2.2.0.7trueCommercial Paper and Long-Term Debt (Summary of Location and Fair Value of Fair Value Hedges) (Details) (USD $)40703 - Disclosure - Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt (Summary of Location and Fair Value of Fair Value Hedges) (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalsefalse1USDfalsefalseUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit14Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit13Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0$22us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfFairValueHedgeInstrumentsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truetruefalsefalse35780000003578falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate notional amount of all derivatives designated as a fair value hedging instrument. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds, or other units specified in a derivative instrument.No authoritative reference available.false40natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/taxonomy/role/disclosuresummaryoflocationandfairvalueoffairvaluehedgesfalse1falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalse2USDtruefalsefalsefalseInterest Rate Swap Contractsus-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_InterestRateSwapMemberus-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseOther Assetsus-gaap_DerivativesFairValueByBalanceSheetLocationAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_OtherAssetsMemberus-gaap_DerivativesFairValueByBalanceSheetLocationAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$naNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.false62us-gaap_FairValueHedgeAssetsAtFairValueus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabelfalse1truetruefalsefalse8900000089falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryFair value of all derivative assets designated as fair value hedging instruments.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 10
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