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Fair Value (Assets and Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash and cash equivalents $ 7,495us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure $ 7,276us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 18,551us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities 19,427us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities 1,522us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities 1,572us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
Total assets at fair value 27,630us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring 28,275us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
Debt Securities [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 18,551us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
19,427us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
U.S. Government and Agency Obligations [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 1,620us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
2,195us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
State and Municipal Obligations [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 6,668us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
6,977us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Corporate Obligations [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 7,327us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
7,335us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 2,056us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
2,218us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Non-U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 880us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByPrivateEnterprisesMember
702us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByPrivateEnterprisesMember
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 7,472us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
7,005us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities 1,200us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
1,291us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Total assets at fair value 10,101us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
10,071us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member] | Debt Securities [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 1,429us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
1,775us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
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]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 1,427us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
1,750us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
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]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
25us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
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]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
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]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByPrivateEnterprisesMember
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByPrivateEnterprisesMember
Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash and cash equivalents 23us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
271us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities 12us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
12us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Total assets at fair value 17,145us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
17,893us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Debt Securities [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 17,048us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
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= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
17,610us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
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= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
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]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 193us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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445us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | State and Municipal Obligations [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 6,668us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
6,977us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 7,257us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
7,274us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
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]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 2,056us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
2,218us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
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]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 874us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByPrivateEnterprisesMember
696us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | AARP Program [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash and cash equivalents 415us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
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265us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
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Other Investments 81us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
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= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
 
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities   4us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
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= unh_AarpProgramMember
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= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
Total assets at fair value 2,962us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
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2,757us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
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Other liabilities 18us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
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14us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
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= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Debt Securities [Member] | AARP Program [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 2,466us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ unh_AssetsundermanagementAxis
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2,488us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | U.S. Government and Agency Obligations [Member] | AARP Program [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 654us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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727us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | State and Municipal Obligations [Member] | AARP Program [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 95us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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63us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member] | AARP Program [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 1,200us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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1,145us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] | AARP Program [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 340us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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414us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Non-U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] | AARP Program [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 177us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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139us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member] | AARP Program [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Cash and cash equivalents 415us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
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265us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
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Other Investments 0us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
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Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities   0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
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Total assets at fair value 824us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
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691us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
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Other liabilities 5us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
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3us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
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