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Fair Value Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Venture Capital Funds [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Comparable Companies [Member]  
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]  
Available-for-sale Securities 260us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
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/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
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Venture Capital Funds [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Recent Transactions [Member]  
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]  
Available-for-sale Securities 50us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
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/ unh_MarketApproachAxis
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/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
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Minimum [Member] | Comparable Companies [Member]  
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]  
Fair Value Inputs, Revenue Multiple 1.0us-gaap_FairValueInputsRevenueMultiple
/ unh_MarketApproachAxis
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/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
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Fair Value Inputs, Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization Multiple 8.0us-gaap_FairValueInputsEarningsBeforeInterestTaxesDepreciationAndAmortizationMultiple
/ unh_MarketApproachAxis
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/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
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Maximum [Member] | Comparable Companies [Member]  
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]  
Fair Value Inputs, Revenue Multiple 6.0us-gaap_FairValueInputsRevenueMultiple
/ unh_MarketApproachAxis
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Fair Value Inputs, Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization Multiple 10.0us-gaap_FairValueInputsEarningsBeforeInterestTaxesDepreciationAndAmortizationMultiple
/ unh_MarketApproachAxis
= unh_ComparableCompaniesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]  
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]  
Available-for-sale Securities 310us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
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