10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

__________________________________________________________ 

Form 10-Q

__________________________________________________________ 

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2018

or

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _______ TO _______

Commission File Number: 1-10864

__________________________________________________________ 

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 __________________________________________________________ 

Delaware	41-1321939
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
UnitedHealth Group Center 9900 Bren Road East Minnetonka, Minnesota	55343
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(952) 936-1300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

__________________________________________________________  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes [X] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes [X] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act

Large accelerated filer	[X]	Accelerated filer	[ ]	Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	[ ]
Smaller reporting company	[ ]			Emerging growth company	[ ]

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes [ ]No [X]

As of July 31, 2018, there were 962,473,363 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, issued and outstanding.

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP

Table of Contents

			Page
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1.	Financial Statements (unaudited)		1
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017		1
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017		2
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017		3
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017		4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017		5
	Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements		6
	1.	Basis of Presentation	6
	2.	Investments	7
	3.	Fair Value	8
	4.	Medical Costs Payable	10
	5.	Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt	11
	6.	Shareholder’s Equity	12
	7.	Commitments and Contingencies	12
	8.	Segment Financial Information	14
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		16
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		22
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		23
Part II. Other Information
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		24
Item 1A.	Risk Factors		24
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		24
Item 6.	Exhibits		25
Signatures			26

PART I

ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

UnitedHealth Group

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(in millions, except per share data)	June 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	18,368		$	11,981
Short-term investments	3,492			3,509
Accounts receivable, net	10,874			9,568
Other current receivables, net	6,772			6,262
Assets under management	2,842			3,101
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,286			2,663
Total current assets	46,634			37,084
Long-term investments	31,237			28,341
Property, equipment and capitalized software, net	7,906			7,013
Goodwill	56,271			54,556
Other intangible assets, net	8,680			8,489
Other assets	3,883			3,575
Total assets	$	154,611		$	139,058
Liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity
Current liabilities:
Medical costs payable	$	19,339		$	17,871
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	17,527			15,180
Commercial paper and current maturities of long-term debt	2,959			2,857
Unearned revenues	7,228			2,269
Other current liabilities	14,999			12,286
Total current liabilities	62,052			50,463
Long-term debt, less current maturities	32,096			28,835
Deferred income taxes	2,095			2,182
Other liabilities	5,746			5,556
Total liabilities	101,989			87,036
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	1,839			2,189
Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value - 10 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding	—			—
Common stock, $0.01 par value - 3,000 shares authorized; 962 and 969 issued and outstanding	10			10
Additional paid-in capital	—			1,703
Retained earnings	52,363			48,730
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,080		)	(2,667		)
Nonredeemable noncontrolling interests	2,490			2,057
Total equity	50,783			49,833
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	$	154,611		$	139,058

See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

1

UnitedHealth Group

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
(in millions, except per share data)	2018			2017			2018			2017
Revenues:
Premiums	$	44,458		$	39,585		$	88,542		$	78,523
Products	7,004			6,415			13,706			12,544
Services	4,269			3,797			8,373			7,231
Investment and other income	355			256			653			478
Total revenues	56,086			50,053			111,274			98,776
Operating costs:
Medical costs	36,427			32,549			72,290			64,628
Operating costs	8,386			7,328			16,892			14,350
Cost of products sold	6,471			5,889			12,655			11,565
Depreciation and amortization	598			556			1,180			1,089
Total operating costs	51,882			46,322			103,017			91,632
Earnings from operations	4,204			3,731			8,257			7,144
Interest expense	(344		)	(301		)	(673		)	(584		)
Earnings before income taxes	3,860			3,430			7,584			6,560
Provision for income taxes	(850		)	(1,080		)	(1,650		)	(2,019		)
Net earnings	3,010			2,350			5,934			4,541
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(88		)	(66		)	(176		)	(85		)
Net earnings attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders	$	2,922		$	2,284		$	5,758		$	4,456
Earnings per share attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders:
Basic	$	3.04		$	2.37		$	5.98		$	4.65
Diluted	$	2.98		$	2.32		$	5.85		$	4.55
Basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding	961			964			963			959
Dilutive effect of common share equivalents	21			21			21			21
Diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding	982			985			984			980
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from the calculation of dilutive effect of common share equivalents	6			8			7			9
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.900		$	0.750		$	1.650		$	1.375

See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

2

UnitedHealth Group

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
(in millions)	2018			2017			2018			2017
Net earnings	$	3,010		$	2,350		$	5,934		$	4,541
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Gross unrealized (losses) gains on investment securities during the period	(43		)	170			(421		)	269
Income tax effect	10			(62		)	96			(94		)
Total unrealized (losses) gains, net of tax	(33		)	108			(325		)	175
Gross reclassification adjustment for net realized gains included in net earnings	(36		)	(20		)	(55		)	(41		)
Income tax effect	9			7			13			15
Total reclassification adjustment, net of tax	(27		)	(13		)	(42		)	(26		)
Total foreign currency translation loss	(1,069		)	(239		)	(1,070		)	(59		)
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(1,129		)	(144		)	(1,437		)	90
Comprehensive income	1,881			2,206			4,497			4,631
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(88		)	(66		)	(176		)	(85		)
Comprehensive income attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders	$	1,793		$	2,140		$	4,321		$	4,546

See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

3

UnitedHealth Group

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

(Unaudited)

	Common Stock				Additional Paid-In Capital			Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income						Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interests			Total Equity
(in millions)	Shares		Amount								Net Unrealized (Losses) Gains on Investments			Foreign Currency Translation Losses
Balance at January 1, 2018	969		$	10	$	1,703		$	48,730		$	(13	)	$	(2,654	)	$	2,057		$	49,833
Adjustment to adopt ASU 2016-01								(24		)	24									—
Net earnings								5,758									112			5,870
Other comprehensive loss											(367		)	(1,070		)				(1,437		)
Issuances of common stock, and related tax effects	7		—		522															522
Share-based compensation					347															347
Common share repurchases	(14	)	—		(2,637		)	(513		)										(3,150		)
Cash dividends paid on common shares								(1,588		)										(1,588		)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests fair value and other adjustments					65															65
Acquisition of nonredeemable noncontrolling interests																	416			416
Distribution to nonredeemable noncontrolling interests																	(95		)	(95		)
Balance at June 30, 2018	962		$	10	$	—		$	52,363		$	(356	)	$	(3,724	)	$	2,490		$	50,783
Balance at January 1, 2017	952		$	10	$	—		$	40,945		$	(97	)	$	(2,584	)	$	(97	)	$	38,177
Net earnings								4,456									63			4,519
Other comprehensive income (loss)											149			(59		)				90
Issuances of common stock, and related tax effects	19		—		1,969															1,969
Share-based compensation					326															326
Common share repurchases	(6	)	—		(1,045		)													(1,045		)
Cash dividends paid on common shares								(1,320		)										(1,320		)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests fair value and other adjustments					411															411
Acquisition of nonredeemable noncontrolling interests																	2,265			2,265
Distribution to nonredeemable noncontrolling interests																	(56		)	(56		)
Balance at June 30, 2017	965		$	10	$	1,661		$	44,081		$	52		$	(2,643	)	$	2,175		$	45,336

See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

4

UnitedHealth Group

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

	Six Months Ended June 30,
(in millions)	2018			2017
Operating activities
Net earnings	$	5,934		$	4,541
Noncash items:
Depreciation and amortization	1,180			1,089
Deferred income taxes	(158		)	(200		)
Share-based compensation	358			332
Other, net	10			111
Net change in other operating items, net of effects from acquisitions and changes in AARP balances:
Accounts receivable	(1,021		)	(2,185		)
Other assets	(2,369		)	(1,520		)
Medical costs payable	1,263			1,095
Accounts payable and other liabilities	2,233			1,221
Unearned revenues	4,946			4,143
Cash flows from operating activities	12,376			8,627
Investing activities
Purchases of investments	(8,182		)	(6,944		)
Sales of investments	2,003			2,086
Maturities of investments	3,211			2,776
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash assumed	(2,636		)	(704		)
Purchases of property, equipment and capitalized software	(960		)	(925		)
Other, net	(134		)	55
Cash flows used for investing activities	(6,698		)	(3,656		)
Financing activities
Common share repurchases	(3,150		)	(1,045		)
Cash dividends paid	(1,588		)	(1,320		)
Proceeds from common stock issuances	478			391
Repayments of long-term debt	(1,100		)	(2,117		)
Repayments of commercial paper, net	(181		)	(1,396		)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	3,964			1,342
Customer funds administered	3,082			3,899
Other, net	(718		)	(566		)
Cash flows from (used for) financing activities	787			(812		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(78		)	(7		)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	6,387			4,152
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	11,981			10,430
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	18,368		$	14,582
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing activities
Common stock issued for acquisition	$	—		$	1,867

See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

5

UnitedHealth Group

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

1.    Basis of Presentation

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (individually and together with its subsidiaries, “UnitedHealth Group” and the “Company”) is a diversified health care company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping make the health system work better for everyone. Through its diversified family of businesses, the Company leverages core competencies in data and health information; advanced technology; and clinical expertise to help meet the demands of the health system. These core competencies are deployed within two distinct, but strategically aligned, business platforms: health benefits operating under UnitedHealthcare and health services operating under Optum.

The Company has prepared the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements according to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and has included the accounts of UnitedHealth Group and its subsidiaries. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Company has omitted certain footnote disclosures that would substantially duplicate the disclosures contained in its annual audited Consolidated Financial Statements. Therefore, these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read together with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 as filed with the SEC (2017 10-K). The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present the interim financial statements fairly.

Use of Estimates

These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include certain amounts based on the Company’s best estimates and judgments. The Company’s most significant estimates relate to medical costs payable, revenues, and goodwill and other intangible assets. Certain of these estimates require the application of complex assumptions and judgments, often because they involve matters that are inherently uncertain and will likely change in subsequent periods. The impact of any change in estimates is included in earnings in the period in which the estimate is adjusted.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (ASU 2016-02), as modified by ASUs 2018-01, 2018-10 and 2018-11 (collectively ASU 2016-02). Under ASU 2016-02, an entity will be required to recognize assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leases on the entity’s balance sheet for both finance and operating leases. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, an entity can elect to not recognize lease assets and lease liabilities and expense the lease over a straight-line basis for the term of the lease. ASU 2016-02 will require new disclosures that depict the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows pertaining to an entity’s leases. Companies may adopt the new standard using a modified retrospective approach or a cumulative effect upon adoption approach for the annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption of ASU 2016-02 is permitted. When adopted, ASU 2016-02 will not have a material impact on the Company’s balance sheet, results of operations, equity or cash flows.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (ASU 2016-01). Most notably, the new guidance requires that equity investments, with certain exemptions, be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income as opposed to other comprehensive income. The Company adopted ASU 2016-01 on a prospective basis effective January 1, 2018, as required, and reclassified $24 million from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings.

The Company has determined that there have been no other recently adopted or issued accounting standards that had, or will have, a material impact on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

6

2.    Investments

A summary of debt securities by major security type is as follows:

(in millions)	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
June 30, 2018
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	2,973	$	1	$	(61	)	$	2,913
State and municipal obligations	7,179		45		(84		)	7,140
Corporate obligations	15,018		10		(217		)	14,811
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	4,723		2		(131		)	4,594
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,285		—		(27		)	1,258
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	31,178		58		(520		)	30,716
Debt securities - held-to-maturity:
U.S. government and agency obligations	247		1		(3		)	245
State and municipal obligations	11		—		—			11
Corporate obligations	330		—		—			330
Total debt securities - held-to-maturity	588		1		(3		)	586
Total debt securities	$	31,766	$	59	$	(523	)	$	31,302
December 31, 2017
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	2,673	$	1	$	(30	)	$	2,644
State and municipal obligations	7,596		99		(35		)	7,660
Corporate obligations	13,181		57		(44		)	13,194
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	3,942		7		(38		)	3,911
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,018		3		(6		)	1,015
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	28,410		167		(153		)	28,424
Debt securities - held-to-maturity:
U.S. government and agency obligations	254		1		(1		)	254
State and municipal obligations	2		—		—			2
Corporate obligations	280		—		—			280
Total debt securities - held-to-maturity	536		1		(1		)	536
Total debt securities	$	28,946	$	168	$	(154	)	$	28,960

The Company held $1.9 billion and $2.0 billion of equity securities as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The Company’s investments in equity securities primarily consist of investments in Brazilian real denominated fixed-income funds, employee savings plan related investments and dividend paying stocks, with readily determinable fair values.

Additionally, the Company’s investments included $1.6 billion and $898 million of equity method investments in operating businesses in the health care sector as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

7

The amortized cost and fair value of debt securities as of June 30, 2018, by contractual maturity, were as follows:

	Available-for-Sale				Held-to-Maturity
(in millions)	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
Due in one year or less	$	3,586	$	3,580	$	138	$	138
Due after one year through five years	11,945		11,794		193		191
Due after five years through ten years	7,076		6,942		103		103
Due after ten years	2,563		2,548		154		154
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	4,723		4,594		—		—
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,285		1,258		—		—
Total debt securities	$	31,178	$	30,716	$	588	$	586

The fair value of available-for-sale debt securities with gross unrealized losses by security type and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position were as follows:

	Less Than 12 Months					12 Months or Greater					Total
(in millions)	Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses
June 30, 2018
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	1,850	$	(31	)	$	832	$	(30	)	$	2,682	$	(61	)
State and municipal obligations	3,746		(57		)	735		(27		)	4,481		(84		)
Corporate obligations	10,866		(173		)	1,119		(44		)	11,985		(217		)
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	3,125		(78		)	1,106		(53		)	4,231		(131		)
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,023		(21		)	138		(6		)	1,161		(27		)
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	$	20,610	$	(360	)	$	3,930	$	(160	)	$	24,540	$	(520	)
December 31, 2017
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	1,249	$	(8	)	$	1,027	$	(22	)	$	2,276	$	(30	)
State and municipal obligations	2,599		(21		)	866		(14		)	3,465		(35		)
Corporate obligations	5,901		(23		)	1,242		(21		)	7,143		(44		)
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,657		(12		)	1,162		(26		)	2,819		(38		)
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	411		(3		)	144		(3		)	555		(6		)
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	$	11,817	$	(67	)	$	4,441	$	(86	)	$	16,258	$	(153	)

The Company’s unrealized losses from debt securities as of June 30, 2018 were generated from 19,000 positions out of a total of 28,000 positions. The Company believes that it will collect the principal and interest due on its debt securities that have an amortized cost in excess of fair value. The unrealized losses were primarily caused by interest rate increases and not by unfavorable changes in the credit quality associated with these securities. At each reporting period, the Company evaluates securities for impairment when the fair value of the investment is less than its amortized cost. The Company evaluated the underlying credit quality and credit ratings of the issuers, noting no significant deterioration since purchase. As of June 30, 2018, the Company did not have the intent to sell any of the securities in an unrealized loss position. Therefore, the Company believes these losses to be temporary.

3.    Fair Value

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements or have fair values disclosed in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. These assets and liabilities are classified into one of three levels of a hierarchy defined by GAAP.

8

For a description of the methods and assumptions that are used to estimate the fair value and determine the fair value hierarchy classification of each class of financial instrument, see Note 4 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in the 2017 10-K.

