| Component: (Network and Table) | |
|---|---|
| Network | 154 - Disclosure - Schedule of Contractual Maturities of Debt Securities Available for Sale (Detail) (http://www.humana.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureScheduleOfContractualMaturitiesOfDebtSecuritiesAvailableForSale)  | 
| Table | Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date [Table] | 
| Reporting Entity [Axis] | 0000049071 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 
| Legal Entity [Axis] | Entity [Domain] | 
| Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date [Line Items] | Period [Axis] | |
|---|---|---|
2013-12-31  | 2012-12-31  | |
Due within one year, Amortized Cost  | ||
Due after one year through five years, Amortized Cost  | ||
Due after five years through ten years, Amortized Cost  | ||
Due after ten years, Amortized Cost  | ||
Mortgage and asset-backed securities, Amortized Cost  | ||
Total debt securities, Amortized Cost  | 9,550,000,000    | 9,119,000,000    | 
Due within one year, Fair Value  | ||
Due after one year through five years, Fair Value  | ||
Due after five years through ten years, Fair Value  | ||
Due after ten years, Fair Value  | ||
Mortgage and asset-backed securities, Fair Value  | ||
Total debt securities, Fair Value  | 9,800,000,000    | 9,847,000,000    |