2.2.0.7 false Shareholders' Equity (Schedule of Dividends) (Details) (USD $) 40902 - Disclosure - Shareholders' Equity (Schedule of Dividends) (Details) true false In Millions, except Per Share data 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 $ false 2 USD false false 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 Unit13 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 3 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 $ false 4 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 us-gaap_StockholdersEquityNoteAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 3 1 us-gaap_DividendsPayableDateOfRecordDayMonthAndYear us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 2010-04-06 2010-04-06 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 2010-09-14 2010-09-14 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 2010-06-07 2010-06-07 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:dateItemType date The 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. false 4 1 unh_DividendPaymentDateDayMonthAndYear unh false na instant Dividend Payment Date Day Month And Year false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 2010-04-20 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 2010-09-28 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 2010-06-21 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 2010-09-28 false false false xbrli:dateItemType date Dividend Payment Date Day Month And Year No authoritative reference available. false 5 1 us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false true 1 true true false false 0.030 0.030 false false false 2 true true false false 0.125 0.125 false false false 3 true true false false 0.125 0.125 false false false 4 true true false false 0.280 0.280 false false false us-types:perShareItemType decimal Aggregate 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 false 6 1 us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 true true false false 34000000 34 false false false 2 true true false false 139000000 139 false false false 3 true true false false 140000000 140 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The 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 false 4 5 false Millions UnKnown NoRounding false true