The following table presents a summary of fair value measurements by level and carrying values for items measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:

(in millions)	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)			Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total Fair and Carrying Value
June 30, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents	$	18,322		$	46		$	—		$	18,368
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	2,643			270			—			2,913
State and municipal obligations	—			7,140			—			7,140
Corporate obligations	39			14,623			149			14,811
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			4,594			—			4,594
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			1,258			—			1,258
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	2,682			27,885			149			30,716
Equity securities	1,776			13			79			1,868
Assets under management	869			1,973			—			2,842
Total assets at fair value	$	23,649		$	29,917		$	228		$	53,794
Percentage of total assets at fair value	44		%	56		%	—		%	100		%
December 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents	$	11,718		$	263		$	—		$	11,981
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	2,428			216			—			2,644
State and municipal obligations	—			7,660			—			7,660
Corporate obligations	65			12,989			140			13,194
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			3,911			—			3,911
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			1,015			—			1,015
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	2,493			25,791			140			28,424
Equity securities	1,784			14			194			1,992
Assets under management	1,117			1,984			—			3,101
Total assets at fair value	$	17,112		$	28,052		$	334		$	45,498
Percentage of total assets at fair value	38		%	61		%	1		%	100		%

Transfers between levels, if any, are recorded as of the beginning of the reporting period in which the transfer occurs; there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 of any financial assets during the six months endedJune 30, 2018 or 2017.

9

The following table presents a summary of fair value measurements by level and carrying values for certain financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:

(in millions)	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value		Total Carrying Value
June 30, 2018
Debt securities - held-to-maturity	$	258	$	70	$	258	$	586	$	588
Long-term debt and other financing obligations	$	—	$	36,329	$	—	$	36,329	$	35,055
December 31, 2017
Debt securities - held-to-maturity	$	267	$	4	$	265	$	536	$	536
Long-term debt and other financing obligations	$	—	$	34,504	$	—	$	34,504	$	31,542

Nonfinancial assets and liabilities or financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances, such as when the Company records an impairment. There were no significant fair value adjustments for these assets and liabilities recorded during the six months endedJune 30, 2018 or 2017.

4.    Medical Costs Payable

The following table shows the components of the change in medical costs payable for the six months ended June 30:

(in millions)	2018			2017
Medical costs payable, beginning of period	$	17,871		$	16,391
Acquisitions	261			76
Reported medical costs:
Current year	72,570			65,208
Prior years	(280		)	(580		)
Total reported medical costs	72,290			64,628
Medical payments:
Payments for current year	(55,738		)	(49,673		)
Payments for prior years	(15,345		)	(13,712		)
Total medical payments	(71,083		)	(63,385		)
Medical costs payable, end of period	$	19,339		$	17,710

For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the medical cost reserve development included no individual factors that were significant. Medical costs payable included reserves for claims incurred by insured customers but not yet reported to the Company of $13.5 billion and $12.3 billion at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

10

5.    Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt

Commercial paper and senior unsecured long-term debt consisted of the following:

	June 30, 2018						December 31, 2017
(in millions, except percentages)	Par Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value		Par Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Commercial paper	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	150	$	150	$	150
6.000% notes due February 2018	—		—		—		1,100		1,101		1,106
1.900% notes due July 2018	1,500		1,500		1,500		1,500		1,499		1,501
1.700% notes due February 2019	750		749		745		750		749		747
1.625% notes due March 2019	500		500		496		500		501		497
2.300% notes due December 2019	500		492		497		500		495		501
2.700% notes due July 2020	1,500		1,497		1,491		1,500		1,496		1,517
Floating rate notes due October 2020	300		299		300		300		299		300
3.875% notes due October 2020	450		440		457		450		446		467
1.950% notes due October 2020	900		896		878		900		895		892
4.700% notes due February 2021	400		396		415		400		403		425
2.125% notes due March 2021	750		747		731		750		746		744
Floating rate notes due June 2021	350		349		350		—		—		—
3.150% notes due June 2021	400		398		400		—		—		—
3.375% notes due November 2021	500		483		503		500		493		516
2.875% notes due December 2021	750		726		743		750		741		760
2.875% notes due March 2022	1,100		1,033		1,085		1,100		1,054		1,114
3.350% notes due July 2022	1,000		996		1,001		1,000		996		1,033
2.375% notes due October 2022	900		894		865		900		893		891
0.000% notes due November 2022	15		12		12		15		12		12
2.750% notes due February 2023	625		591		605		625		606		626
2.875% notes due March 2023	750		739		731		750		762		759
3.500% notes due June 2023	750		746		751		—		—		—
3.750% notes due July 2025	2,000		1,988		2,000		2,000		1,987		2,108
3.100% notes due March 2026	1,000		995		954		1,000		995		1,007
3.450% notes due January 2027	750		745		729		750		745		776
3.375% notes due April 2027	625		619		606		625		618		642
2.950% notes due October 2027	950		937		886		950		937		947
3.850% notes due June 2028	1,150		1,141		1,152		—		—		—
4.625% notes due July 2035	1,000		991		1,052		1,000		991		1,165
5.800% notes due March 2036	850		838		1,007		850		837		1,105
6.500% notes due June 2037	500		492		640		500		491		698
6.625% notes due November 2037	650		641		845		650		641		923
6.875% notes due February 2038	1,100		1,075		1,455		1,100		1,075		1,596
5.700% notes due October 2040	300		296		356		300		296		389
5.950% notes due February 2041	350		345		433		350		345		466
4.625% notes due November 2041	600		588		626		600		588		685
4.375% notes due March 2042	502		484		506		502		483		555
3.950% notes due October 2042	625		607		592		625		607		650
4.250% notes due March 2043	750		734		746		750		734		822
4.750% notes due July 2045	2,000		1,972		2,137		2,000		1,972		2,362
4.200% notes due January 2047	750		738		735		750		738		808
4.250% notes due April 2047	725		717		722		725		717		798
3.750% notes due October 2047	950		933		873		950		933		969
4.250% notes due June 2048	1,350		1,329		1,354		—		—		—
Total commercial paper and long-term debt	$	34,167	$	33,688	$	34,962	$	31,417	$	31,067	$	34,029

The Company’s long-term debt obligations included $1.4 billion and $625 million of other financing obligations, of which $210 million and $107 million were classified as current as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

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Commercial Paper and Bank Credit Facilities

Commercial paper consists of short-duration, senior unsecured debt privately placed on a discount basis through broker-dealers.

The Company has $3.0 billion five-year, $3.0 billion three-year and $4.0 billion 364-day revolving bank credit facilities with 26 banks, which mature in December 2022, December 2020 and December 2018, respectively. These facilities provide liquidity support for the Company’s commercial paper program and are available for general corporate purposes. As of June 30, 2018, no amounts had been drawn on any of the bank credit facilities. The annual interest rates, which are variable based on term, are calculated based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus a credit spread based on the Company’s senior unsecured credit ratings. If amounts had been drawn on the bank credit facilities as of June 30, 2018, annual interest rates would have ranged from 2.9% to 3.3%.

Debt Covenants

The Company’s bank credit facilities contain various covenants, including covenants requiring the Company to maintain adefined debt to debt-plus-shareholders’ equity ratio of not more than 55%. The Company was in compliance with its debt covenants as of June 30, 2018.

6.    Shareholders' Equity

Share Repurchase Program

In June 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors renewed the Company’s share repurchase program with an authorization to repurchase up to 100 million shares of the Company’s common stock. The following table provides details of the Company’s share repurchase activity for the six months endedJune 30, 2018:

(in millions, except per share data)
Common share repurchases, shares	14
Common share repurchases, average price per share	$	228.81
Common share repurchases, aggregate cost	$	3,150
Board authorized shares remaining	100

Dividends

In June 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors increased the Company’s quarterly cash dividend to shareholders to an annual dividend rate of $3.60 per share from $3.00 per share, which the Company had paid since June 2017. Declaration and payment of future quarterly dividends is at the discretion of the Board and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change.

The following table provides details of the Company’s 2018 dividend payments:

Payment Date	Amount per Share		Total Amount Paid
			(in millions)
March 20	$	0.750	$	722
June 26	0.900		866

7.    Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Matters

Because of the nature of its businesses, the Company is frequently made party to a variety of legal actions and regulatory inquiries, including class actions and suits brought by members, care providers, consumer advocacy organizations, customers and regulators, relating to the Company’s businesses, including management and administration of health benefit plans and other services. These matters include medical malpractice, employment, intellectual property, antitrust, privacy and contract claims and claims related to health care benefits coverage and other business practices.

The Company records liabilities for its estimates of probable costs resulting from these matters where appropriate. Estimates of costs resulting from legal and regulatory matters involving the Company are inherently difficult to predict, particularly where the matters: involve indeterminate claims for monetary damages or may involve fines, penalties or punitive damages; present novel legal theories or represent a shift in regulatory policy; involve a large number of claimants or regulatory bodies; are in the early stages of the proceedings; or could result in a change in business practices. Accordingly, the Company is often unable to estimate the losses or ranges of losses for those matters where there is a reasonable possibility or it is probable that a loss may be incurred.

12

Government Investigations, Audits and Reviews

The Company has been involved or is currently involved in various governmental investigations, audits and reviews. These include routine, regular and special investigations, audits and reviews by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), state insurance and health and welfare departments, the Brazilian national regulatory agency for private health insurance and plans (the Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar), state attorneys general, the Office of the Inspector General, the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Civil Rights, the Government Accountability Office, the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Congressional committees, the U.S. Department of Justice, the SEC, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Brazilian federal revenue service (the Secretaria da Receita Federal), the U.S. Department of Labor, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Defense Contract Audit Agency and other governmental authorities. Certain of the Company’s businesses have been reviewed or are currently under review, including for, among other matters, compliance with coding and other requirements under the Medicare risk-adjustment model. CMS has selected certain of the Company’s local plans for risk adjustment data validation (RADV) audits to validate the coding practices of and supporting documentation maintained by health care providers and such audits may result in retrospective adjustments to payments made to the Company’s health plans.

On February 14, 2017, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its decision to pursue certain claims within a lawsuit initially asserted against the Company and filed under seal by a whistleblower in 2011. The whistleblower’s complaint, which was unsealed on February 15, 2017, alleges that the Company made improper risk adjustment submissions and violated the False Claims Act. On February 12, 2018, the court granted in part and denied in part the Company’s motion to dismiss. In May 2018, DOJ moved to dismiss the Company’s counterclaims, which were filed in March 2018, and moved for partial summary judgment. Those motions will be argued in September 2018. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the outcome that may result from this matter given its procedural status.

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8.    Segment Financial Information

The Company’s four reportable segments are UnitedHealthcare, OptumHealth, OptumInsight and OptumRx. For more information on the Company’s segments see Part I, Item I, “Business” and Note 13 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in the 2017 10-K.

The following tables present reportable segment financial information:

			Optum
(in millions)	UnitedHealthcare		OptumHealth		OptumInsight		OptumRx		Optum Eliminations			Optum		Corporate and Eliminations			Consolidated
Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
Revenues - unaffiliated customers:
Premiums	$	43,496	$	962	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	962	$	—		$	44,458
Products	—		12		20		6,972		—			7,004		—			7,004
Services	2,142		1,203		776		148		—			2,127		—			4,269
Total revenues - unaffiliated customers	45,638		2,177		796		7,120		—			10,093		—			55,731
Total revenues - affiliated customers	—		3,640		1,380		9,807		(341		)	14,486		(14,486		)	—
Investment and other income	208		124		9		14		—			147		—			355
Total revenues	$	45,846	$	5,941	$	2,185	$	16,941	$	(341	)	$	24,726	$	(14,486	)	$	56,086
Earnings from operations	$	2,357	$	570	$	453	$	824	$	—		$	1,847	$	—		$	4,204
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—			—		(344		)	(344		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	2,357	$	570	$	453	$	824	$	—		$	1,847	$	(344	)	$	3,860
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
Revenues - unaffiliated customers:
Premiums	$	38,666	$	919	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	919	$	—		$	39,585
Products	—		11		19		6,385		—			6,415		—			6,415
Services	1,958		1,008		692		139		—			1,839		—			3,797
Total revenues - unaffiliated customers	40,624		1,938		711		6,524		—			9,173		—			49,797
Total revenues - affiliated customers	—		3,097		1,281		9,312		(284		)	13,406		(13,406		)	—
Investment and other income	164		87		1		4		—			92		—			256
Total revenues	$	40,788	$	5,122	$	1,993	$	15,840	$	(284	)	$	22,671	$	(13,406	)	$	50,053
Earnings from operations	$	2,211	$	422	$	372	$	726	$	—		$	1,520	$	—		$	3,731
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—			—		(301		)	(301		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	2,211	$	422	$	372	$	726	$	—		$	1,520	$	(301	)	$	3,430

14

			Optum
(in millions)	UnitedHealthcare		OptumHealth		OptumInsight		OptumRx		Optum Eliminations			Optum		Corporate and Eliminations			Consolidated
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
Revenues - unaffiliated customers:
Premiums	$	86,733	$	1,809	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	1,809	$	—		$	88,542
Products	—		24		43		13,639		—			13,706		—			13,706
Services	4,181		2,391		1,516		285		—			4,192		—			8,373
Total revenues - unaffiliated customers	90,914		4,224		1,559		13,924		—			19,707		—			110,621
Total revenues - affiliated customers	—		7,246		2,684		19,102		(674		)	28,358		(28,358		)	—
Investment and other income	391		230		11		21		—			262		—			653
Total revenues	$	91,305	$	11,700	$	4,254	$	33,047	$	(674	)	$	48,327	$	(28,358	)	$	111,274
Earnings from operations	$	4,757	$	1,058	$	848	$	1,594	$	—		$	3,500	$	—		$	8,257
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—			—		(673		)	(673		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	4,757	$	1,058	$	848	$	1,594	$	—		$	3,500	$	(673	)	$	7,584
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
Revenues - unaffiliated customers:
Premiums	$	76,719	$	1,804	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	1,804	$	—		$	78,523
Products	—		23		40		12,481		—			12,544		—			12,544
Services	3,880		1,729		1,334		288		—			3,351		—			7,231
Total revenues - unaffiliated customers	80,599		3,556		1,374		12,769		—			17,699		—			98,298
Total revenues - affiliated customers	—		6,156		2,460		18,010		(570		)	26,056		(26,056		)	—
Investment and other income	325		143		2		8		—			153		—			478
Total revenues	$	80,924	$	9,855	$	3,836	$	30,787	$	(570	)	$	43,908	$	(26,056	)	$	98,776
Earnings from operations	$	4,345	$	754	$	666	$	1,379	$	—		$	2,799	$	—		$	7,144
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—			—		(584		)	(584		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	4,345	$	754	$	666	$	1,379	$	—		$	2,799	$	(584	)	$	6,560

15

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read together with the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes and with our 2017 10-K, including the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in that report. Unless the context indicates otherwise, references to the terms “UnitedHealth Group,” “we,” “our” or “us” used throughout this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations refer to UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Readers are cautioned that the statements, estimates, projections or outlook contained in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, including discussions regarding financial prospects, economic conditions, trends and uncertainties contained in this Item 2, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA). These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. A description of some of the risks and uncertainties is set forth in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our 2017 10-K and in the discussion below.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

General

UnitedHealth Group is a diversified health care company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping make the health system work better for everyone. Through our diversified family of businesses, we leverage core competencies in data and health information; advanced technology; and clinical expertise to help meet the demands of the health system. These core competencies are deployed within our two distinct, but strategically aligned, business platforms: health benefits operating under UnitedHealthcare and health services operating under Optum.

