2.2.0.25truefalse40803 - Disclosure - Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt (Maturities of long-term debt) (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$As_Of_12_31_20103http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000731766instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2false0us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonthsus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse18920000001892falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of long-term debt maturing within the next twelve months following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, which may include maturities of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed or determinable prices and dates.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Publisher FASB
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-Publisher FASB
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falsefalse7false0us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFiveus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse62570000006257falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of long-term debt maturities after year five following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, which may include maturities of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed of determinable prices and dates.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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falsefalse8false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurecommercialpaperandlongtermdebtmaturitiesoflongtermdebtdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis} : $1,095 million par, zero coupon senior unsecured notes due November 2022 [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_201022http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000731766instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalse$1,095 million par, zero coupon senior unsecured notes due November 2022 [Member]us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiunh_ZeroCouponSeniorUnsecuredNotes1095MillionParDueNovember2022Memberus-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0unh_LongTermDebtClassifiedAsCurrentDueToPutFeatureunhfalsecreditinstantSenior unsecured notes classified with the current maturities of long-term debt due to the existence of a put feature.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse588000000588[1]falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetarySenior unsecured notes classified with the current maturities of long-term debt due to the existence of a put feature.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse1These notes have been included in current maturities of long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 due to a current note holder option to "put" the note to the Company which began on November 15, 2010, and recurs each November 15 thereafter until 2022 (except 2014), at accreted value. 18Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt (Maturities of long-term debt) (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
