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USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
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USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
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USD ($)
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USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_2007http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000731766instant2007-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false0us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrentus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse20610000002061falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse19540000001954falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph a(1)
-Article 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 4
-Article 5
falsefalse3false0unh_AssetsUnderManagementunhfalsedebitinstantThe Assets Under Management are primarily AARP assets that are managed separately from the general investment portfolio and...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse25500000002550falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse23830000002383falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe Assets Under Management are primarily AARP assets that are managed separately from the general investment portfolio and are used to pay costs associated with the AARP program.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0us-gaap_LiabilityForClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse92200000009220falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse93620000009362falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse86640000008664falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse83310000008331falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before the balance sheet date, whether or not reported to the insurer at that date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
-Number 94-5
-Paragraph 11
-Subparagraph b
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 20
-Article 5
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 14
-Article 7
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 97
-Paragraph 15-21
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph a
-Article 7
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 113
-Paragraph 26
Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 60
-Paragraph 21-26
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12/31/2010
USD ($)
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12/31/2009
USD ($)
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph a(1)
-Article 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 4
-Article 5
falsefalse10false0unh_AssetsUnderManagementunhfalsedebitinstantThe Assets Under Management are primarily AARP assets that are managed separately from the general investment portfolio and...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse25500000002550falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse23830000002383falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe Assets Under Management are primarily AARP assets that are managed separately from the general investment portfolio and are used to pay costs associated with the AARP program.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse11false0us-gaap_LiabilityForClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse11500000001150falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse11820000001182falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before the balance sheet date, whether or not reported to the insurer at that date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
-Number 94-5
-Paragraph 11
-Subparagraph b
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 20
-Article 5
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
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-Paragraph 14
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 97
-Paragraph 15-21
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph a
-Article 7
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 113
-Paragraph 26
Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 60
-Paragraph 21-26
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 24
-Article 5
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