Further information on our business is presented in Part I, Item 1, “Business” and Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our 2017 10-K and additional information on our segments can be found in this Item 2 and in Note 8 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

Business Trends

Our businesses participate in the United States, South American and certain other international health markets. In the United States, health care spending has grown consistently for many years and comprises approximately 18% of gross domestic product. We expect overall spending on health care to continue to grow in the future due to inflation, medical technology and pharmaceutical advancement, regulatory requirements, demographic trends in the population and national interest in health and well-being. The rate of market growth may be affected by a variety of factors, including macro-economic conditions and regulatory changes, which have impacted and could further impact our results of operations.

Pricing Trends. To price our health care benefit products, we start with our view of expected future costs, including the impact of the Health Insurance Industry Tax. We frequently evaluate and adjust our approach in each of the local markets we serve, considering all relevant factors, such as product positioning, price competitiveness and environmental, competitive, legislative and regulatory considerations, including minimum medical loss ratio (MLR) thresholds. We will continue seeking to balance growth and profitability across all of these dimensions.

The commercial risk market remains highly competitive in both the small group and large group segments. We expect broad-based competition to continue as the industry adapts to individual and employer needs amid reform changes. In 2019, there will be a one year moratorium on the collection of the Health Insurance Industry Tax. Pricing for contracts that cover some portion of calendar year 2019 will reflect the impact of the moratorium.

Government programs in the public and senior sector tend to receive lower rates of increase than in the commercial market due to governmental budget pressures and intrinsically lower cost trends.

Medical Cost Trends. Our medical cost trends primarily relate to changes in unit costs, health system utilization and prescription drug costs. We endeavor to mitigate those increases by engaging physicians and consumers with information and helping them make clinically sound choices, with the objective of helping them achieve high quality, affordable care.

Regulatory Trends and Uncertainties

Following is a summary of management’s view of the trends and uncertainties related to Medicare Advantage rates. For additional information regarding regulatory trends and uncertainties, see Part I, Item 1 “Business - Government Regulation,”

16

Part 1, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our 2017 10-K.

Medicare Advantage Rates. Final 2019 Medicare Advantage rates resulted in an increase in industry base rates of approximately 3.4%, short of the industry forward medical cost trend, which creates continued pressure in the Medicare Advantage program.

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act (Tax Reform). Tax Reform was enacted by the U.S federal government in December 2017, changing existing federal tax law, including reducing the U.S. corporate income tax rate. The impact of Tax Reform will be partially offset by the return of the nondeductible Health Insurance Industry Tax in 2018.

Health Insurance Industry Tax. After a moratorium in 2017, the industry-wide amount of the Health Insurance Industry Tax in 2018 is $14.3 billion, with our portion being $2.6 billion. The return of the tax impacts year-over-year comparability of our financial statements, including revenues, the medical care ratio (MCR), operating cost ratio and effective tax rate. A one year moratorium on the collection of the Health Insurance Industry Tax will occur in 2019.

SELECTED OPERATING PERFORMANCE AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT ITEMS

The following summarizes select second quarter2018 year-over-year operating comparisons to second quarter2017 and other 2018 significant items.

• Consolidated revenues grew 12%, UnitedHealthcare revenues grew 12% and Optum revenues grew 9%.

• UnitedHealthcare served 640,000 fewer people as a result of completion of its commitment to the 2.9 million people under the TRICARE military health care program, partially offset by the addition of 2 million people through acquisition and the remainder from organic growth.

• Earnings from operations increased 13%, including increases of 7% at UnitedHealthcare and 22% at Optum.

• Due primarily to the impact of Tax Reform, our effective income tax rate decreased 950 basis points to 22%.

• Diluted earnings per common share increased 28%.

• Cash flows from operations for the six months ended were $12.4 billion, aided by the June receipt of our July CMS premium payment of $5.2 billion.

17

RESULTS SUMMARY

The following table summarizes our consolidated results of operations and other financial information:

(in millions, except percentages and per share data)	Three Months Ended June 30,						Increase/(Decrease)					Six Months Ended June 30,						Increase/(Decrease)
	2018			2017			2018 vs. 2017					2018			2017			2018 vs. 2017
Revenues:
Premiums	$	44,458		$	39,585		$	4,873		12	%	$	88,542		$	78,523		$	10,019		13	%
Products	7,004			6,415			589			9		13,706			12,544			1,162			9
Services	4,269			3,797			472			12		8,373			7,231			1,142			16
Investment and other income	355			256			99			39		653			478			175			37
Total revenues	56,086			50,053			6,033			12		111,274			98,776			12,498			13
Operating costs:
Medical costs	36,427			32,549			3,878			12		72,290			64,628			7,662			12
Operating costs	8,386			7,328			1,058			14		16,892			14,350			2,542			18
Cost of products sold	6,471			5,889			582			10		12,655			11,565			1,090			9
Depreciation and amortization	598			556			42			8		1,180			1,089			91			8
Total operating costs	51,882			46,322			5,560			12		103,017			91,632			11,385			12
Earnings from operations	4,204			3,731			473			13		8,257			7,144			1,113			16
Interest expense	(344		)	(301		)	(43		)	14		(673		)	(584		)	(89		)	15
Earnings before income taxes	3,860			3,430			430			13		7,584			6,560			1,024			16
Provision for income taxes	(850		)	(1,080		)	230			(21	)	(1,650		)	(2,019		)	369			(18	)
Net earnings	3,010			2,350			660			28		5,934			4,541			1,393			31
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(88		)	(66		)	(22		)	33		(176		)	(85		)	(91		)	107
Net earnings attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders	$	2,922		$	2,284		$	638		28	%	$	5,758		$	4,456		$	1,302		29	%
Diluted earnings per share attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders	$	2.98		$	2.32		$	0.66		28	%	$	5.85		$	4.55		$	1.30		29	%
Medical care ratio (a)	81.9		%	82.2		%	(0.3		)%			81.6		%	82.3		%	(0.7		)%
Operating cost ratio	15.0			14.6			0.4					15.2			14.5			0.7
Operating margin	7.5			7.5			—					7.4			7.2			0.2
Tax rate	22.0			31.5			(9.5		)			21.8			30.8			(9.0		)
Net earnings margin (b)	5.2			4.6			0.6					5.2			4.5			0.7
Return on equity (c)	24.4		%	21.5		%	2.9		%			24.1		%	21.7		%	2.4		%

(a) Medical care ratio is calculated as medical costs divided by premium revenue.

(b) Net earnings margin attributable to UnitedHealth Group shareholders.

(c) Return on equity is calculated as annualized net earnings divided by average equity. Average equity is calculated using the equity balance at the end of the preceding year and the equity balances at the end of each of the quarters in the year presented.

2018 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS COMPARED TO 2017 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Consolidated Financial Results

Revenue

The increase in revenue was primarily driven by the increase in the number of individuals served through risk-based products across our UnitedHealthcare benefits businesses, pricing trends, including for the return of the Health Insurance Industry Tax in 2018, and growth across the Optum business.

Medical Costs and MCR

Medical costs increased due to growth in people served through risk-based products and medical cost trends. The MCR decreased due to the revenue effects of the Health Insurance Industry Tax.

Income Tax Rate

Our effective tax rate decreased due to the impact of Tax Reform, which was partially offset by the return of the nondeductible Health Insurance Industry Tax.

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Reportable Segments

See Note 8 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report for more information on our segments. The following table presents a summary of the reportable segment financial information:

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Increase/(Decrease)					Six Months Ended June 30,						Increase/(Decrease)
(in millions, except percentages)	2018			2017			2018 vs. 2017					2018			2017			2018 vs. 2017
Revenues
UnitedHealthcare	$	45,846		$	40,788		$	5,058		12	%	$	91,305		$	80,924		$	10,381		13	%
OptumHealth	5,941			5,122			819			16		11,700			9,855			1,845			19
OptumInsight	2,185			1,993			192			10		4,254			3,836			418			11
OptumRx	16,941			15,840			1,101			7		33,047			30,787			2,260			7
Optum eliminations	(341		)	(284		)	(57		)	20		(674		)	(570		)	(104		)	18
Optum	24,726			22,671			2,055			9		48,327			43,908			4,419			10
Eliminations	(14,486		)	(13,406		)	(1,080		)	8		(28,358		)	(26,056		)	(2,302		)	9
Consolidated revenues	$	56,086		$	50,053		$	6,033		12	%	$	111,274		$	98,776		$	12,498		13	%
Earnings from operations
UnitedHealthcare	$	2,357		$	2,211		$	146		7	%	$	4,757		$	4,345		$	412		9	%
OptumHealth	570			422			148			35		1,058			754			304			40
OptumInsight	453			372			81			22		848			666			182			27
OptumRx	824			726			98			13		1,594			1,379			215			16
Optum	1,847			1,520			327			22		3,500			2,799			701			25
Consolidated earnings from operations	$	4,204		$	3,731		$	473		13	%	$	8,257		$	7,144		$	1,113		16	%
Operating margin
UnitedHealthcare	5.1		%	5.4		%	(0.3		)%			5.2		%	5.4		%	(0.2		)%
OptumHealth	9.6			8.2			1.4					9.0			7.7			1.3
OptumInsight	20.7			18.7			2.0					19.9			17.4			2.5
OptumRx	4.9			4.6			0.3					4.8			4.5			0.3
Optum	7.5			6.7			0.8					7.2			6.4			0.8
Consolidated operating margin	7.5		%	7.5		%	—		%			7.4		%	7.2		%	0.2		%

UnitedHealthcare

The following table summarizes UnitedHealthcare revenues by business:

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Increase/(Decrease)				Six Months Ended June 30,				Increase/(Decrease)
(in millions, except percentages)	2018		2017		2018 vs. 2017				2018		2017		2018 vs. 2017
UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual	$	13,708	$	12,966	$	742	6	%	$	27,122	$	25,705	$	1,417	6	%
UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement	18,859		16,747		2,112		13		37,784		33,299		4,485		13
UnitedHealthcare Community & State	10,746		9,178		1,568		17		21,417		18,127		3,290		18
UnitedHealthcare Global	2,533		1,897		636		34		4,982		3,793		1,189		31
Total UnitedHealthcare revenues	$	45,846	$	40,788	$	5,058	12	%	$	91,305	$	80,924	$	10,381	13	%

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The following table summarizes the number of individuals served by our UnitedHealthcare businesses, by major market segment and funding arrangement:

	June 30,		Increase/(Decrease)
(in thousands, except percentages)	2018	2017	2018 vs. 2017
Commercial group:
Risk-based	7,905	7,765	140		2	%
Fee-based	18,415	19,110	(695	)	(4	)
Total commercial group	26,320	26,875	(555	)	(2	)
Individual	480	540	(60	)	(11	)
Fee-based TRICARE	—	2,855	(2,855	)	(100	)
Total commercial	26,800	30,270	(3,470	)	(11	)
Medicare Advantage	4,790	4,340	450		10
Medicaid	6,710	6,380	330		5
Medicare Supplement (Standardized)	4,505	4,360	145		3
Total public and senior	16,005	15,080	925		6
Total UnitedHealthcare - domestic medical	42,805	45,350	(2,545	)	(6	)
International	6,020	4,115	1,905		46
Total UnitedHealthcare - medical	48,825	49,465	(640	)	(1	)%
Supplemental Data:
Medicare Part D stand-alone	4,730	4,935	(205	)	(4	)%

The overall increase in people served through risk-based benefit plans in the commercial group market was driven by broad-based growth, primarily in services to small groups. Fee-based commercial group business declined primarily due to the non-renewal of one public sector customer in the third quarter of 2017. Medicare Advantage increased year-over-year due to growth in people served through individual and employer-sponsored group Medicare Advantage plans. Medicaid growth was driven by the combination of new state-based awards and growth in established programs. Medicare Supplement growth reflected strong customer retention and new sales. International growth was driven by an acquisition in the first quarter.

UnitedHealthcare’s revenue and earnings from operations increased due to growth in the number of individuals served across its risk-based businesses, a higher revenue membership mix, rate increases for underlying medical cost trends and the impact of the return of the Health Insurance Industry Tax.

Optum

Total revenues and earnings from operations increased as each segment reported increased revenues and earnings from operations as a result of productivity and overall cost management initiatives in addition to the factors discussed below.

The results by segment were as follows:

OptumHealth

Revenue and earnings from operations increased at OptumHealth primarily due to organic and acquisition-related growth in care delivery and behavioral health, digital consumer engagement and health financial services.

OptumInsight

Revenue and earnings from operations at OptumInsight increased primarily due to organic and acquisition-related growth in technology, payer services and care provider advisory services.

OptumRx

Revenue and earnings from operations at OptumRx increased primarily due to organic customer growth. OptumRx fulfilled 332 million and 322 million adjusted scripts, in the second quarters of 2018 and 2017, respectively.

LIQUIDITY, FINANCIAL CONDITION AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity

Summary of our Major Sources and Uses of Cash and Cash Equivalents

	Six Months Ended June 30,						Increase/(Decrease)
(in millions)	2018			2017			2018 vs. 2017
Sources of cash:
Cash provided by operating activities	$	12,376		$	8,627		$	3,749
Issuances of commercial paper and long-term debt, net of repayments	2,683			—			2,683
Proceeds from common stock issuances	478			391			87
Customer funds administered	3,082			3,899			(817		)
Other	—			55			(55		)
Total sources of cash	18,619			12,972
Uses of cash:
Common stock repurchases	(3,150		)	(1,045		)	(2,105		)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash assumed	(2,636		)	(704		)	(1,932		)
Purchases of investments, net of sales and maturities	(2,968		)	(2,082		)	(886		)
Repayments of commercial paper and long-term debt, net of issuances	—			(2,171		)	2,171
Purchases of property, equipment and capitalized software	(960		)	(925		)	(35		)
Cash dividends paid	(1,588		)	(1,320		)	(268		)
Other	(852		)	(566		)	(286		)
Total uses of cash	(12,154		)	(8,813		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(78		)	(7		)	(71		)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	$	6,387		$	4,152		$	2,235

2018 Cash Flows Compared to 2017 Cash Flows

Increased cash flows provided by operating activities were primarily driven by higher net earnings, the timing of government payments and the year-over-year impact of the return of the Health Insurance Industry Tax. Cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended 2018 and 2017 included the early receipt of July CMS premium payments of $5.2 billion and $4.5 billion, respectively.

Other significant changes in sources or uses of cash year-over-year included net issuances of debt in 2018 compared to net payments in 2017, an increase in cash paid for acquisitions and increased share repurchases.

Financial Condition

As of June 30, 2018, our cash, cash equivalent, available-for-sale debt securities and equity securities balances of $51 billion included $18 billion of cash and cash equivalents (of which $1.7 billion was available for general corporate use), $31 billion of debt securities and $2 billion of investments in equity securities. Given the significant portion of our portfolio held in cash and cash equivalents, we do not anticipate fluctuations in the aggregate fair value of our financial assets to have a material impact on our liquidity or capital position. Our available-for-sale debt portfolio had a weighted-average duration of 2.1 years and a weighted-average credit rating of “Double A” as of June 30, 2018. When multiple credit ratings are available for an individual security, the average of the available ratings is used to determine the weighted-average credit rating.

