2.2.0.25falsefalse30703 - Disclosure - Medical Costs and Medical Costs Payable (Tables)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000731766duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0unh_MedicalCostsAndMedicalCostsPayableAbstractunhfalsenadurationMedical Costs And Medical Costs Payable [Abstract]falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringMedical Costs And Medical Costs Payable [Abstract]falsefalse3false0unh_ChangeInMedicalCostsPayableDisclosureTextBlockunhfalsenadurationChange in Medical Costs Payable Disclosure [Text Block]falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00<div> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" align="center"> <tr><td width="73%"> </td> <td valign="bottom" width="5%"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td valign="bottom" width="5%"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td valign="bottom" width="5%"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="1"><b>(in millions)</b></font></p></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom" colspan="2" align="center"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="1"><b>2010</b></font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom" colspan="2" align="center"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="1"><b>2009</b></font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom" colspan="2" align="center"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="1"><b>2008</b></font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#cceeff"><td valign="top"> <p style="text-indent: -1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Medical costs payable, beginning of period</font></p></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">9,362</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">8,664</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">8,331</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"> <p style="text-indent: -1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Acquisitions</font></p></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">0</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">252</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">331</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#cceeff"><td valign="top"> <p style="text-indent: -1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Reported medical costs:</font></p></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"> <p style="text-indent: -1em; margin-left: 3em;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Current year</font></p></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">69,641</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">65,599</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">60,589</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#cceeff"><td valign="top"> <p style="text-indent: -1em; margin-left: 3em;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Prior years</font></p></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">(800</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">)&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">(310</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">)&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">(230</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">)&nbsp;</font></td></tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px;"><td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"> <p style="text-indent: -1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Total reported medical costs</font></p></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">68,841</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">65,289</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">60,359</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td></tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px;"><td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#cceeff"><td valign="top"> <p style="text-indent: -1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Claim payments:</font></p></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"> <p style="text-indent: -1em; margin-left: 3em;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Payments for current year</font></p></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">(60,949</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">)&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">(57,109</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">)&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">(52,872</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">)&nbsp;</font></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#cceeff"><td valign="top"> <p style="text-indent: -1em; margin-left: 3em;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Payments for prior year</font></p></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">(8,034</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">)&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">(7,734</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">)&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">(7,485</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">)&nbsp;</font></td></tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px;"><td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"> <p style="text-indent: -1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Total claim payments</font></p></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">(68,983</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">)&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">(64,843</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">)&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">(60,357</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">)&nbsp;</font></td></tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px;"><td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 1px solid;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#cceeff"><td valign="top"> <p style="text-indent: -1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Medical costs payable, end of period</font></p></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">9,220</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">9,362</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">8,664</font></td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td></tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px;"><td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 3px double;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 3px double;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 3px double;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 3px double;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 3px double;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-top: #000000 3px double;" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td></tr></table> </div>(in millions) &nbsp;&nbsp; 2010 &nbsp; &nbsp; 2009 &nbsp; &nbsp; 2008 &nbsp; Medical costs payable, beginning offalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringChange in Medical Costs Payable Disclosure [Text Block]No authoritative reference available.falsefalse12Medical Costs and Medical Costs Payable (Tables)UnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue