2.2.0.7trueFair Value (Summary of Fair Value and Carrying Value for Certain Financial Instruments for Which it is Practicable to Estimate Fair Value) (Details) (USD $)40304 - Disclosure - Fair Value (Summary of Fair Value and Carrying Value for Certain Financial Instruments for Which it is Practicable to Estimate Fair Value) (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalsefalse1USDtruefalsefalsefalseus-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMemberus-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMemberus-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$false2USDtruefalsefalsefalseus-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMemberus-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMemberus-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$false3USDtruefalsefalsefalseus-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMemberus-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMemberus-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$false4USDtruefalsefalsefalseus-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMemberus-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMemberus-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$53us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truetruefalsefalse1548000000015480truefalsefalse2truetruefalsefalse1377400000013774truefalsefalse3truetruefalsefalse1548000000015480truefalsefalse4truetruefalsefalse1377400000013774truefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryFor an unclassified balance sheet, total of debt securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading. Such securities are reported at fair value; unrealized gains and losses of such securities are excluded from earnings and included in other comprehensive income, a separate component of shareholders' equity, unless the Available-for-sale Security is designated as a hedge or is determined to have had an other than temporary decline in fair value below its amortized cost basis. All or a portion of the unrealized holding gain or loss of an Available-for-sale Security that is designated as being hedged in a fair value hedge shall be recognized in earnings during the period of the hedge, as should other than temporary declines in fair value below costs basis.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 13, 137
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph b
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 16
Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 22
false63us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecuritiesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetruefalsefalse487000000487truefalsefalse2falsetruefalsefalse577000000577truefalsefalse3falsetruefalsefalse487000000487truefalsefalse4falsetruefalsefalse577000000577truefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryFor an unclassified balance sheet, this item represents equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading. Equity securities represent ownership interests or the right to acquire ownership interests in corporations and other legal entities which ownership interest is represented by shares of common or preferred stock (which is not mandatorily redeemable or redeemable at the option of the holder), convertible securities, stock rights, or stock warrants. Unrealized gains and losses related to Available-for-sale Securities are excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of shareholders' equity (other comprehensive income), unless the Available-for-sale Security is designated as a hedge or is determined to have had an other than temporary decline in fair value below its amortized cost basis. All or a portion of the unrealized holding gain or loss of an Available-for-sale Security that is designated as being hedged in a fair value hedge shall be recognized in earnings during the period of the hedge, as should other than temporary declines in fair value below costs basis.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 22
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 19
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph b
Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 86-40
Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 13
Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 16
Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph c
false73us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetruefalsefalse208000000208truefalsefalse2falsetruefalsefalse199000000199truefalsefalse3falsetruefalsefalse215000000215truefalsefalse4falsetruefalsefalse203000000203truefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryFor an unclassified balance sheet, this item represents investments in debt securities which are categorized as held-to-maturity; such investments are measured at amortized cost (carrying value). The held-to-maturity category is for those securities that the Entity has the positive intent and ability to hold until maturity.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 43
-Chapter 3
-Section A
-Paragraph 4, 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 17
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
false83unh_AarpProgramRelatedInvestmentsunhfalsedebitinstantAARP Program Related Investmentsfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabelfalse1falsetruefalsefalse24320000002432truefalsefalse2falsetruefalsefalse21140000002114truefalsefalse3falsetruefalsefalse24320000002432truefalsefalse4falsetruefalsefalse21140000002114truefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAARP Program Related InvestmentsNo authoritative reference available.false93us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValueus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabelfalse1falsetruefalsefalse8900000089truefalsefalse2falsetruefalsefalse00truefalsefalse3falsetruefalsefalse8900000089truefalsefalse4falsetruefalsefalse00truefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryFair value as of the balance sheet date of interest rate derivative assets, which includes all such derivative instruments in hedging and nonhedging relationships that are recognized as assets.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 10
false103us-gaap_SeniorNotesus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabelfalse1truetruefalsefalse98750000009875truefalsefalse2truetruefalsefalse1117300000011173truefalsefalse3truetruefalsefalse1067500000010675truefalsefalse4truetruefalsefalse1104300000011043truefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryIncluding the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 16
-Article 9
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