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Capital Resources and Uses of Liquidity

In addition to cash flows from operations and cash and cash equivalent balances available for general corporate use, our capital resources and uses of liquidity are as follows:

Commercial Paper and Bank Credit Facilities. Our revolving bank credit facilities provide liquidity support for our commercial paper borrowing program, which facilitates the private placement of unsecured debt through third-party broker-dealers, and are available for general corporate purposes. For more information on our commercial paper and bank credit facilities, see Note 5 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

Our revolving bank credit facilities contain various covenants, including covenants requiring us to maintain a defined debt to debt-plus-shareholders’ equity ratio of not more than 55%. As of June 30, 2018, our debt to debt-plus-shareholders’ equity ratio, as defined and calculated under the credit facilities, was approximately 38.8%.

Long-Term Debt. Periodically, we access capital markets and issue long-term debt for general corporate purposes, such as to meet our working capital requirements, to refinance debt, to finance acquisitions or for share repurchases. For more information on our long-term debt, see Note 5 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

Credit Ratings. Our credit ratings as of June 30, 2018 were as follows:

	Moody’s		S&P Global		Fitch		A.M. Best
	Ratings	Outlook	Ratings	Outlook	Ratings	Outlook	Ratings	Outlook
Senior unsecured debt	A3	Stable	A+	Stable	A-	Stable	A-	Stable
Commercial paper	P-2	n/a	A-1	n/a	F1	n/a	AMB-1	n/a

The availability of financing in the form of debt or equity is influenced by many factors, including our profitability, operating cash flows, debt levels, credit ratings, debt covenants and other contractual restrictions, regulatory requirements and economic and market conditions. For example, a significant downgrade in our credit ratings or adverse conditions in the capital markets may increase the cost of borrowing for us or limit our access to capital.

Share Repurchase Program. As of June 30, 2018, we had Board authorization to purchase up to 100 million shares of our common stock. For more information on our share repurchase program, see Note 6 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

Dividends. In June 2018, our Board increased our quarterly cash dividend to shareholders to an annual dividend rate of $3.60 per share. For more information on our dividend, see Note 6 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

For additional liquidity discussion, see Note 10 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 in our 2017 10-K.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS

A summary of future obligations under our various contractual obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2017 was disclosed in our 2017 10-K. During the six months endedJune 30, 2018, there were no material changes to this previously disclosed information outside the ordinary course of business. However, we continually evaluate opportunities to expand our operations, including through internal development of new products, programs and technology applications and acquisitions.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

See Note 1 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report for a discussion of new accounting pronouncements that affect us.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

In preparing our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, we are required to make judgments, assumptions and estimates, which we believe are reasonable and prudent based on the available facts and circumstances. These judgments, assumptions and estimates affect certain of our revenues and expenses and their related balance sheet accounts and disclosure of our contingent liabilities. We base our assumptions and estimates primarily on historical experience and consider known and projected trends. On an ongoing basis, we re-evaluate our selection of assumptions and the method of calculating our estimates.

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Actual results, however, may materially differ from our calculated estimates, and this difference would be reported in our current operations.

Our critical accounting estimates include medical costs payable, revenues, and goodwill and other intangible assets. For a detailed description of our critical accounting estimates, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 in our 2017 10-K. For a detailed discussion of our significant accounting policies, see Note 2 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in our 2017 10-K.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The statements, estimates, projections, guidance or outlook contained in this document include “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the PSLRA. These statements are intended to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the PSLRA. Generally the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” “should” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. These statements may contain information about financial prospects, economic conditions and trends and involve risks and uncertainties. We caution that actual results could differ materially from those that management expects, depending on the outcome of certain factors.

Some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements include: our ability to effectively estimate, price for and manage our medical costs, including the impact of any new coverage requirements; new laws or regulations, or changes in existing laws or regulations, or their enforcement or application, including increases in medical, administrative, technology or other costs or decreases in enrollment resulting from U.S., South American and other jurisdictions’ regulations affecting the health care industry; the outcome of the DOJ’s legal action relating to the risk adjustment submission matter; our ability to maintain and achieve improvement in CMS star ratings and other quality scores that impact revenue; reductions in revenue or delays to cash flows received under Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs, including the effects of a prolonged U.S. government shutdown or debt ceiling constraints; changes in Medicare, including changes in payment methodology, the CMS star ratings program or the application of risk adjustment data validation audits; cyber-attacks or other privacy or data security incidents; failure to comply with privacy and data security regulations; regulatory and other risks and uncertainties of the pharmacy benefits management industry; competitive pressures, which could affect our ability to maintain or increase our market share; changes in or challenges to our public sector contract awards; our ability to execute contracts on competitive terms with physicians, hospitals and other service providers; failure to achieve targeted operating cost productivity improvements, including savings resulting from technology enhancement and administrative modernization; increases in costs and other liabilities associated with increased litigation, government investigations, audits or reviews; failure to manage successfully our strategic alliances or complete or receive anticipated benefits of acquisitions and other strategic transactions, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates on our reported shareholders’ equity and results of operations; downgrades in our credit ratings; the performance of our investment portfolio; impairment of the value of our goodwill and intangible assets if estimated future results do not adequately support goodwill and intangible assets recorded for our existing businesses or the businesses that we acquire; failure to maintain effective and efficient information systems or if our technology products do not operate as intended; and our ability to obtain sufficient funds from our regulated subsidiaries or the debt or capital markets to fund our obligations, to maintain our debt to total capital ratio at targeted levels, to maintain our quarterly dividend payment cycle or to continue repurchasing shares of our common stock.

This list of important factors is not intended to be exhaustive. We discuss certain of these matters more fully, as well as certain risk factors that may affect our business operations, financial condition and results of operations, in our other periodic and current filings with the SEC, including our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Any or all forward-looking statements we make may turn out to be wrong, and can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. By their nature, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict or quantify. Actual future results may vary materially from expectations expressed or implied in this document or any of our prior communications. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws.

ITEM 3.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We manage exposure to market interest rates by diversifying investments across different fixed-income market sectors and debt across maturities, as well as by endeavoring to match our floating-rate assets and liabilities over time, either directly or through the use of interest rate swap contracts. Unrealized gains and losses on investments in available-for-sale securities are reported in comprehensive income.

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The following table summarizes the impact of hypothetical changes in market interest rates across the entire yield curve by 1% point or 2% points as of June 30, 2018 on our investment income and interest expense per annum, and the fair value of our investments and debt (in millions, except percentages):

	June 30, 2018
Increase (Decrease) in Market Interest Rate	Investment Income Per Annum (a)			Interest Expense Per Annum			Fair Value of Financial Assets (b)			Fair Value of Financial Liabilities
2 %	$	428		$	186		$	(2,161	)	$	(4,557	)
1	214			93			(1,099		)	(2,461		)
(1)	(214		)	(93		)	1,078			2,912
(2)	(405		)	(186		)	2,089			6,381

(a) Given the low absolute level of short-term market rates on our floating-rate assets as of June 30, 2018, the assumed hypothetical change in interest rates does not reflect the full 200 basis point reduction in investment income as the rate cannot fall below zero.

(b) As of June 30, 2018, some of our investments had interest rates below 2% so the assumed hypothetical change in the fair value of investments does not reflect the full 200 basis point reduction.

ITEM 4.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms; and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

In connection with the filing of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, management evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2018. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of June 30, 2018.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

A description of our legal proceedings is included in and incorporated by reference to Note 7 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our 2017 10-K, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our 2017 10-K are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or future results.

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our 2017 10-K.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALE OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

In November 1997, our Board of Directors adopted a share repurchase program, which the Board evaluates periodically. There is no established expiration date for the program. During the second quarter 2018, we repurchased approximately 2 million shares at an average price of $232.28 per share. As of June 30, 2018, we had Board authorization to purchase up to 100 million shares of our common stock.

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS**

The following exhibits are filed or incorporated by reference herein in response to Item 601 of Regulation S-K. The Company files Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 under Commission File No. 1-10864.

3.1	Certificate of Incorporation of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed on July 1, 2015)
3.2	Bylaws of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, effective August 15, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 16, 2017)
4.1	Senior Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1998, between United HealthCare Corporation and The Bank of New York (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3/A, SEC File Number 333-66013, filed on January 11, 1999)
4.2	Amendment, dated as of November 6, 2000, to Senior Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1998, between UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and The Bank of New York (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001)
4.3	Instrument of Resignation, Appointment and Acceptance of Trustee, dated January 8, 2007, pursuant to the Senior Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1998, amended November 6, 2000, among UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, The Bank of New York and Wilmington Trust Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007)
4.4	Indenture, dated as of February 4, 2008, between UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, SEC File Number 333-149031, filed on February 4, 2008)
*10.1	Amendment to Employment Agreement, effective as of June 5, 2018, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and Marianne D. Short
12.1	Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
31.1	Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1	Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101	The following materials from UnitedHealth Group Incorporated’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 filed on August 7, 2018, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 ________________

*	Denotes management contracts and compensation plans in which certain directors and named executive officers participate and which are being filed pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K.
**	Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K, copies of instruments defining the rights of certain holders of long-term debt are not filed. The Company will furnish copies thereof to the SEC upon request.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED

/s/ DAVID S. WICHMANN	Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)	Dated:	August 7, 2018
David S. Wichmann
/s/ JOHN F. REX	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer)	Dated:	August 7, 2018
John F. Rex
/S/ THOMAS E. ROOS	Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (principal accounting officer)	Dated:	August 7, 2018
Thomas E. Roos

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EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Amendment”) modifies certain terms and conditions of the Employment Agreement effective January 1, 2013 between Marianne Short and United HealthCare Services, Inc. (“UnitedHealth Group”). Accordingly, Executive’s Employment Agreement is amended, effective June 5, 2018, as set forth below.

The following paragraph is hereby added to Section 6.C:

Notwithstanding the terms of any other agreement heretofore or hereafter entered into between the parties that reference retirement, Executive and UnitedHealth Group acknowledge and agree that for purposes of calculating years of service for retirement eligibility, Executive will receive two and one half years of service credit for each year she remains employed with UnitedHealth Group after June 5, 2018. In addition, prior to the date upon which Executive becomes eligible for retirement, if Executive’s employment is terminated by UnitedHealth Group without Cause or if Executive terminates employment for Good Reason, Executive will be deemed to have met the applicable age and service requirements and will be retirement eligible. UnitedHealth Group agrees that this revised retirement definition will be reflected in and become part of Executive’s outstanding and future issued equity award certificates.

Except as expressly set forth in this Amendment, the Employment Agreement remains in full force and effect according to its terms.

United HealthCare Services, Inc.	Executive
By: /s/ Dannette L. Smith	By: /s/ Marianne Short
Its: Authorized Representative
Date: June 5, 2018	Date: June 19, 2018

EX-12.1

EXHIBIT 12.1

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
(dollars in millions)	2018		2017		2018		2017
Earnings before income taxes	$	3,860	$	3,430	$	7,584	$	6,560
Fixed charges	403		352		790		684
Total earnings available for fixed charges	$	4,263	$	3,782	$	8,374	$	7,244
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense	$	344	$	301	$	673	$	584
Interest component of rental payments	59		51		117		100
Total fixed charges	$	403	$	352	$	790	$	684
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges	10.6		10.7		10.6		10.6

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing total earnings available for fixed charges by the fixed charges. For purposes of computing this ratio, fixed charges consist of interest expense plus the interest factor in rental expense.

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Certification of Principal Executive Officer

 I, David S. Wichmann, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (the “registrant”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

August 7, 2018	/s/ DAVID S. WICHMANN
	David S. Wichmann Chief Executive Officer

Certification of Principal Financial Officer

I, John F. Rex, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (the “registrant”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

August 7, 2018	/s/ JOHN F. REX
	John F. Rex Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Certification of Principal Executive Officer

In connection with the report of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2018 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, David S. Wichmann, certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

August 7, 2018	/s/ DAVID S. WICHMANN
	David S. Wichmann Chief Executive Officer

Certification of Principal Financial Officer

In connection with the report of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2018 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, John F. Rex, certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

August 7, 2018	/s/ JOHN F. REX
	John F. Rex Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

XML

Document and Entity Information Document - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jul. 31, 2018
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entitiy Registrant Name	UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC
Entitiy Central Index Key	0000731766
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		962,473,363

XML

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 18,368	$ 11,981
Short-term investments	3,492	3,509
Accounts receivable, net	10,874	9,568
Other current receivables, net	6,772	6,262
Assets under management	2,842	3,101
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,286	2,663
Total current assets	46,634	37,084
Long-term investments	31,237	28,341
Property, equipment and capitalized software, net	7,906	7,013
Goodwill	56,271	54,556
Other intangible assets, net	8,680	8,489
Other assets	3,883	3,575
Total assets	154,611	139,058
Current liabilities:
Medical costs payable	19,339	17,871
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	17,527	15,180
Commercial paper and current maturities of long-term debt	2,959	2,857
Unearned revenues	7,228	2,269
Other current liabilities	14,999	12,286
Total current liabilities	62,052	50,463
Long-term debt, less current maturities	32,096	28,835
Deferred income taxes	2,095	2,182
Other liabilities	5,746	5,556
Total liabilities	101,989	87,036
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	1,839	2,189
Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value - 10 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding	0	0
Common stock, $0.01 par value - 3,000 shares authorized; 962 and 969 issued and outstanding	10	10
Additional paid-in capital	0	1,703
Retained earnings	52,363	48,730
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,080)	(2,667)
Nonredeemable noncontrolling interests	2,490	2,057
Total equity	50,783	49,833
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	$ 154,611	$ 139,058

XML

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Parenthetical) - $ / shares shares in Millions	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	3,000	3,000
Common stock, shares issued	962	969
Common stock, shares outstanding	962	969
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10	10
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0

XML

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenues:
Premiums	$ 44,458	$ 39,585	$ 88,542	$ 78,523
Products	7,004	6,415	13,706	12,544
Services	4,269	3,797	8,373	7,231
Investment and other income	355	256	653	478
Total revenues	56,086	50,053	111,274	98,776
Operating costs:
Medical costs	36,427	32,549	72,290	64,628
Operating costs	8,386	7,328	16,892	14,350
Cost of products sold	6,471	5,889	12,655	11,565
Depreciation and amortization	598	556	1,180	1,089
Total operating costs	51,882	46,322	103,017	91,632
Earnings from operations	4,204	3,731	8,257	7,144
Interest expense	(344)	(301)	(673)	(584)
Earnings before income taxes	3,860	3,430	7,584	6,560
Provision for income taxes	(850)	(1,080)	(1,650)	(2,019)
Net earnings	3,010	2,350	5,934	4,541
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(88)	(66)	(176)	(85)
Net earnings attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders	$ 2,922	$ 2,284	$ 5,758	$ 4,456
Earnings per share attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders:
Basic	$ 3.04	$ 2.37	$ 5.98	$ 4.65
Diluted	$ 2.98	$ 2.32	$ 5.85	$ 4.55
Basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding	961	964	963	959
Dilutive effect of common share equivalents	21	21	21	21
Diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding	982	985	984	980
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from the calculation of dilutive effect of common share equivalents	6	8	7	9
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.900	$ 0.750	$ 1.650	$ 1.375

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Net earnings	$ 3,010	$ 2,350	$ 5,934	$ 4,541
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Gross unrealized (losses) gains on investment securities during the period	(43)	170	(421)	269
Income tax effect	10	(62)	96	(94)
Total unrealized (losses) gains, net of tax	(33)	108	(325)	175
Gross reclassification adjustment for net realized gains included in net earnings	(36)	(20)	(55)	(41)
Income tax effect	9	7	13	15
Total reclassification adjustment, net of tax	(27)	(13)	(42)	(26)
Total foreign currency translation loss	(1,069)	(239)	(1,070)	(59)
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(1,129)	(144)	(1,437)	90
Comprehensive income	1,881	2,206	4,497	4,631
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(88)	(66)	(176)	(85)
Comprehensive income attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders	$ 1,793	$ 2,140	$ 4,321	$ 4,546

