2.2.0.7 false Document and Entity Information 00090 - Document - Document and Entity Information true false false false 1 USD false false Unit13 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Unit14 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 Unit1 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 2 false false Unit1 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 2 0 unh_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract unh false na duration Document and Entity Information [Abstract] false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Document and Entity Information [Abstract] false 3 1 dei_DocumentType dei false na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 10-Q 10-Q false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false us-types:SECReportItemType na The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, N-1A, etc). The document type should be limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type. The acceptable values are as follows: S-1, S-3, S-4, S-11, F-1, F-3, F-4, F-9, F-10, 6-K, 8-K, 10, 10-K, 10-Q, 20-F, 40-F, N-1A, 485BPOS, NCSR, N-Q, and Other. No authoritative reference available. false 4 1 dei_AmendmentFlag dei false na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:booleanItemType na If the value is true, then the document as an amendment to previously-filed/accepted document. No authoritative reference available. false 5 1 dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate dei false na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 2010-09-30 2010-09-30 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:dateItemType date The end date of the period reflected on the cover page if a periodic report. For all other reports and registration statements this will be the filing date. The format of the date is CCYY-MM-DD. No authoritative reference available. false 6 1 dei_DocumentFiscalYearFocus dei false na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 2010 2010 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:gYearItemType positiveinteger This is focus fiscal year of the document report in CCYY format. For a 2006 annual report, which may also provide financial information from prior periods, fiscal 2006 should be given as the fiscal year focus. Example: 2006. No authoritative reference available. false 7 1 dei_DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus dei false na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 Q3 Q3 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false us-types:fiscalPeriodItemType na This is focus fiscal period of the document report. For a first quarter 2006 quarterly report, which may also provide financial information from prior periods, the first fiscal quarter should be given as the fiscal period focus. Values: FY, Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, H1, H2, M9, T1, T2, T3, M8, CY. No authoritative reference available. false 8 1 dei_TradingSymbol dei false na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 UNH UNH false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:normalizedStringItemType normalizedstring Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange. No authoritative reference available. false 9 1 dei_EntityRegistrantName dei false na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:normalizedStringItemType normalizedstring The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation 12B -Number 240 -Section 12b -Subsection 1 false 10 1 dei_EntityCentralIndexKey dei false na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 0000731766 0000731766 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false us-types:centralIndexKeyItemType na A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation 12B -Number 240 -Section 12b -Subsection 1 false 11 1 dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate dei false na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 --12-31 --12-31 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:gMonthDayItemType monthday End date of current fiscal year in the format --MM-DD. No authoritative reference available. false 12 1 dei_EntityFilerCategory dei false na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 Large Accelerated Filer Large Accelerated Filer false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false us-types:filerCategoryItemType na Indicate whether the registrant is one of the following: (1) Large Accelerated Filer, (2) Accelerated Filer, (3) Non-accelerated Filer, or (4) Smaller Reporting Company. Definitions of these categories are stated in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. This information should be based on the registrant's current or most recent filing containing the related disclosure. No authoritative reference available. false 13 1 dei_EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding dei false na instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false true false false 1099938251 1099938251 false false false xbrli:sharesItemType shares Indicate number of shares outstanding of each of registrant's classes of common stock, as of latest practicable date. Where multiple classes exist define each class by adding class of stock items such as Common Class A [Member], Common Class B [Member] onto the Instrument [Domain] of the Entity Listings, Instrument No authoritative reference available. false 2 12 false UnKnown NoRounding UnKnown false true