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Basis of Presentation, Uses of Estimates and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 30, 2014
Investment and other income $ 779,000,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend $ 745,000,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend $ 680,000,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 9,247,000,000us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent 7,458,000,000us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent    
Accrued Salaries, Current 1,500,000,000us-gaap_AccruedSalariesCurrent 1,200,000,000us-gaap_AccruedSalariesCurrent    
Reinsurance Receivables 1,800,000,000us-gaap_ReinsuranceReceivablesPaidLossesRecoverable 1,800,000,000us-gaap_ReinsuranceReceivablesPaidLossesRecoverable    
Number Of Days Notice Required To Cancel Health Insurance Contract 30      
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent   90.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Plan Award, Options, Award Exercisable Period 10 years      
Industry Tax [Member]        
Liability paid       1,300,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsForFees
/ unh_HealthReformAxis
= unh_IndustryTaxMember
Checks Outstanding [Member]        
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 1,400,000,000us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= unh_ChecksOutstandingMember		 1,300,000,000us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= unh_ChecksOutstandingMember		    
Reinsurance Receivable Current [Member]        
Reinsurance Receivables 127,000,000us-gaap_ReinsuranceReceivablesPaidLossesRecoverable
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= unh_ReinsuranceReceivableCurrentMember		 136,000,000us-gaap_ReinsuranceReceivablesPaidLossesRecoverable
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= unh_ReinsuranceReceivableCurrentMember		    
Reinsurance Receivable Non-current [Member]        
Reinsurance Receivables 1,700,000,000us-gaap_ReinsuranceReceivablesPaidLossesRecoverable
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= unh_ReinsuranceReceivableNoncurrentMember		 1,700,000,000us-gaap_ReinsuranceReceivablesPaidLossesRecoverable
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= unh_ReinsuranceReceivableNoncurrentMember		    
RSF Assets Under Management AARP [Member]        
Investment and other income 86,000,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend
/ unh_AssetsundermanagementAxis
= unh_AARPMember		 101,000,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend
/ unh_AssetsundermanagementAxis
= unh_AARPMember		 109,000,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend
/ unh_AssetsundermanagementAxis
= unh_AARPMember		  
Rate Stabilization Fund $ 1,500,000,000unh_RateStabilizationFund
/ unh_AssetsundermanagementAxis
= unh_AARPMember		 $ 1,300,000,000unh_RateStabilizationFund
/ unh_AssetsundermanagementAxis
= unh_AARPMember		    
Restricted Stock [Member] | Minimum [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period 3 years      
Restricted Stock [Member] | Maximum [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period 4 years      
Stock Options and SARs [Member] [Member] | Minimum [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period 4 years      
Stock Options and SARs [Member] [Member] | Maximum [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period 6 years      
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Discount from Market Price, Offering Date 85.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPriceOfferingDate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= unh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanESPPMember