Goodwill (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Changes in the Carrying Amount of Goodwill by Reporting Segment

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by reportable segment, were as follows:

(in millions)	UnitedHealthcare			OptumHealth		OptumInsight			OptumRx		Consolidated
Balance at January 1, 2010 (a)	$	17,851		$	573	$	1,463		$	840	$	20,727
Acquisitions	—			187		2,022			—		2,209
Impairments	—			—		(172		)	—		(172		)
Adjustments, net	(14		)	—		(5		)	—		(19		)
Balance at December 31, 2010	17,837			760		3,308			840		22,745
Acquisitions	101			1,353		—			—		1,454
Dispositions	(2		)	—		(214		)	—		(216		)
Adjustments, net	(4		)	—		(4		)	—		(8		)
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	17,932		$	2,113	$	3,090		$	840	$	23,975

(a) Prior period reportable segment financial information has been recast to conform to the 2011 presentation as discussed in Note 2 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Table Text Block]

The gross carrying value, accumulated amortization and net carrying value of other intangible assets were as follows:

	December 31, 2011							December 31, 2010
(in millions)	Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value		Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value
Customer-related	$	3,766	$	(1,310	)	$	2,456	$	3,623	$	(1,038	)	$	2,585
Trademarks and technology	368		(98		)	270		505		(246		)	259
Other	112		(43		)	69		132		(66		)	66
Total	$	4,246	$	(1,451	)	$	2,795	$	4,260	$	(1,350	)	$	2,910

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets Acquired as Part of Business Combination [Table Text Block]

The acquisition date fair values and weighted-average useful lives assigned to finite-lived intangible assets acquired in business combinations consisted of the following by year of acquisition:

	2011			2010
(in millions, except years)	Fair Value		Weighted-Average Useful Life	Fair Value		Weighted-Average Useful Life
Customer-related	$	187	9 years	$	786	14 years
Trademarks and technology	49		5 years	94		8 years
Other	5		15 years	14		9 years
Total acquired finite-lived intangible assets	$	241	9 years	$	894	13 years

Schedule of Expected Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]

Estimated full year amortization expense relating to intangible assets for each of the next five years is as follows:

(in millions)	Estimated Amortization Expense
2012	$	361
2013	328
2014	316
2015	299
2016	277