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Net Unrealized (Losses) Gains on Investments [Member]	Foreign Currency Translation [Member]	Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 38,177	$ 10	$ 0	$ 40,945	$ (97)	$ (2,584)	$ (97)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		952
Net earnings attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders	4,456			4,456
Net earnings attributable to nonredeemable noncontrolling interest							63
Net Earnings, Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	4,519
Other comprehensive income (loss)	90				149	(59)
Issuances of common stock, and related tax effects (in shares)		19
Issuances of common stock, and related tax effects	1,969	$ 0	1,969
Share-based compensation	326		326
Common share repurchases (in shares)		(6)
Common share repurchases	(1,045)	$ 0	(1,045)
Cash dividends paid on common shares	(1,320)			(1,320)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests fair value and other adjustments	411		411
Acquisition of nonredeemable noncontrolling interests	2,265						2,265
Distribution to nonredeemable noncontrolling interest	(56)						(56)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2017	45,336	$ 10	1,661	44,081	52	(2,643)	2,175
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2017		965
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 49,833	$ 10	1,703	48,730	(13)	(2,654)	2,057
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	969	969
Adjustment to adopt ASU 2016-01 at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 0			(24)	24
Net earnings attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders	5,758			5,758
Net earnings attributable to nonredeemable noncontrolling interest							112
Net Earnings, Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	5,870
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,437)				(367)	(1,070)
Issuances of common stock, and related tax effects (in shares)		7
Issuances of common stock, and related tax effects	522	$ 0	522
Share-based compensation	$ 347		347
Common share repurchases (in shares)	(14)	(14)
Common share repurchases	$ (3,150)	$ 0	(2,637)	(513)
Cash dividends paid on common shares	(1,588)			(1,588)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests fair value and other adjustments	65		65
Acquisition of nonredeemable noncontrolling interests	416						416
Distribution to nonredeemable noncontrolling interest	(95)						(95)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	$ 50,783	$ 10	$ 0	$ 52,363	$ (356)	$ (3,724)	$ 2,490
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018	962	962

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Operating activities
Net earnings	$ 5,934	$ 4,541
Noncash items:
Depreciation and amortization	1,180	1,089
Deferred income taxes	(158)	(200)
Share-based compensation	358	332
Other, net	10	111
Net change in other operating items, net of effects from acquisitions and changes in AARP balances:
Accounts receivable	(1,021)	(2,185)
Other assets	(2,369)	(1,520)
Medical costs payable	1,263	1,095
Accounts payable and other liabilities	2,233	1,221
Unearned revenues	4,946	4,143
Cash flows from operating activities	12,376	8,627
Investing activities
Purchases of investments	(8,182)	(6,944)
Sales of investments	2,003	2,086
Maturities of investments	3,211	2,776
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash assumed	(2,636)	(704)
Purchases of property, equipment and capitalized software	(960)	(925)
Other, net	(134)	55
Cash flows used for investing activities	(6,698)	(3,656)
Financing activities
Common share repurchases	(3,150)	(1,045)
Cash dividends paid	(1,588)	(1,320)
Proceeds from common stock issuances	478	391
Repayments of long-term debt	(1,100)	(2,117)
Repayments of commercial paper, net	(181)	(1,396)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	3,964	1,342
Customer funds administered	3,082	3,899
Other, net	(718)	(566)
Cash flows from (used for) financing activities	787	(812)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(78)	(7)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	6,387	4,152
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	11,981	10,430
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	18,368	14,582
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing activities
Common stock issued for acquisition	$ 0	$ 1,867

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Basis of Presentation (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Basis of Presentation

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (individually and together with its subsidiaries, “UnitedHealth Group” and the “Company”) is a diversified health care company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping make the health system work better for everyone. Through its diversified family of businesses, the Company leverages core competencies in data and health information; advanced technology; and clinical expertise to help meet the demands of the health system. These core competencies are deployed within two distinct, but strategically aligned, business platforms: health benefits operating under UnitedHealthcare and health services operating under Optum.

The Company has prepared the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements according to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and has included the accounts of UnitedHealth Group and its subsidiaries. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Company has omitted certain footnote disclosures that would substantially duplicate the disclosures contained in its annual audited Consolidated Financial Statements. Therefore, these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read together with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 as filed with the SEC (2017 10-K). The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present the interim financial statements fairly.

Use of Estimates

These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include certain amounts based on the Company’s best estimates and judgments. The Company’s most significant estimates relate to medical costs payable, revenues, and goodwill and other intangible assets. Certain of these estimates require the application of complex assumptions and judgments, often because they involve matters that are inherently uncertain and will likely change in subsequent periods. The impact of any change in estimates is included in earnings in the period in which the estimate is adjusted.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (ASU 2016-02), as modified by ASUs 2018-01, 2018-10 and 2018-11 (collectively ASU 2016-02). Under ASU 2016-02, an entity will be required to recognize assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leases on the entity’s balance sheet for both finance and operating leases. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, an entity can elect to not recognize lease assets and lease liabilities and expense the lease over a straight-line basis for the term of the lease. ASU 2016-02 will require new disclosures that depict the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows pertaining to an entity’s leases. Companies may adopt the new standard using a modified retrospective approach or a cumulative effect upon adoption approach for the annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption of ASU 2016-02 is permitted. When adopted, ASU 2016-02 will not have a material impact on the Company’s balance sheet, results of operations, equity or cash flows.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (ASU 2016-01). Most notably, the new guidance requires that equity investments, with certain exemptions, be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income as opposed to other comprehensive income. The Company adopted ASU 2016-01 on a prospective basis effective January 1, 2018, as required, and reclassified $24 million from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings.

The Company has determined that there have been no other recently adopted or issued accounting standards that had, or will have, a material impact on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Investments (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Investments [Abstract]

Investments [Text Block]

Investments

A summary of debt securities by major security type is as follows:

(in millions)	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
June 30, 2018
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	2,973	$	1	$	(61	)	$	2,913
State and municipal obligations	7,179		45		(84		)	7,140
Corporate obligations	15,018		10		(217		)	14,811
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	4,723		2		(131		)	4,594
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,285		—		(27		)	1,258
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	31,178		58		(520		)	30,716
Debt securities - held-to-maturity:
U.S. government and agency obligations	247		1		(3		)	245
State and municipal obligations	11		—		—			11
Corporate obligations	330		—		—			330
Total debt securities - held-to-maturity	588		1		(3		)	586
Total debt securities	$	31,766	$	59	$	(523	)	$	31,302
December 31, 2017
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	2,673	$	1	$	(30	)	$	2,644
State and municipal obligations	7,596		99		(35		)	7,660
Corporate obligations	13,181		57		(44		)	13,194
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	3,942		7		(38		)	3,911
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,018		3		(6		)	1,015
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	28,410		167		(153		)	28,424
Debt securities - held-to-maturity:
U.S. government and agency obligations	254		1		(1		)	254
State and municipal obligations	2		—		—			2
Corporate obligations	280		—		—			280
Total debt securities - held-to-maturity	536		1		(1		)	536
Total debt securities	$	28,946	$	168	$	(154	)	$	28,960

The Company held $1.9 billion and $2.0 billion of equity securities as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The Company’s investments in equity securities primarily consist of investments in Brazilian real denominated fixed-income funds, employee savings plan related investments and dividend paying stocks, with readily determinable fair values.

Additionally, the Company’s investments included $1.6 billion and $898 million of equity method investments in operating businesses in the health care sector as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

The amortized cost and fair value of debt securities as of June 30, 2018, by contractual maturity, were as follows:

	Available-for-Sale				Held-to-Maturity
(in millions)	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
Due in one year or less	$	3,586	$	3,580	$	138	$	138
Due after one year through five years	11,945		11,794		193		191
Due after five years through ten years	7,076		6,942		103		103
Due after ten years	2,563		2,548		154		154
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	4,723		4,594		—		—
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,285		1,258		—		—
Total debt securities	$	31,178	$	30,716	$	588	$	586

The fair value of available-for-sale debt securities with gross unrealized losses by security type and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position were as follows:

	Less Than 12 Months					12 Months or Greater					Total
(in millions)	Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses
June 30, 2018
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	1,850	$	(31	)	$	832	$	(30	)	$	2,682	$	(61	)
State and municipal obligations	3,746		(57		)	735		(27		)	4,481		(84		)
Corporate obligations	10,866		(173		)	1,119		(44		)	11,985		(217		)
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	3,125		(78		)	1,106		(53		)	4,231		(131		)
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,023		(21		)	138		(6		)	1,161		(27		)
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	$	20,610	$	(360	)	$	3,930	$	(160	)	$	24,540	$	(520	)
December 31, 2017
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	1,249	$	(8	)	$	1,027	$	(22	)	$	2,276	$	(30	)
State and municipal obligations	2,599		(21		)	866		(14		)	3,465		(35		)
Corporate obligations	5,901		(23		)	1,242		(21		)	7,143		(44		)
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,657		(12		)	1,162		(26		)	2,819		(38		)
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	411		(3		)	144		(3		)	555		(6		)
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	$	11,817	$	(67	)	$	4,441	$	(86	)	$	16,258	$	(153	)

The Company’s unrealized losses from debt securities as of June 30, 2018 were generated from 19,000 positions out of a total of 28,000 positions. The Company believes that it will collect the principal and interest due on its debt securities that have an amortized cost in excess of fair value. The unrealized losses were primarily caused by interest rate increases and not by unfavorable changes in the credit quality associated with these securities. At each reporting period, the Company evaluates securities for impairment when the fair value of the investment is less than its amortized cost. The Company evaluated the underlying credit quality and credit ratings of the issuers, noting no significant deterioration since purchase. As of June 30, 2018, the Company did not have the intent to sell any of the securities in an unrealized loss position. Therefore, the Company believes these losses to be temporary.

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Fair Value (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value [Text Block]

Fair Value

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements or have fair values disclosed in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. These assets and liabilities are classified into one of three levels of a hierarchy defined by GAAP.

For a description of the methods and assumptions that are used to estimate the fair value and determine the fair value hierarchy classification of each class of financial instrument, see Note 4 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in the 2017 10-K.

The following table presents a summary of fair value measurements by level and carrying values for items measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:

(in millions)	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)			Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total Fair and Carrying Value
June 30, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents	$	18,322		$	46		$	—		$	18,368
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	2,643			270			—			2,913
State and municipal obligations	—			7,140			—			7,140
Corporate obligations	39			14,623			149			14,811
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			4,594			—			4,594
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			1,258			—			1,258
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	2,682			27,885			149			30,716
Equity securities	1,776			13			79			1,868
Assets under management	869			1,973			—			2,842
Total assets at fair value	$	23,649		$	29,917		$	228		$	53,794
Percentage of total assets at fair value	44		%	56		%	—		%	100		%
December 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents	$	11,718		$	263		$	—		$	11,981
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	2,428			216			—			2,644
State and municipal obligations	—			7,660			—			7,660
Corporate obligations	65			12,989			140			13,194
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			3,911			—			3,911
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			1,015			—			1,015
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	2,493			25,791			140			28,424
Equity securities	1,784			14			194			1,992
Assets under management	1,117			1,984			—			3,101
Total assets at fair value	$	17,112		$	28,052		$	334		$	45,498
Percentage of total assets at fair value	38		%	61		%	1		%	100		%

Transfers between levels, if any, are recorded as of the beginning of the reporting period in which the transfer occurs; there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 of any financial assets during the six months endedJune 30, 2018 or 2017.

The following table presents a summary of fair value measurements by level and carrying values for certain financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:

(in millions)	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value		Total Carrying Value
June 30, 2018
Debt securities - held-to-maturity	$	258	$	70	$	258	$	586	$	588
Long-term debt and other financing obligations	$	—	$	36,329	$	—	$	36,329	$	35,055
December 31, 2017
Debt securities - held-to-maturity	$	267	$	4	$	265	$	536	$	536
Long-term debt and other financing obligations	$	—	$	34,504	$	—	$	34,504	$	31,542

Nonfinancial assets and liabilities or financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances, such as when the Company records an impairment. There were no significant fair value adjustments for these assets and liabilities recorded during the six months endedJune 30, 2018 or 2017.

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Medical Costs Payable (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Medical Costs Payable Text Block

Medical Costs Payable

The following table shows the components of the change in medical costs payable for the six months ended June 30:

(in millions)	2018			2017
Medical costs payable, beginning of period	$	17,871		$	16,391
Acquisitions	261			76
Reported medical costs:
Current year	72,570			65,208
Prior years	(280		)	(580		)
Total reported medical costs	72,290			64,628
Medical payments:
Payments for current year	(55,738		)	(49,673		)
Payments for prior years	(15,345		)	(13,712		)
Total medical payments	(71,083		)	(63,385		)
Medical costs payable, end of period	$	19,339		$	17,710

For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the medical cost reserve development included no individual factors that were significant. Medical costs payable included reserves for claims incurred by insured customers but not yet reported to the Company of $13.5 billion and $12.3 billion at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

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Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt [Text Block]

Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt

Commercial paper and senior unsecured long-term debt consisted of the following:

	June 30, 2018						December 31, 2017
(in millions, except percentages)	Par Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value		Par Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Commercial paper	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	150	$	150	$	150
6.000% notes due February 2018	—		—		—		1,100		1,101		1,106
1.900% notes due July 2018	1,500		1,500		1,500		1,500		1,499		1,501
1.700% notes due February 2019	750		749		745		750		749		747
1.625% notes due March 2019	500		500		496		500		501		497
2.300% notes due December 2019	500		492		497		500		495		501
2.700% notes due July 2020	1,500		1,497		1,491		1,500		1,496		1,517
Floating rate notes due October 2020	300		299		300		300		299		300
3.875% notes due October 2020	450		440		457		450		446		467
1.950% notes due October 2020	900		896		878		900		895		892
4.700% notes due February 2021	400		396		415		400		403		425
2.125% notes due March 2021	750		747		731		750		746		744
Floating rate notes due June 2021	350		349		350		—		—		—
3.150% notes due June 2021	400		398		400		—		—		—
3.375% notes due November 2021	500		483		503		500		493		516
2.875% notes due December 2021	750		726		743		750		741		760
2.875% notes due March 2022	1,100		1,033		1,085		1,100		1,054		1,114
3.350% notes due July 2022	1,000		996		1,001		1,000		996		1,033
2.375% notes due October 2022	900		894		865		900		893		891
0.000% notes due November 2022	15		12		12		15		12		12
2.750% notes due February 2023	625		591		605		625		606		626
2.875% notes due March 2023	750		739		731		750		762		759
3.500% notes due June 2023	750		746		751		—		—		—
3.750% notes due July 2025	2,000		1,988		2,000		2,000		1,987		2,108
3.100% notes due March 2026	1,000		995		954		1,000		995		1,007
3.450% notes due January 2027	750		745		729		750		745		776
3.375% notes due April 2027	625		619		606		625		618		642
2.950% notes due October 2027	950		937		886		950		937		947
3.850% notes due June 2028	1,150		1,141		1,152		—		—		—
4.625% notes due July 2035	1,000		991		1,052		1,000		991		1,165
5.800% notes due March 2036	850		838		1,007		850		837		1,105
6.500% notes due June 2037	500		492		640		500		491		698
6.625% notes due November 2037	650		641		845		650		641		923
6.875% notes due February 2038	1,100		1,075		1,455		1,100		1,075		1,596
5.700% notes due October 2040	300		296		356		300		296		389
5.950% notes due February 2041	350		345		433		350		345		466
4.625% notes due November 2041	600		588		626		600		588		685
4.375% notes due March 2042	502		484		506		502		483		555
3.950% notes due October 2042	625		607		592		625		607		650
4.250% notes due March 2043	750		734		746		750		734		822
4.750% notes due July 2045	2,000		1,972		2,137		2,000		1,972		2,362
4.200% notes due January 2047	750		738		735		750		738		808
4.250% notes due April 2047	725		717		722		725		717		798
3.750% notes due October 2047	950		933		873		950		933		969
4.250% notes due June 2048	1,350		1,329		1,354		—		—		—
Total commercial paper and long-term debt	$	34,167	$	33,688	$	34,962	$	31,417	$	31,067	$	34,029

The Company’s long-term debt obligations included $1.4 billion and $625 million of other financing obligations, of which $210 million and $107 million were classified as current as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Commercial Paper and Bank Credit Facilities

Commercial paper consists of short-duration, senior unsecured debt privately placed on a discount basis through broker-dealers.

