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Goodwill and Intangible Assets Weighted-average useful lives assigned to finite-lived intangible assets acquired in business combinations (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired $ 464us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1 $ 82us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life 11 years 12 years
Customer-Related Intangible Assets [Member]    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired 314us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelatedIntangibleAssetsMember
55us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelatedIntangibleAssetsMember
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life 14 years 12 years
Trademarks and Technology [Member]    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired 148us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= unh_TrademarksandTechnologyMember
27us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= unh_TrademarksandTechnologyMember
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life 6 years 12 years
Other Intangible Assets [Member]    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired $ 2us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
$ 0us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life 14 years