Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements Cash Flows (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Mar. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities $ 135,676 $ 63,305
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (2,026) 0
Purchases of property and equipment (12,782) (25,243)
Proceeds from restricted cash 0 20,004
Net cash used by investing activities (14,808) (5,239)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Proceeds from issuance of debt 492,500 0
Repayment of long-term debt (306,250) (100,000)
Payment of financing costs (955) 0
Proceeds from exercise of options 3,567 785
Tax benefit on option exercises 2,692 4,928
Payments of contingent consideration   (23,203)
Net transactions with parent and affiliates 0 0
Distributions to non-controlling interest (15,000) 0
Proceeds from restricted stock 0 0
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities 176,554 (117,490)
Effect of foreign exchange on cash balances 52 4
Change in cash and cash equivalents 297,474 (59,420)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 387,241 370,776
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 684,715 311,356
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Catamaran Corporation [Member]
   
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities 43,878 37,310
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired 0  
Purchases of property and equipment (13) 0
Proceeds from restricted cash   0
Net cash used by investing activities (13) 0
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Proceeds from issuance of debt 492,500  
Repayment of long-term debt (306,250) (100,000)
Payment of financing costs (955)  
Proceeds from exercise of options 5,070 1,117
Tax benefit on option exercises 0 0
Payments of contingent consideration   0
Net transactions with parent and affiliates (66,269) 12,779
Distributions to non-controlling interest 0  
Proceeds from restricted stock 18,185 20,759
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities 142,281 (65,345)
Effect of foreign exchange on cash balances 52 4
Change in cash and cash equivalents 186,198 (28,031)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 15,090 33,603
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 201,288 5,572
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantors [Member]
   
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities 419,040 82,038
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (2,026)  
Purchases of property and equipment (4,833) (25,243)
Proceeds from restricted cash   20,004
Net cash used by investing activities (6,859) (5,239)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Proceeds from issuance of debt 0  
Repayment of long-term debt 0 0
Payment of financing costs 0  
Proceeds from exercise of options (1,503) (325)
Tax benefit on option exercises 2,692 4,924
Payments of contingent consideration   (18,338)
Net transactions with parent and affiliates (299,906) (75,992)
Distributions to non-controlling interest 0  
Proceeds from restricted stock (17,741) (20,475)
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities (316,458) (110,206)
Effect of foreign exchange on cash balances 0 0
Change in cash and cash equivalents 95,723 (33,407)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 350,889 303,832
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 446,612 270,425
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantors [Member]
   
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities (194,699) 606
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired 0  
Purchases of property and equipment (7,936) 0
Proceeds from restricted cash   0
Net cash used by investing activities (7,936) 0
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Proceeds from issuance of debt 0  
Repayment of long-term debt 0 0
Payment of financing costs 0  
Proceeds from exercise of options 0 (7)
Tax benefit on option exercises 0 4
Payments of contingent consideration   (4,865)
Net transactions with parent and affiliates 233,632 6,564
Distributions to non-controlling interest (15,000)  
Proceeds from restricted stock (444) (284)
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities 218,188 1,412
Effect of foreign exchange on cash balances 0 0
Change in cash and cash equivalents 15,553 2,018
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 21,262 33,341
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 36,815 35,359
Consolidations [Member]
   
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities (132,543) (56,649)
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired 0  
Purchases of property and equipment 0 0
Proceeds from restricted cash   0
Net cash used by investing activities 0 0
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Proceeds from issuance of debt 0  
Repayment of long-term debt 0 0
Payment of financing costs 0  
Proceeds from exercise of options 0 0
Tax benefit on option exercises 0 0
Payments of contingent consideration   0
Net transactions with parent and affiliates 132,543 56,649
Distributions to non-controlling interest 0  
Proceeds from restricted stock 0 0
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities 132,543 56,649
Effect of foreign exchange on cash balances 0 0
Change in cash and cash equivalents 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 0 $ 0