The Company has $3.0 billion five-year, $3.0 billion three-year and $4.0 billion 364-day revolving bank credit facilities with 26 banks, which mature in December 2022, December 2020 and December 2018, respectively. These facilities provide liquidity support for the Company’s commercial paper program and are available for general corporate purposes. As of June 30, 2018, no amounts had been drawn on any of the bank credit facilities. The annual interest rates, which are variable based on term, are calculated based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus a credit spread based on the Company’s senior unsecured credit ratings. If amounts had been drawn on the bank credit facilities as of June 30, 2018, annual interest rates would have ranged from 2.9% to 3.3%.

Debt Covenants

The Company’s bank credit facilities contain various covenants, including covenants requiring the Company to maintain adefined debt to debt-plus-shareholders’ equity ratio of not more than 55%. The Company was in compliance with its debt covenants as of June 30, 2018.

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Shareholders' Equity (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Shareholders' Equity [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

Shareholders' Equity

Share Repurchase Program

In June 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors renewed the Company’s share repurchase program with an authorization to repurchase up to 100 million shares of the Company’s common stock. The following table provides details of the Company’s share repurchase activity for the six months endedJune 30, 2018:

(in millions, except per share data)
Common share repurchases, shares	14
Common share repurchases, average price per share	$	228.81
Common share repurchases, aggregate cost	$	3,150
Board authorized shares remaining	100

Dividends

In June 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors increased the Company’s quarterly cash dividend to shareholders to an annual dividend rate of $3.60 per share from $3.00 per share, which the Company had paid since June 2017. Declaration and payment of future quarterly dividends is at the discretion of the Board and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change.

The following table provides details of the Company’s 2018 dividend payments:

Payment Date	Amount per Share		Total Amount Paid
			(in millions)
March 20	$	0.750	$	722
June 26	0.900		866

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Commitments and Contingencies (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Matters

Because of the nature of its businesses, the Company is frequently made party to a variety of legal actions and regulatory inquiries, including class actions and suits brought by members, care providers, consumer advocacy organizations, customers and regulators, relating to the Company’s businesses, including management and administration of health benefit plans and other services. These matters include medical malpractice, employment, intellectual property, antitrust, privacy and contract claims and claims related to health care benefits coverage and other business practices.

The Company records liabilities for its estimates of probable costs resulting from these matters where appropriate. Estimates of costs resulting from legal and regulatory matters involving the Company are inherently difficult to predict, particularly where the matters: involve indeterminate claims for monetary damages or may involve fines, penalties or punitive damages; present novel legal theories or represent a shift in regulatory policy; involve a large number of claimants or regulatory bodies; are in the early stages of the proceedings; or could result in a change in business practices. Accordingly, the Company is often unable to estimate the losses or ranges of losses for those matters where there is a reasonable possibility or it is probable that a loss may be incurred.

Government Investigations, Audits and Reviews

The Company has been involved or is currently involved in various governmental investigations, audits and reviews. These include routine, regular and special investigations, audits and reviews by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), state insurance and health and welfare departments, the Brazilian national regulatory agency for private health insurance and plans (the Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar), state attorneys general, the Office of the Inspector General, the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Civil Rights, the Government Accountability Office, the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Congressional committees, the U.S. Department of Justice, the SEC, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Brazilian federal revenue service (the Secretaria da Receita Federal), the U.S. Department of Labor, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Defense Contract Audit Agency and other governmental authorities. Certain of the Company’s businesses have been reviewed or are currently under review, including for, among other matters, compliance with coding and other requirements under the Medicare risk-adjustment model. CMS has selected certain of the Company’s local plans for risk adjustment data validation (RADV) audits to validate the coding practices of and supporting documentation maintained by health care providers and such audits may result in retrospective adjustments to payments made to the Company’s health plans.

On February 14, 2017, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its decision to pursue certain claims within a lawsuit initially asserted against the Company and filed under seal by a whistleblower in 2011. The whistleblower’s complaint, which was unsealed on February 15, 2017, alleges that the Company made improper risk adjustment submissions and violated the False Claims Act. On February 12, 2018, the court granted in part and denied in part the Company’s motion to dismiss. In May 2018, DOJ moved to dismiss the Company’s counterclaims, which were filed in March 2018, and moved for partial summary judgment. Those motions will be argued in September 2018. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the outcome that may result from this matter given its procedural status.

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Segment Financial Information (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Financial Information [Text Block]

Segment Financial Information

The Company’s four reportable segments are UnitedHealthcare, OptumHealth, OptumInsight and OptumRx. For more information on the Company’s segments see Part I, Item I, “Business” and Note 13 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in the 2017 10-K.

The following tables present reportable segment financial information:

			Optum
(in millions)	UnitedHealthcare		OptumHealth		OptumInsight		OptumRx		Optum Eliminations			Optum		Corporate and Eliminations			Consolidated
Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
Revenues - unaffiliated customers:
Premiums	$	43,496	$	962	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	962	$	—		$	44,458
Products	—		12		20		6,972		—			7,004		—			7,004
Services	2,142		1,203		776		148		—			2,127		—			4,269
Total revenues - unaffiliated customers	45,638		2,177		796		7,120		—			10,093		—			55,731
Total revenues - affiliated customers	—		3,640		1,380		9,807		(341		)	14,486		(14,486		)	—
Investment and other income	208		124		9		14		—			147		—			355
Total revenues	$	45,846	$	5,941	$	2,185	$	16,941	$	(341	)	$	24,726	$	(14,486	)	$	56,086
Earnings from operations	$	2,357	$	570	$	453	$	824	$	—		$	1,847	$	—		$	4,204
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—			—		(344		)	(344		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	2,357	$	570	$	453	$	824	$	—		$	1,847	$	(344	)	$	3,860
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
Revenues - unaffiliated customers:
Premiums	$	38,666	$	919	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	919	$	—		$	39,585
Products	—		11		19		6,385		—			6,415		—			6,415
Services	1,958		1,008		692		139		—			1,839		—			3,797
Total revenues - unaffiliated customers	40,624		1,938		711		6,524		—			9,173		—			49,797
Total revenues - affiliated customers	—		3,097		1,281		9,312		(284		)	13,406		(13,406		)	—
Investment and other income	164		87		1		4		—			92		—			256
Total revenues	$	40,788	$	5,122	$	1,993	$	15,840	$	(284	)	$	22,671	$	(13,406	)	$	50,053
Earnings from operations	$	2,211	$	422	$	372	$	726	$	—		$	1,520	$	—		$	3,731
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—			—		(301		)	(301		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	2,211	$	422	$	372	$	726	$	—		$	1,520	$	(301	)	$	3,430

			Optum
(in millions)	UnitedHealthcare		OptumHealth		OptumInsight		OptumRx		Optum Eliminations			Optum		Corporate and Eliminations			Consolidated
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
Revenues - unaffiliated customers:
Premiums	$	86,733	$	1,809	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	1,809	$	—		$	88,542
Products	—		24		43		13,639		—			13,706		—			13,706
Services	4,181		2,391		1,516		285		—			4,192		—			8,373
Total revenues - unaffiliated customers	90,914		4,224		1,559		13,924		—			19,707		—			110,621
Total revenues - affiliated customers	—		7,246		2,684		19,102		(674		)	28,358		(28,358		)	—
Investment and other income	391		230		11		21		—			262		—			653
Total revenues	$	91,305	$	11,700	$	4,254	$	33,047	$	(674	)	$	48,327	$	(28,358	)	$	111,274
Earnings from operations	$	4,757	$	1,058	$	848	$	1,594	$	—		$	3,500	$	—		$	8,257
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—			—		(673		)	(673		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	4,757	$	1,058	$	848	$	1,594	$	—		$	3,500	$	(673	)	$	7,584
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
Revenues - unaffiliated customers:
Premiums	$	76,719	$	1,804	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	1,804	$	—		$	78,523
Products	—		23		40		12,481		—			12,544		—			12,544
Services	3,880		1,729		1,334		288		—			3,351		—			7,231
Total revenues - unaffiliated customers	80,599		3,556		1,374		12,769		—			17,699		—			98,298
Total revenues - affiliated customers	—		6,156		2,460		18,010		(570		)	26,056		(26,056		)	—
Investment and other income	325		143		2		8		—			153		—			478
Total revenues	$	80,924	$	9,855	$	3,836	$	30,787	$	(570	)	$	43,908	$	(26,056	)	$	98,776
Earnings from operations	$	4,345	$	754	$	666	$	1,379	$	—		$	2,799	$	—		$	7,144
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—			—		(584		)	(584		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	4,345	$	754	$	666	$	1,379	$	—		$	2,799	$	(584	)	$	6,560

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Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Basis of presentation [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The Company has prepared the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements according to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and has included the accounts of UnitedHealth Group and its subsidiaries. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Company has omitted certain footnote disclosures that would substantially duplicate the disclosures contained in its annual audited Consolidated Financial Statements. Therefore, these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read together with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 as filed with the SEC (2017 10-K). The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present the interim financial statements fairly.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates

These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include certain amounts based on the Company’s best estimates and judgments. The Company’s most significant estimates relate to medical costs payable, revenues, and goodwill and other intangible assets. Certain of these estimates require the application of complex assumptions and judgments, often because they involve matters that are inherently uncertain and will likely change in subsequent periods. The impact of any change in estimates is included in earnings in the period in which the estimate is adjusted.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (ASU 2016-02), as modified by ASUs 2018-01, 2018-10 and 2018-11 (collectively ASU 2016-02). Under ASU 2016-02, an entity will be required to recognize assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leases on the entity’s balance sheet for both finance and operating leases. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, an entity can elect to not recognize lease assets and lease liabilities and expense the lease over a straight-line basis for the term of the lease. ASU 2016-02 will require new disclosures that depict the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows pertaining to an entity’s leases. Companies may adopt the new standard using a modified retrospective approach or a cumulative effect upon adoption approach for the annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption of ASU 2016-02 is permitted. When adopted, ASU 2016-02 will not have a material impact on the Company’s balance sheet, results of operations, equity or cash flows.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (ASU 2016-01). Most notably, the new guidance requires that equity investments, with certain exemptions, be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income as opposed to other comprehensive income. The Company adopted ASU 2016-01 on a prospective basis effective January 1, 2018, as required, and reclassified $24 million from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings.

The Company has determined that there have been no other recently adopted or issued accounting standards that had, or will have, a material impact on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Investments Investments (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Investment [Line Items]

Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

At each reporting period, the Company evaluates securities for impairment when the fair value of the investment is less than its amortized cost. The Company evaluated the underlying credit quality and credit ratings of the issuers, noting no significant deterioration since purchase. As of June 30, 2018, the Company did not have the intent to sell any of the securities in an unrealized loss position. Therefore, the Company believes these losses to be temporary.

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Investments (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Short-Term and Long-Term Investments [Table Text Block]

A summary of debt securities by major security type is as follows:

(in millions)	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
June 30, 2018
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	2,973	$	1	$	(61	)	$	2,913
State and municipal obligations	7,179		45		(84		)	7,140
Corporate obligations	15,018		10		(217		)	14,811
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	4,723		2		(131		)	4,594
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,285		—		(27		)	1,258
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	31,178		58		(520		)	30,716
Debt securities - held-to-maturity:
U.S. government and agency obligations	247		1		(3		)	245
State and municipal obligations	11		—		—			11
Corporate obligations	330		—		—			330
Total debt securities - held-to-maturity	588		1		(3		)	586
Total debt securities	$	31,766	$	59	$	(523	)	$	31,302
December 31, 2017
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	2,673	$	1	$	(30	)	$	2,644
State and municipal obligations	7,596		99		(35		)	7,660
Corporate obligations	13,181		57		(44		)	13,194
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	3,942		7		(38		)	3,911
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,018		3		(6		)	1,015
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	28,410		167		(153		)	28,424
Debt securities - held-to-maturity:
U.S. government and agency obligations	254		1		(1		)	254
State and municipal obligations	2		—		—			2
Corporate obligations	280		—		—			280
Total debt securities - held-to-maturity	536		1		(1		)	536
Total debt securities	$	28,946	$	168	$	(154	)	$	28,960

Investments by Contractual Maturity [Table Text Block]

The amortized cost and fair value of debt securities as of June 30, 2018, by contractual maturity, were as follows:

	Available-for-Sale				Held-to-Maturity
(in millions)	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
Due in one year or less	$	3,586	$	3,580	$	138	$	138
Due after one year through five years	11,945		11,794		193		191
Due after five years through ten years	7,076		6,942		103		103
Due after ten years	2,563		2,548		154		154
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	4,723		4,594		—		—
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,285		1,258		—		—
Total debt securities	$	31,178	$	30,716	$	588	$	586

Fair Value of Available-for-Sale Investments with Gross Unrealized Losses by Investment Type and Length of Time that Individual Securities have been in a Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Table Text Block]

The fair value of available-for-sale debt securities with gross unrealized losses by security type and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position were as follows:

	Less Than 12 Months					12 Months or Greater					Total
(in millions)	Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses
June 30, 2018
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	1,850	$	(31	)	$	832	$	(30	)	$	2,682	$	(61	)
State and municipal obligations	3,746		(57		)	735		(27		)	4,481		(84		)
Corporate obligations	10,866		(173		)	1,119		(44		)	11,985		(217		)
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	3,125		(78		)	1,106		(53		)	4,231		(131		)
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,023		(21		)	138		(6		)	1,161		(27		)
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	$	20,610	$	(360	)	$	3,930	$	(160	)	$	24,540	$	(520	)
December 31, 2017
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	1,249	$	(8	)	$	1,027	$	(22	)	$	2,276	$	(30	)
State and municipal obligations	2,599		(21		)	866		(14		)	3,465		(35		)
Corporate obligations	5,901		(23		)	1,242		(21		)	7,143		(44		)
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,657		(12		)	1,162		(26		)	2,819		(38		)
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	411		(3		)	144		(3		)	555		(6		)
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	$	11,817	$	(67	)	$	4,441	$	(86	)	$	16,258	$	(153	)

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Fair Value (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]

Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]

The following table presents a summary of fair value measurements by level and carrying values for items measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:

