v2.4.1.9

Investments in Debt and Equity Securities and Other Investments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Available for sale investments gross pre-tax unrealized gain (loss) | $ 5,468 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax |  | $ 5,181 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax | 382 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax | 331 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax |
Proceeds from sale of investments available for sale | 1,217 us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities | 1,262 us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities |
Pre tax reclassification of net investment realized gain (loss) into net income | 257 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesBeforeTax | 340 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesBeforeTax |
Reclassification of net investment realized gain (loss) into net income, net of tax | 157 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax | 207 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax |
HealthCare Partners (HCP) |  |  |
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Required minimum cash balance | 53,400 dva_MinimumCashRequirement / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember |  |
Preferred Stock |  |  |
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Preferred stock, in a privately held company | 5,000 us-gaap_InvestmentSoldNotYetPurchasedRestrictedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_PreferredStockMember |  |
Certificates Of Deposit Money And Market Funds |  |  |
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, pre tax | 544 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = dva_CertificatesOfDepositMoneyAndMarketFundsMember |  |
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax | $ 382 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = dva_CertificatesOfDepositMoneyAndMarketFundsMember |  |

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- Definition Amount before tax of unrealized gain (loss) in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investments in debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale. + References No definition available. + Details
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