2.2.0.25truefalse41101 - Disclosure - Share-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details)truefalseIn Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
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USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
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USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
-Paragraph 6, 7
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($) / shares
USD ($)
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1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
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1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($) / shares
USD ($)
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($) / shares
USD ($)
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1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($) / shares
USD ($)
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1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
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-Subparagraph c(2)
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
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1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
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1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 29, 30
-Article 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
-Paragraph 10
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3
Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 129
-Paragraph 5
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph a
falsefalse30false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/taxonomy/role/disclosuresharebasedcompensationnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse16falsefalsetruefalse{unh_RangeAxis} : Upper Limit
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_20108http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000731766duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseUpper Limitunh_RangeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiunh_UpperLimitMemberunh_RangeAxisexplicitMemberOthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse31false0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriodus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00sixfalsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:durationStringItemTypenormalizedstringDescription of the period of time over which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, which may be expressed in a variety of ways (for example, in years, month and year).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph a
falsefalse330Share-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)MillionsHundredThousandsNoRoundingUnKnowntruetrue
