2.2.0.7falseShareholders' Equity (Schedule of Dividends) (Details) (USD $)40902 - Disclosure - Shareholders' Equity (Schedule of Dividends) (Details)truefalseIn Millions, except Per Share datafalsefalse1USDfalsefalseUnit13Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$false2USDfalsefalseUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit14Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit13Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0$false3USDfalsefalseUnit13Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$false4USDfalsefalseUnit13Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit14Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0$20us-gaap_StockholdersEquityNoteAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.false31us-gaap_DividendsPayableDateOfRecordDayMonthAndYearus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalsefalse002010-04-062010-04-06falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalsefalse002010-09-142010-09-14falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalsefalse002010-06-072010-06-07falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:dateItemTypedateThe date as of when a holder must own the stock to be entitled to the dividend. The ex-dividend date is generally 3 days before the record date.No authoritative reference available.false41unh_DividendPaymentDateDayMonthAndYearunhfalsenainstantDividend Payment Date Day Month And Yearfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabelfalse1falsefalsefalsefalse002010-04-20falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalsefalse002010-09-28falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalsefalse002010-06-21falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalsefalse002010-09-28falsefalsefalsexbrli:dateItemTypedateDividend Payment Date Day Month And YearNo authoritative reference available.false51us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaidus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetrue1truetruefalsefalse0.0300.030falsefalsefalse2truetruefalsefalse0.1250.125falsefalsefalse3truetruefalsefalse0.1250.125falsefalsefalse4truetruefalsefalse0.2800.280falsefalsefalseus-types:perShareItemTypedecimalAggregate dividends paid during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3
false61us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStockus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabelfalse1truetruefalsefalse3400000034falsefalsefalse2truetruefalsefalse139000000139falsefalsefalse3truetruefalsefalse140000000140falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cash outflow from the distribution of an entity's earnings in the form of dividends to common shareholders.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 18
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph a
false45falseMillionsUnKnownNoRoundingfalsetrue