(in millions)	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)			Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total Fair and Carrying Value
June 30, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents	$	18,322		$	46		$	—		$	18,368
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	2,643			270			—			2,913
State and municipal obligations	—			7,140			—			7,140
Corporate obligations	39			14,623			149			14,811
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			4,594			—			4,594
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			1,258			—			1,258
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	2,682			27,885			149			30,716
Equity securities	1,776			13			79			1,868
Assets under management	869			1,973			—			2,842
Total assets at fair value	$	23,649		$	29,917		$	228		$	53,794
Percentage of total assets at fair value	44		%	56		%	—		%	100		%
December 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents	$	11,718		$	263		$	—		$	11,981
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	2,428			216			—			2,644
State and municipal obligations	—			7,660			—			7,660
Corporate obligations	65			12,989			140			13,194
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			3,911			—			3,911
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			1,015			—			1,015
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	2,493			25,791			140			28,424
Equity securities	1,784			14			194			1,992
Assets under management	1,117			1,984			—			3,101
Total assets at fair value	$	17,112		$	28,052		$	334		$	45,498
Percentage of total assets at fair value	38		%	61		%	1		%	100		%

Fair Value Measurements, Nonrecurring [Table Text Block]

The following table presents a summary of fair value measurements by level and carrying values for certain financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:

(in millions)	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value		Total Carrying Value
June 30, 2018
Debt securities - held-to-maturity	$	258	$	70	$	258	$	586	$	588
Long-term debt and other financing obligations	$	—	$	36,329	$	—	$	36,329	$	35,055
December 31, 2017
Debt securities - held-to-maturity	$	267	$	4	$	265	$	536	$	536
Long-term debt and other financing obligations	$	—	$	34,504	$	—	$	34,504	$	31,542

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Medical Costs Payable (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Insurance [Abstract]

Schedule of Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Table Text Block]

The following table shows the components of the change in medical costs payable for the six months ended June 30:

(in millions)	2018			2017
Medical costs payable, beginning of period	$	17,871		$	16,391
Acquisitions	261			76
Reported medical costs:
Current year	72,570			65,208
Prior years	(280		)	(580		)
Total reported medical costs	72,290			64,628
Medical payments:
Payments for current year	(55,738		)	(49,673		)
Payments for prior years	(15,345		)	(13,712		)
Total medical payments	(71,083		)	(63,385		)
Medical costs payable, end of period	$	19,339		$	17,710

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Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt [Table Text Block]

Commercial paper and senior unsecured long-term debt consisted of the following:

	June 30, 2018						December 31, 2017
(in millions, except percentages)	Par Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value		Par Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Commercial paper	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	150	$	150	$	150
6.000% notes due February 2018	—		—		—		1,100		1,101		1,106
1.900% notes due July 2018	1,500		1,500		1,500		1,500		1,499		1,501
1.700% notes due February 2019	750		749		745		750		749		747
1.625% notes due March 2019	500		500		496		500		501		497
2.300% notes due December 2019	500		492		497		500		495		501
2.700% notes due July 2020	1,500		1,497		1,491		1,500		1,496		1,517
Floating rate notes due October 2020	300		299		300		300		299		300
3.875% notes due October 2020	450		440		457		450		446		467
1.950% notes due October 2020	900		896		878		900		895		892
4.700% notes due February 2021	400		396		415		400		403		425
2.125% notes due March 2021	750		747		731		750		746		744
Floating rate notes due June 2021	350		349		350		—		—		—
3.150% notes due June 2021	400		398		400		—		—		—
3.375% notes due November 2021	500		483		503		500		493		516
2.875% notes due December 2021	750		726		743		750		741		760
2.875% notes due March 2022	1,100		1,033		1,085		1,100		1,054		1,114
3.350% notes due July 2022	1,000		996		1,001		1,000		996		1,033
2.375% notes due October 2022	900		894		865		900		893		891
0.000% notes due November 2022	15		12		12		15		12		12
2.750% notes due February 2023	625		591		605		625		606		626
2.875% notes due March 2023	750		739		731		750		762		759
3.500% notes due June 2023	750		746		751		—		—		—
3.750% notes due July 2025	2,000		1,988		2,000		2,000		1,987		2,108
3.100% notes due March 2026	1,000		995		954		1,000		995		1,007
3.450% notes due January 2027	750		745		729		750		745		776
3.375% notes due April 2027	625		619		606		625		618		642
2.950% notes due October 2027	950		937		886		950		937		947
3.850% notes due June 2028	1,150		1,141		1,152		—		—		—
4.625% notes due July 2035	1,000		991		1,052		1,000		991		1,165
5.800% notes due March 2036	850		838		1,007		850		837		1,105
6.500% notes due June 2037	500		492		640		500		491		698
6.625% notes due November 2037	650		641		845		650		641		923
6.875% notes due February 2038	1,100		1,075		1,455		1,100		1,075		1,596
5.700% notes due October 2040	300		296		356		300		296		389
5.950% notes due February 2041	350		345		433		350		345		466
4.625% notes due November 2041	600		588		626		600		588		685
4.375% notes due March 2042	502		484		506		502		483		555
3.950% notes due October 2042	625		607		592		625		607		650
4.250% notes due March 2043	750		734		746		750		734		822
4.750% notes due July 2045	2,000		1,972		2,137		2,000		1,972		2,362
4.200% notes due January 2047	750		738		735		750		738		808
4.250% notes due April 2047	725		717		722		725		717		798
3.750% notes due October 2047	950		933		873		950		933		969
4.250% notes due June 2048	1,350		1,329		1,354		—		—		—
Total commercial paper and long-term debt	$	34,167	$	33,688	$	34,962	$	31,417	$	31,067	$	34,029

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Shareholders' Equity (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]

Share Repurchase Activity

The following table provides details of the Company’s share repurchase activity for the six months endedJune 30, 2018:

(in millions, except per share data)
Common share repurchases, shares	14
Common share repurchases, average price per share	$	228.81
Common share repurchases, aggregate cost	$	3,150
Board authorized shares remaining	100

Dividends Declared [Table Text Block]

The following table provides details of the Company’s 2018 dividend payments:

Payment Date	Amount per Share		Total Amount Paid
			(in millions)
March 20	$	0.750	$	722
June 26	0.900		866

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Segment Financial Information (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Financial Information [Table Text Block]

The following tables present reportable segment financial information:

			Optum
(in millions)	UnitedHealthcare		OptumHealth		OptumInsight		OptumRx		Optum Eliminations			Optum		Corporate and Eliminations			Consolidated
Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
Revenues - unaffiliated customers:
Premiums	$	43,496	$	962	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	962	$	—		$	44,458
Products	—		12		20		6,972		—			7,004		—			7,004
Services	2,142		1,203		776		148		—			2,127		—			4,269
Total revenues - unaffiliated customers	45,638		2,177		796		7,120		—			10,093		—			55,731
Total revenues - affiliated customers	—		3,640		1,380		9,807		(341		)	14,486		(14,486		)	—
Investment and other income	208		124		9		14		—			147		—			355
Total revenues	$	45,846	$	5,941	$	2,185	$	16,941	$	(341	)	$	24,726	$	(14,486	)	$	56,086
Earnings from operations	$	2,357	$	570	$	453	$	824	$	—		$	1,847	$	—		$	4,204
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—			—		(344		)	(344		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	2,357	$	570	$	453	$	824	$	—		$	1,847	$	(344	)	$	3,860
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
Revenues - unaffiliated customers:
Premiums	$	38,666	$	919	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	919	$	—		$	39,585
Products	—		11		19		6,385		—			6,415		—			6,415
Services	1,958		1,008		692		139		—			1,839		—			3,797
Total revenues - unaffiliated customers	40,624		1,938		711		6,524		—			9,173		—			49,797
Total revenues - affiliated customers	—		3,097		1,281		9,312		(284		)	13,406		(13,406		)	—
Investment and other income	164		87		1		4		—			92		—			256
Total revenues	$	40,788	$	5,122	$	1,993	$	15,840	$	(284	)	$	22,671	$	(13,406	)	$	50,053
Earnings from operations	$	2,211	$	422	$	372	$	726	$	—		$	1,520	$	—		$	3,731
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—			—		(301		)	(301		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	2,211	$	422	$	372	$	726	$	—		$	1,520	$	(301	)	$	3,430

			Optum
(in millions)	UnitedHealthcare		OptumHealth		OptumInsight		OptumRx		Optum Eliminations			Optum		Corporate and Eliminations			Consolidated
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
Revenues - unaffiliated customers:
Premiums	$	86,733	$	1,809	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	1,809	$	—		$	88,542
Products	—		24		43		13,639		—			13,706		—			13,706
Services	4,181		2,391		1,516		285		—			4,192		—			8,373
Total revenues - unaffiliated customers	90,914		4,224		1,559		13,924		—			19,707		—			110,621
Total revenues - affiliated customers	—		7,246		2,684		19,102		(674		)	28,358		(28,358		)	—
Investment and other income	391		230		11		21		—			262		—			653
Total revenues	$	91,305	$	11,700	$	4,254	$	33,047	$	(674	)	$	48,327	$	(28,358	)	$	111,274
Earnings from operations	$	4,757	$	1,058	$	848	$	1,594	$	—		$	3,500	$	—		$	8,257
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—			—		(673		)	(673		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	4,757	$	1,058	$	848	$	1,594	$	—		$	3,500	$	(673	)	$	7,584
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
Revenues - unaffiliated customers:
Premiums	$	76,719	$	1,804	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	1,804	$	—		$	78,523
Products	—		23		40		12,481		—			12,544		—			12,544
Services	3,880		1,729		1,334		288		—			3,351		—			7,231
Total revenues - unaffiliated customers	80,599		3,556		1,374		12,769		—			17,699		—			98,298
Total revenues - affiliated customers	—		6,156		2,460		18,010		(570		)	26,056		(26,056		)	—
Investment and other income	325		143		2		8		—			153		—			478
Total revenues	$	80,924	$	9,855	$	3,836	$	30,787	$	(570	)	$	43,908	$	(26,056	)	$	98,776
Earnings from operations	$	4,345	$	754	$	666	$	1,379	$	—		$	2,799	$	—		$	7,144
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—			—		(584		)	(584		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	4,345	$	754	$	666	$	1,379	$	—		$	2,799	$	(584	)	$	6,560

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Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation, Uses of Estimates and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets		$ 24	$ 0
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Description of Transition Method	Prospective
New Accounting Pronouncement, Transition Guidance Not Significant or Not Practical	Impact is not material
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Description of Transition Method	Modified Retrospective
New Accounting Pronouncement, Transition Guidance Not Significant or Not Practical	Impact is not material

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Investments (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Investment [Line Items]
Equity Securities	$ 1,868	$ 1,992
Available-for-sale, Securities in Unrealized Loss Positions, Qualitative Disclosure, Number of Positions	19,000
Total number of security positions	28,000
Equity Method Investments	$ 1,600	$ 898

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Investments (Short-Term and Long-Term Investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	$ 31,178	$ 28,410
Securities, Available for sale Debt Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	58	167
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(520)	(153)
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	30,716	28,424
Held-to-maturity securities, Amortized Cost	588	536
Securities, Held to maturity, Unrecognized Holding Gain	1	1
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Accumulated Unrecognized Loss	(3)	(1)
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Fair Value	586	536
Total debt securities, Amortized Cost	31,766	28,946
Total debt securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	59	168
Total debt securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(523)	(154)
Debt securities, Fair Value Disclosure	31,302	28,960
Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	30,716	28,424
U.S. Government and Agency Obligations [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	2,973	2,673
Securities, Available for sale Debt Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	1	1
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(61)	(30)
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	2,913	2,644
Held-to-maturity securities, Amortized Cost	247	254
Securities, Held to maturity, Unrecognized Holding Gain	1	1
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Accumulated Unrecognized Loss	(3)	(1)
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Fair Value	245	254
State and Municipal Obligations [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	7,179	7,596
Securities, Available for sale Debt Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	45	99
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(84)	(35)
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	7,140	7,660
Held-to-maturity securities, Amortized Cost	11	2
Securities, Held to maturity, Unrecognized Holding Gain	0	0
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Accumulated Unrecognized Loss	0	0
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Fair Value	11	2
Corporate Obligations [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	15,018	13,181
Securities, Available for sale Debt Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	10	57
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(217)	(44)
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	14,811	13,194
Held-to-maturity securities, Amortized Cost	330	280
Securities, Held to maturity, Unrecognized Holding Gain	0	0
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Accumulated Unrecognized Loss	0	0
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Fair Value	330	280
U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	4,723	3,942
Securities, Available for sale Debt Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	2	7
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(131)	(38)
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	4,594	3,911
Non-U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	1,285	1,018
Securities, Available for sale Debt Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	0	3
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(27)	(6)
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	$ 1,258	$ 1,015

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Investments (Amortized Cost and Fair Value of Available-for-Sale Debt Securities by Contractual Maturity) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Due in one year or less, Amortized Cost	$ 3,586
Due after one year through five years, Amortized Cost	11,945
Due after five years through ten years, Amortized Cost	7,076
Due after ten years, Amortized Cost	2,563
Total debt securities - available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	31,178	$ 28,410
Due in one year or less, Fair Value	3,580
Due after one year through five years, Fair Value	11,794
Due after five years through ten years, Fair Value	6,942
Due after ten years, Fair Value	2,548
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	30,716	28,424
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Maturity, Allocated and Single Maturity Date, within One Year, Amortized Cost	138
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Maturity, Allocated and Single Maturity Date, after One Through Five Years, Amortized Cost	193
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Maturity, Allocated and Single Maturity Date, after Five Through Ten Years, Amortized Cost	103
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Maturity, Allocated and Single Maturity Date, after 10 Years, Amortized Cost	154
Held-to-maturity securities, Amortized Cost	588	536
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, within One Year, Fair Value	138
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Maturity, Allocated and Single Maturity Date, after One Through Five Years, Fair Value	191
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Maturity, Allocated and Single Maturity Date, after Five Through Ten Years, Fair Value	103
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Maturity, Allocated and Single Maturity Date, after 10 Years, Fair Value	154
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Fair Value	586	536
U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Mortgage-backed securities, Amortized Cost	4,723
Total debt securities - available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	4,723	3,942
Mortgage-backed securities, Fair Value	4,594
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	4,594	3,911
Non-U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Mortgage-backed securities, Amortized Cost	1,285
Total debt securities - available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	1,285	1,018
Mortgage-backed securities, Fair Value	1,258
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	$ 1,258	$ 1,015

XML

Investments (Fair Value of Available-For-Sale Investments with Gross Unrealized Losses by Investment Type and Length of Time That Individual Securities Have Been in a Continuous Unrealized Loss Position) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Less Than 12 Months, Fair Value	$ 20,610	$ 11,817
Less Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(360)	(67)
Greater Than 12 Months, Fair Value	3,930	4,441
Greater Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(160)	(86)
Total, Fair Value	24,540	16,258
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(520)	(153)
U.S. Government and Agency Obligations [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Less Than 12 Months, Fair Value	1,850	1,249
Less Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(31)	(8)
Greater Than 12 Months, Fair Value	832	1,027
Greater Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(30)	(22)
Total, Fair Value	2,682	2,276
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(61)	(30)
State and Municipal Obligations [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Less Than 12 Months, Fair Value	3,746	2,599
Less Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(57)	(21)
Greater Than 12 Months, Fair Value	735	866
Greater Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(27)	(14)
Total, Fair Value	4,481	3,465
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(84)	(35)
Corporate Obligations [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Less Than 12 Months, Fair Value	10,866	5,901
Less Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(173)	(23)
Greater Than 12 Months, Fair Value	1,119	1,242
Greater Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(44)	(21)
Total, Fair Value	11,985	7,143
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(217)	(44)
U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Less Than 12 Months, Fair Value	3,125	1,657
Less Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(78)	(12)
Greater Than 12 Months, Fair Value	1,106	1,162
Greater Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(53)	(26)
Total, Fair Value	4,231	2,819
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(131)	(38)
Non-U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Less Than 12 Months, Fair Value	1,023	411
Less Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(21)	(3)
Greater Than 12 Months, Fair Value	138	144
Greater Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(6)	(3)
Total, Fair Value	1,161	555
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	$ (27)	$ (6)

