Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Operating activities
Net earnings	$ 5,142	$ 4,634	$ 3,822
Noncash items:
Depreciation and amortization	1,124	1,064	991
Deferred income taxes	59	45	(16)
Share-based compensation	401	326	334
Other, net	(67)	203	23
Net change in other operating items, net of effects from acquisitions and changes in AARP balances:
Accounts receivable	(267)	(16)	100
Other assets	(121)	84	(250)
Medical costs payable	377	(88)	424
Accounts payable and other liabilities	146	(341)	99
Other policy liabilities	482	10	104
Unearned revenues	(308)	352	(6)
Cash flows from operating activities	6,968	6,273	5,625
Investing activities
Purchases of investments	(9,895)	(7,855)	(6,466)
Sales of investments	3,949	2,593	4,040
Maturities of investments	4,251	3,105	2,675
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash assumed	(1,844)	(2,323)	(486)
Cash received from dispositions, net of cash transferred	385	19	0
Purchases of property, equipment and capitalized software	(1,067)	(878)	(739)
Proceeds from disposal of property, equipment and capitalized software	49	0	0
Cash flows used for investing activities	(4,172)	(5,339)	(976)
Financing activities
Common stock repurchases	(2,994)	(2,517)	(1,801)
Proceeds from common stock issuances	381	272	282
Dividends paid	(651)	(449)	(36)
(Repayments of) proceeds from commercial paper, net	(933)	930	(99)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	2,234	747	0
Repayments of long-term debt	(955)	(1,583)	(1,350)
Interest rate swap termination	132	0	513
Customer funds administered	37	974	204
Checks outstanding in excess of bank deposits	206	(5)	22
Other, net	53	20	(10)
Cash flows used for financing activities	(2,490)	(1,611)	(2,275)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	306	(677)	2,374
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	9,123	9,800	7,426
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	9,429	9,123	9,800
Supplemental cash flow disclosures
Cash paid for interest	472	509	527
Cash paid for income taxes	$ 2,739	$ 2,725	$ 2,048