2.2.0.7 true Fair 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) true false In Millions false false 1 USD true false false false us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis explicitMember Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ false 2 USD true false false false us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis explicitMember Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ false 3 USD true false false false us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis explicitMember Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ false 4 USD true false false false us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis explicitMember Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ 5 3 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities us-gaap true debit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 true true false false 15480000000 15480 true false false 2 true true false false 13774000000 13774 true false false 3 true true false false 15480000000 15480 true false false 4 true true false false 13774000000 13774 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary For 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 false 6 3 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities us-gaap true debit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false true false false 487000000 487 true false false 2 false true false false 577000000 577 true false false 3 false true false false 487000000 487 true false false 4 false true false false 577000000 577 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary For 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 false 7 3 us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities us-gaap true debit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false true false false 208000000 208 true false false 2 false true false false 199000000 199 true false false 3 false true false false 215000000 215 true false false 4 false true false false 203000000 203 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary For 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 false 8 3 unh_AarpProgramRelatedInvestments unh false debit instant AARP Program Related Investments false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 2432000000 2432 true false false 2 false true false false 2114000000 2114 true false false 3 false true false false 2432000000 2432 true false false 4 false true false false 2114000000 2114 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary AARP Program Related Investments No authoritative reference available. false 9 3 us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue us-gaap true debit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 89000000 89 true false false 2 false true false false 0 0 true false false 3 false true false false 89000000 89 true false false 4 false true false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Fair 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 false 10 3 us-gaap_SeniorNotes us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 true true false false 9875000000 9875 true false false 2 true true false false 11173000000 11173 true false false 3 true true false false 10675000000 10675 true false false 4 true true false false 11043000000 11043 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Including 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. 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