XML

Fair Value (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Fair Value [Line Items]
Transfers from level 1 to level 2-Assets	$ 0	$ 0
Transfers from level 1 to level 2-Liabilities	0	0
Transfer from level 2 to level 1-Assets	0	0
Transfer from level 2 to level 1-Liabilities	0	0
Transfers Into Level 3	0	0
Transfers out of Level 3	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value [Line Items]
Significant fair value adjustments for assets and liabilities measured on a nonrecurring basis	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Fair Value (Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 18,368	$ 11,981
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	30,716	28,424
Equity Securities, Fair Value	1,868	1,992
Assets under management	2,842	3,101
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	53,794	45,498
Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	30,716	28,424
U.S. Government and Agency Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	2,913	2,644
State and Municipal Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	7,140	7,660
Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	14,811	13,194
U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	4,594	3,911
Non-U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	1,258	1,015
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	18,322	11,718
Equity Securities, Fair Value	1,776	1,784
Assets under management	869	1,117
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	23,649	17,112
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member] | Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	2,682	2,493
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member] | U.S. Government and Agency Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	2,643	2,428
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member] | State and Municipal Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	39	65
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member] | U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member] | Non-U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	0	0
Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	46	263
Equity Securities, Fair Value	13	14
Assets under management	1,973	1,984
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	29,917	28,052
Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	27,885	25,791
Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | U.S. Government and Agency Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	270	216
Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | State and Municipal Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	7,140	7,660
Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	14,623	12,989
Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	4,594	3,911
Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Non-U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	1,258	1,015
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Equity Securities, Fair Value	79	194
Assets under management	0	0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	228	334
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	149	140
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | U.S. Government and Agency Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	0	0
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | State and Municipal Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	0	0
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	149	140
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	0	0
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Non-U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Fair Value (Financial Assets and Liabilities, Not Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Fair Value	$ 586	$ 536
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity	588	536
Debt and other financing obligations, carrying value	33,688	31,067
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Fair Value	586	536
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Fair Value	258	267
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Fair Value	70	4
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Held-to-maturity, Fair Value	258	265
Long-term debt and other financing obligations
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt and other financing obligations, carrying value	35,055	31,542
Long-term debt and other financing obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt and other financing obligations	36,329	34,504
Long-term debt and other financing obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt and other financing obligations	0	0
Long-term debt and other financing obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt and other financing obligations	36,329	34,504
Long-term debt and other financing obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt and other financing obligations	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Medical Costs Payable (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Billions	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Incurred but Not Reported (IBNR) Claims, Amount	$ 13.5	$ 12.3

XML

Medical Costs Payable Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Causes of Increase (Decrease) in Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Line Items]
Medical costs payable, beginning of period	$ 17,871	$ 16,391
Acquisitions	261	76
Reported medical costs:
Current year	72,570	65,208
Prior years	(280)	(580)
Total reported medical costs	72,290	64,628
Medical payments:
Payments for current year	(55,738)	(49,673)
Payments for prior years	(15,345)	(13,712)
Total medical payments	(71,083)	(63,385)
Medical costs payable, end of period	$ 19,339	$ 17,710

XML

Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Minimum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period	2.90%
Maximum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period	3.30%
Five Year $3.0 Billion Credit Facility [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Line of Credit	$ 0
Line of Credit, Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 3,000
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Period	5 years
Three Year 3.0 Billion Credit Facility [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Line of Credit	$ 0
Line of Credit, Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 3,000
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Period	3 years
364 Day $4.0 Billion Credit Facility [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit, Current	$ 0
Line of Credit, Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 4,000
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Period	364 days
Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other Long-term Debt	$ 1,400	$ 625
Other Long-term Debt, Current	$ 210	$ 107

XML

Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par Value	$ 34,167	$ 31,417
Carrying Value	33,688	31,067
Fair Value	34,962	34,029
Commercial Paper [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par Value	0	150
Carrying Value	0	150
Fair Value	$ 0	150
6.000% notes due February 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	6.00%
Par Value	$ 0	1,100
Unsecured Debt, Current	0	1,101
Fair Value	$ 0	1,106
1.900% notes due July 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	1.90%
Par Value	$ 1,500	1,500
Unsecured Debt, Current	1,500	1,499
Fair Value	$ 1,500	1,501
1.700% Notes due February 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	1.70%
Par Value	$ 750	750
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent		749
Unsecured Debt, Current	749
Fair Value	$ 745	747
1.625% notes due March 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	1.625%
Par Value	$ 500	500
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent		501
Unsecured Debt, Current	500
Fair Value	$ 496	497
2.300% notes due December 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.30%
Par Value	$ 500	500
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	492	495
Fair Value	$ 497	501
2.700% notes due July 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.70%
Par Value	$ 1,500	1,500
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	1,497	1,496
Fair Value	1,491	1,517
Floating rate notes due October 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par Value	300	300
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	299	299
Fair Value	$ 300	300
3.875% notes due October 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.875%
Par Value	$ 450	450
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	440	446
Fair Value	$ 457	467
1.950% notes due October 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	1.95%
Par Value	$ 900	900
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	896	895
Fair Value	$ 878	892
4.700% notes due February 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.70%
Par Value	$ 400	400
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	396	403
Fair Value	$ 415	425
2.125% notes due March 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.125%
Par Value	$ 750	750
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	747	746
Fair Value	731	744
Floating rate notes due June 2021 [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par Value	350	0
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	349	0
Fair Value	$ 350	0
3.150% notes due June 2021 [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.15%
Par Value	$ 400	0
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	398	0
Fair Value	$ 400	0
3.375% notes due November 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.375%
Par Value	$ 500	500
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	483	493
Fair Value	$ 503	516
2.875% notes due December 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.875%
Par Value	$ 750	750
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	726	741
Fair Value	$ 743	760
2.875% notes due March 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.875%
Par Value	$ 1,100	1,100
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	1,033	1,054
Fair Value	$ 1,085	1,114
3.350% notes due July 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.35%
Par Value	$ 1,000	1,000
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	996	996
Fair Value	$ 1,001	1,033
2.375% notes due October 2022 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.375%
Par Value	$ 900	900
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	894	893
Fair Value	$ 865	891
0.000% notes due November 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	0.00%
Par Value	$ 15	15
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	12	12
Fair Value	$ 12	12
2.750% notes due February 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.75%
Par Value	$ 625	625
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	591	606
Fair Value	$ 605	626
2.875% notes due March 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.875%
Par Value	$ 750	750
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	739	762
Fair Value	$ 731	759
3.500% notes due June 2023 [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.50%
Par Value	$ 750	0
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	746	0
Fair Value	$ 751	0
3.750% notes due July 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.75%
Par Value	$ 2,000	2,000
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	1,988	1,987
Fair Value	$ 2,000	2,108
3.100% notes due March 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.10%
Par Value	$ 1,000	1,000
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	995	995
Fair Value	$ 954	1,007
3.450% notes due January 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.45%
Par Value	$ 750	750
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	745	745
Fair Value	$ 729	776
3.375% notes due April 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.375%
Par Value	$ 625	625
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	619	618
Fair Value	$ 606	642
2.950% notes due October 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.95%
Par Value	$ 950	950
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	937	937
Fair Value	$ 886	947
2.950% notes due June 2028 [Member] [Domain] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.85%
Par Value	$ 1,150	0
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	1,141	0
Fair Value	$ 1,152	0
4.625% notes due July 2035 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.625%
Par Value	$ 1,000	1,000
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	991	991
Fair Value	$ 1,052	1,165
5.800% notes due March 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.80%
Par Value	$ 850	850
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	838	837
Fair Value	$ 1,007	1,105
6.500% notes due June 2037 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	6.50%
Par Value	$ 500	500
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	492	491
Fair Value	$ 640	698
6.625% notes due November 2037 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	6.625%
Par Value	$ 650	650
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	641	641
Fair Value	$ 845	923
6.875% notes due February 2038 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	6.875%
Par Value	$ 1,100	1,100
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	1,075	1,075
Fair Value	$ 1,455	1,596
5.700% notes due October 2040 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.70%
Par Value	$ 300	300
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	296	296
Fair Value	$ 356	389
5.950% notes due February 2041 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.95%
Par Value	$ 350	350
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	345	345
Fair Value	$ 433	466
4.625% notes due November 2041 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.625%
Par Value	$ 600	600
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	588	588
Fair Value	$ 626	685
4.375% notes due March 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.375%
Par Value	$ 502	502
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	484	483
Fair Value	$ 506	555
3.950% notes due October 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.95%
Par Value	$ 625	625
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	607	607
Fair Value	$ 592	650
4.250% notes due March 2043 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.25%
Par Value	$ 750	750
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	734	734
Fair Value	$ 746	822
4.750% notes due July 2045 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.75%
Par Value	$ 2,000	2,000
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	1,972	1,972
Fair Value	$ 2,137	2,362
4.200% notes due January 2047 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.20%
Par Value	$ 750	750
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	738	738
Fair Value	$ 735	808
4.250% notes due April 2047 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.25%
Par Value	$ 725	725
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	717	717
Fair Value	$ 722	798
3.750% notes due October 2047 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.75%
Par Value	$ 950	950
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	933	933
Fair Value	$ 873	969
3.750% notes due June 2048 [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.25%
Par Value	$ 1,350	0
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	1,329	0
Fair Value	$ 1,354	$ 0

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Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 26, 2018	Mar. 20, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 01, 2018
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased					100
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.900	$ 0.750
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock	$ 866	$ 722	$ 1,588	$ 1,320

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Shareholders' Equity Shareholders' Equity Share Repurchases (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 01, 2018
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common share repurchases, shares	14
Common share repurchases, average price per share	$ 228.81
Common share repurchases, aggregate cost	$ 3,150	$ 1,045
Board authorized shares remaining			100

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Segment Financial Information (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Statement [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments	4

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Segment Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - unaffiliated customers	$ 44,458	$ 39,585	$ 88,542	$ 78,523
Products, revenues - unaffiliated customers	7,004	6,415	13,706	12,544
Services, revenues - unaffiliated customers	4,269	3,797	8,373	7,231
Investment and other income	355	256	653	478
Total revenues	56,086	50,053	111,274	98,776
Earnings from operations	4,204	3,731	8,257	7,144
Interest expense	(344)	(301)	(673)	(584)
Earnings before income taxes	3,860	3,430	7,584	6,560
Optum
Statement [Line Items]
Investment and other income	147	92	262	153
Total revenues	24,726	22,671	48,327	43,908
Earnings from operations	1,847	1,520	3,500	2,799
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	1,847	1,520	3,500	2,799
Unaffiliated Customers
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - unaffiliated customers	44,458	39,585	88,542	78,523
Products, revenues - unaffiliated customers	7,004	6,415	13,706	12,544
Services, revenues - unaffiliated customers	4,269	3,797	8,373	7,231
Total revenues	55,731	49,797	110,621	98,298
Unaffiliated Customers | Optum
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - unaffiliated customers	962	919	1,809	1,804
Products, revenues - unaffiliated customers	7,004	6,415	13,706	12,544
Services, revenues - unaffiliated customers	2,127	1,839	4,192	3,351
Total revenues	10,093	9,173	19,707	17,699
Affiliated Customers
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Affiliated Customers | Optum
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	14,486	13,406	28,358	26,056
Operating Segments | UnitedHealthcare
Statement [Line Items]
Investment and other income	208	164	391	325
Total revenues	45,846	40,788	91,305	80,924
Earnings from operations	2,357	2,211	4,757	4,345
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	2,357	2,211	4,757	4,345
Operating Segments | OptumHealth
Statement [Line Items]
Investment and other income	124	87	230	143
Total revenues	5,941	5,122	11,700	9,855
Earnings from operations	570	422	1,058	754
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	570	422	1,058	754
Operating Segments | OptumInsight
Statement [Line Items]
Investment and other income	9	1	11	2
Total revenues	2,185	1,993	4,254	3,836
Earnings from operations	453	372	848	666
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	453	372	848	666
Operating Segments | OptumRx
Statement [Line Items]
Investment and other income	14	4	21	8
Total revenues	16,941	15,840	33,047	30,787
Earnings from operations	824	726	1,594	1,379
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	824	726	1,594	1,379
Operating Segments | Unaffiliated Customers | UnitedHealthcare
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - unaffiliated customers	43,496	38,666	86,733	76,719
Products, revenues - unaffiliated customers	0	0	0	0
Services, revenues - unaffiliated customers	2,142	1,958	4,181	3,880
Total revenues	45,638	40,624	90,914	80,599
Operating Segments | Unaffiliated Customers | OptumHealth
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - unaffiliated customers	962	919	1,809	1,804
Products, revenues - unaffiliated customers	12	11	24	23
Services, revenues - unaffiliated customers	1,203	1,008	2,391	1,729
Total revenues	2,177	1,938	4,224	3,556
Operating Segments | Unaffiliated Customers | OptumInsight
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - unaffiliated customers	0	0	0	0
Products, revenues - unaffiliated customers	20	19	43	40
Services, revenues - unaffiliated customers	776	692	1,516	1,334
Total revenues	796	711	1,559	1,374
Operating Segments | Unaffiliated Customers | OptumRx
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - unaffiliated customers	0	0	0	0
Products, revenues - unaffiliated customers	6,972	6,385	13,639	12,481
Services, revenues - unaffiliated customers	148	139	285	288
Total revenues	7,120	6,524	13,924	12,769
Operating Segments | Affiliated Customers | UnitedHealthcare
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments | Affiliated Customers | OptumHealth
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	3,640	3,097	7,246	6,156
Operating Segments | Affiliated Customers | OptumInsight
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	1,380	1,281	2,684	2,460
Operating Segments | Affiliated Customers | OptumRx
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	9,807	9,312	19,102	18,010
Optum Eliminations
Statement [Line Items]
Investment and other income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	(341)	(284)	(674)	(570)
Earnings from operations	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Optum Eliminations | Unaffiliated Customers
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - unaffiliated customers	0	0	0	0
Products, revenues - unaffiliated customers	0	0	0	0
Services, revenues - unaffiliated customers	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Optum Eliminations | Affiliated Customers
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	(341)	(284)	(674)	(570)
Corporate and Eliminations
Statement [Line Items]
Investment and other income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	(14,486)	(13,406)	(28,358)	(26,056)
Earnings from operations	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(344)	(301)	(673)	(584)
Earnings before income taxes	(344)	(301)	(673)	(584)
Corporate and Eliminations | Unaffiliated Customers
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - unaffiliated customers	0	0	0	0
Products, revenues - unaffiliated customers	0	0	0	0
Services, revenues - unaffiliated customers	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Corporate and Eliminations | Affiliated Customers
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ (14,486)	$ (13,406)	$ (28,358)	$ (26,056)