2.2.0.7 false Medical Costs and Medical Costs Payable 10601 - Disclosure - Medical Costs and Medical Costs Payable 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 $ 2 0 unh_MedicalCostsAndMedicalCostsPayableAbstract unh false na duration Medical Costs And Medical Costs Payable [Abstract] false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Medical Costs And Medical Costs Payable [Abstract] false 3 1 unh_MedicalCostsMedicalCostsPayableDisclosureTextBlock unh false na duration Disclosure of medical costs and medical costs payables including estimates of obligations for medical care services that have... false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 <div> <font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2"> </font> <div> <p style="margin-top: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2"><b>6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Medical Costs and Medical Costs Payable </b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Medical costs and medical costs payable include estimates of the Company's obligations for medical care services that have been rendered on behalf of insured consumers, but for which claims have either not yet been received or processed, and for liabilities for physician, hospital and other medical cost disputes. The Company develops estimates for medical costs incurred but not reported using an actuarial process that is consistently applied, centrally controlled and automated. The actuarial models consider factors such as time from date of service to claim receipt, claim backlogs, care provider contract rate changes, medical care consumption and other medical cost trends. The Company estimates liabilities for physician, hospital and other medical cost disputes based upon an analysis of potential outcomes, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies. Each period, the Company re-examines previously established medical costs payable estimates based on actual claim submissions and other changes in facts and circumstances. As the medical costs payable estimates recorded in prior periods develop, the Company adjusts the amount of the estimates and includes the changes in estimates in medical costs in the period in which the change is identified. </font></p> <p style="margin-top: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">For the three months ended September&nbsp;30, 2010, there was $<font class="_mt">80</font> million of net favorable medical cost development related to prior fiscal years and $<font class="_mt">150</font> million of net favorable medical cost development related to the first half of 2010. For the nine months ended September&nbsp;30, 2010, medical costs included $<font class="_mt">660</font> million of net favorable medical cost development related to prior fiscal years. The favorable development for both the three and nine months ended September&nbsp;30, 2010 was primarily driven by lower than expected health system utilization levels and more efficient claims handling and processing. </font></p> <p style="margin-top: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-size: 1px;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">For the three months ended September&nbsp;30, 2009, there was $<font class="_mt">100</font> million of net favorable medical cost development related to prior fiscal years and $<font class="_mt">90</font> million of net favorable medical cost development related to the first half of 2009. For the nine months ended September&nbsp;30, 2009 medical costs included $<font class="_mt">300</font> million of net favorable medical cost development related to prior fiscal years. None of the factors discussed above were individually material to the net favorable medical cost development in the three and nine months ended September&nbsp;30, 2009. </font></p></div> </div> 6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Medical Costs and Medical Costs Payable Medical costs and medical costs payable include estimates of the Company's obligations for false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Disclosure of medical costs and medical costs payables including estimates of obligations for medical care services that have been rendered on behalf of insured consumers but for which claims have not yet been received or processed, and for liabilities for physician, hospital and other medical cost disputes. No authoritative reference available. false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true