  | 26,575dva_ProductWarrantyAccrualAcquisitionsAndOtherAdjustments / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember
Add: Components of incurred health care costs |  |
Current year | 1,572,723dva_MedicalExpensePayableIncurredRelatedToCurrentYear / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember | 1,329,887dva_MedicalExpensePayableIncurredRelatedToCurrentYear / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember
Prior years | 3,429dva_MedicalExpensePayableIncurredInPriorYears / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember | (16,587)dva_MedicalExpensePayableIncurredInPriorYears / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember
Total incurred health care costs | 1,576,152dva_MedicalExpensePayableIncurred / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember | 1,313,300dva_MedicalExpensePayableIncurred / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember
Less: Claims paid |  |
Current year | 1,378,137us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseClaimsPaidCurrentYear1 / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember | 1,169,455us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseClaimsPaidCurrentYear1 / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember
Prior years | 155,920us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseClaimsPaidPriorYears1 / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember | 117,622us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseClaimsPaidPriorYears1 / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember
Total claims paid | 1,534,057us-gaap_PaymentsForLossesAndLossAdjustmentExpense / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember | 1,287,077us-gaap_PaymentsForLossesAndLossAdjustmentExpense / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember
Health care costs payable, end of the year | $ 214,405dva_MedicalExpensePayable / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember | $ 172,310dva_MedicalExpensePayable / dva_TypeOfCostAxis = dva_HealthcareCostMember

X
- Details
Name: | dva_ComponentsOfIncurredHealthcareCostsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | dva_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | dva_MedicalClaimsPayableAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | dva_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | dva_MedicalExpenseAndMedicalClaimsPayableLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | dva_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying amount as of balance sheet date of health care costs payable representing estimated costs of professional medical services provided by non-employed physicians and other providers, as well as inpatient and other ancillary costs for all markets, other than California where state regulation allows for assumption of global risk. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dva_MedicalExpensePayable
Namespace Prefix: | dva_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Medical expense payable incurred. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dva_MedicalExpensePayableIncurred
Namespace Prefix: | dva_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Medical expense payable incurred in prior years. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dva_MedicalExpensePayableIncurredInPriorYears
Namespace Prefix: | dva_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Medical expense payable incurred related to current year. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dva_MedicalExpensePayableIncurredRelatedToCurrentYear
Namespace Prefix: | dva_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Medical expense and medical claims payable associated with acquisitions and other adjustments. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dva_ProductWarrantyAccrualAcquisitionsAndOtherAdjustments
Namespace Prefix: | dva_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of payments to settle claims incurred in the current period and related claims settlement costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14764-158437 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseClaimsPaidCurrentYear1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of payments to settle claims incurred in prior periods and related claims settlement costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14764-158437 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseClaimsPaidPriorYears1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of payments to settle insured claims and pay costs incurred in the claims settlement process. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsForLossesAndLossAdjustmentExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | dva_TypeOfCostAxis=dva_HealthcareCostMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |