Contingent obligations.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Multi employer plan employer contribution percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of amounts which could be received based on the terms of the insurance contract upon surrendering life policies owned by the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 17

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6812-107765

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- Definition

General description of deferred compensation arrangements. Deferred compensation represents currently earned compensation that, under the terms of a profit-sharing, rabbi trust, pension, employee contract, or equity-based (including stock or unit option) plan, is not actually paid until a later date and is therefore not taxable until that date. May also include some split-dollar life insurance arrangements. This type of arrangement is usually made to help employees postpone paying taxes on the income and also to retain employees longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Rabbi Trusts

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6522716

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Endorsement Split-Dollar Life Insurance

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6511593

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- Definition

Description of the deferred compensation arrangement, including fixed amounts and determinable awards, or the method for determining payments and awards, the timing of such payments and awards, and any requisite service or performance criteria, as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 710

-SubTopic 10

-Section 55

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6409961&loc=d3e20487-108367

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- Definition

The amount of distributions made to the individual during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The amount of payment into the fund established for purposes of making future disbursements to the individual in accordance with the terms and understanding of the deferred compensation arrangement.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The carrying amount of the liability as of the balance sheet date to an individual under a deferred compensation arrangement. This amount may be the result of periodic accruals made over the period of active employment, or reflect termination benefits resulting contractual terms or a death benefit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 710

-SubTopic 10

-Section 30

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6409875&loc=d3e20015-108363

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- Definition

The amount of payments made for which participants are entitled under a pension plan, including pension benefits, death benefits, and benefits due on termination of employment. Also includes payments made under a postretirement benefit plan, including prescription drug benefits, health care benefits, life insurance benefits, and legal, educational and advisory services. This item represents a periodic decrease to the plan obligations and a decrease to plan assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Postretirement Benefits

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6521376

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 60

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414203&loc=d3e39716-114964

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 30

-Glossary Benefits

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506267

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 60

-Glossary Benefits

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506309

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)(6)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)(5)

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- Definition

Assets, usually stocks, bonds, and other investments, that have been segregated and restricted (usually in a trust) to provide benefits, at their fair value as of the measurement date. Plan assets include amounts contributed by the employer (and by employees for a contributory plan) and amounts earned from investing the contributions, less benefits paid. If a plan has liabilities other than for benefits, those non-benefit obligations may be considered as reductions of plan assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 30

-Section 35

-Paragraph 50

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29635418&loc=d3e12355-114930

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- Definition

The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 70

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942

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- Definition

The highest percentage of annual salary that an employee is permitted to utilize with respect to the plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan \| All Trusts
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total fair value of assets held in trust	$ 27,899	$ 19,421
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan \| DaVita Voluntary Deferral Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Voluntary compensation deferral plan description	The Company also maintains a voluntary compensation deferral plan, the DaVita Voluntary Deferral Plan. This plan is non-qualified and permits certain employees whose annualized base salary equals or exceeds a minimum annual threshold amount as set by the Company to elect to defer all or a portion of their annual bonus payment and up to 50% of their base salary into a deferral account maintained by the Company
Maximum percentage of employees' base salary to be maintained into deferral account	50.00%
Non-qualified deferred compensation plan, contributions	3,772	4,089	3,935
Deferred compensation arrangement, timing of payments	Deferred amounts are generally paid out in cash at the participant’s election either in the first or second year following retirement or in a specified future period at least three to four years after the deferral election was effective
Non-qualified deferred compensation plan, distributions	1,111	4,158	1,324
Total fair value of assets held in trust	5,347	572
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan \| DaVita Voluntary Deferral Plan \| Rabbi Trust
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total fair value of assets held in trust	21,208	17,419
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan \| Executive Retirement Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total fair value of assets held in trust	1,344	1,430
Executive Retirement Plan, distributions	152	0	226
Change of Control Protection Program
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Cash bonuses to employees in the event of a change of control	646,000
HealthCare Partners (HCP)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Company matching contributions	7,400
HealthCare Partners (HCP) \| Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan \| Key Employees
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Non-qualified deferred compensation plan, contributions	0	4,658
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	57,700	56,300
Deferred compensation liabilities owed to participants	$ 60,400	$ 62,000
HealthCare Partners (HCP) \| Minimum
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Multiple employer matching contributions rate	0.00%
HealthCare Partners (HCP) \| Maximum
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Multiple employer matching contributions rate	6.00%