Segment Information (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Segment Information
Member co-share amounts and government subsidies	$ 1,100,000,000	$ 900,000,000	$ 3,100,000,000	$ 2,600,000,000
Write-down of deferred acquisition costs associated with our individual major medical policies				$ 147,500,000