UnitedHealth (UNH) 10-Q 4 May 16 2016 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information Document - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Apr. 29, 2016
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entitiy Registrant Name	UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC
Entitiy Central Index Key	731,766
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		950,804,129

Condensed Consolidated Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 10,596	$ 10,923
Short-term investments	2,418	1,988
Accounts receivable, net	7,777	6,523
Other current receivables, net	6,865	6,801
Assets under management	2,878	2,998
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	3,211	2,406
Total current assets	33,745	31,639
Long-term investments	20,895	18,792
Property, equipment and capitalized software, net	4,976	4,861
Goodwill	46,294	44,453
Other intangible assets, net	8,861	8,391
Other assets	3,084	3,118
Total assets	117,855	111,254
Current liabilities:
Medical costs payable	15,823	14,330
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	13,740	11,994
Other policy liabilities	8,317	7,798
Commercial paper and current maturities of long-term debt	6,504	6,634
Unearned revenues	1,901	2,142
Total current liabilities	46,285	42,898
Long-term debt, less current maturities	27,218	25,331
Future policy benefits	2,508	2,496
Deferred income taxes	3,066	3,587
Other liabilities	1,887	1,481
Total liabilities	80,964	$ 75,793
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	1,824	$ 1,736
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; 954 and 953 issued and outstanding	10	10
Additional paid in capital	0	29
Retained earnings	37,963	37,125
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,804)	(3,334)
Nonredeemable noncontrolling interest	(102)	(105)
Total equity	35,067	33,725
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	$ 117,855	$ 111,254

Condensed Consolidated Balance3

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Parenthetical) - $ / shares shares in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	3,000	3,000
Common stock, shares issued	954	953
Common stock, shares outstanding	954	953
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

Condensed Consolidated Statemen

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Revenues:
Premiums	$ 34,811	$ 31,674
Products	6,393	1,230
Services	3,140	2,706
Investment and other income	183	146
Total revenues	44,527	35,756
Operating costs:
Medical costs	28,430	25,790
Operating costs	6,758	5,834
Cost of products sold	5,877	1,114
Depreciation and amortization	502	378
Total operating costs	41,567	33,116
Earnings from operations	2,960	2,640
Interest expense	(259)	(150)
Earnings before income taxes	2,701	2,490
Provision for income taxes	(1,074)	(1,077)
Net earnings	1,627	1,413
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(16)	0
Net earnings attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders	$ 1,611	$ 1,413
Earnings per share attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders:
Basic	$ 1.69	$ 1.48
Diluted	$ 1.67	$ 1.46
Basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding	953	954
Dilutive effect of common share equivalents	14	15
Diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding	967	969
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from the calculation of dilutive effect of common share equivalents	7	9
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.500	$ 0.375

Condensed Consolidated Stateme5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Net earnings	$ 1,627	$ 1,413
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Gross unrealized gains on investment securities during the period	260	105
Income tax effect	(96)	(37)
Total unrealized gains, net of tax	164	68
Gross reclassification adjustment for net realized gains included in net earnings	(35)	(3)
Income tax effect	13	1
Total reclassification adjustment, net of tax	(22)	(2)
Total foreign currency translation gains (losses)	388	(959)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	530	(893)
Comprehensive income	2,157	520
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(16)	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders	$ 2,141	$ 520

Condensed Consolidated Stateme6

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 Gains (Losses) on Investments [Member]	Foreign Currency Translation Losses [Member]	Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		954
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 32,454	$ 10	$ 0	$ 33,836	$ 223	$ (1,615)	$ 0
Net earnings attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders	1,413			1,413
Net Earnings, Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	1,413
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(893)				66	(959)
Issuances of common stock, and related tax effects (in shares)		6
Issuances of common stock, and related tax effects	0	$ 0	0
Share-based compensation, and related tax benefits	206		206
Common share repurchases (in shares)		(8)
Common share repurchases	(896)	$ 0	(157)	(739)
Cash dividends paid on common shares	(357)			(357)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests fair value and other adjustments	(49)		(49)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2015		952
Balance at Mar. 31, 2015	$ 31,878	$ 10	0	34,153	289	(2,574)	0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	953	953
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 33,725	$ 10	29	37,125	56	(3,390)	(105)
Adjustment to adopt ASU 2016-09	28			28
Net earnings attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders	1,611			1,611
Net earnings attributable to nonredeemable noncontrolling interest							11
Net Earnings, Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	1,622
Other comprehensive income (loss)	530				142	388
Issuances of common stock, and related tax effects (in shares)		5
Issuances of common stock, and related tax effects	56	$ 0	56
Share-based compensation			150
Share-based compensation, and related tax benefits	150
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares		4
Common share repurchases	(500)	$ 0	(176)	(324)
Cash dividends paid on common shares	(477)			(477)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests fair value and other adjustments	(59)		(59)
Distribution to nonredeemable noncontrolling interest	$ (8)						(8)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2016	954	954
Balance at Mar. 31, 2016	$ 35,067	$ 10	$ 0	$ 37,963	$ 198	$ (3,002)	$ (102)

Condensed Consolidated Stateme7

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Operating activities
Net earnings	$ 1,627	$ 1,413
Noncash items:
Depreciation and amortization	502	378
Deferred income taxes	145	122
Share-based compensation	157	125
Other, net	6	(44)
Net change in other operating items, net of effects from acquisitions and changes in AARP balances:
Accounts receivable	(1,110)	(758)
Other assets	(2,162)	(2,162)
Medical costs payable	1,368	1,610
Accounts payable and other liabilities	1,770	1,648
Other policy liabilities	266	154
Unearned revenues	(251)	(217)
Cash flows from operating activities	2,318	2,269
Investing activities
Purchases of investments	(5,173)	(1,891)
Sales of investments	2,122	503
Maturities of investments	978	843
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash assumed	(1,697)	(575)
Purchases of property, equipment and capitalized software	(425)	(373)
Other, net	14	(32)
Cash flows used for investing activities	(4,181)	(1,525)
Financing activities
Common stock repurchases	(500)	(896)
Cash dividends paid	(477)	(357)
Proceeds from common stock issuances	198	192
Proceeds from long-term debt	2,485	0
Repayments of long-term debt	(601)	(416)
(Repayments of) proceeds from commercial paper, net	(285)	1,194
Customer funds administered	1,067	1,049
Other, net	(385)	(270)
Cash flows from financing activities	1,502	496
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	34	(85)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(327)	1,155
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	10,923	7,495
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	$ 10,596	$ 8,650

Basis of Presentation (Notes)

Basis of Presentation (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
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 and well-being company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone. Through its diversified family of businesses, the Company leverages core competencies in advanced, enabling technology; health care data, information and intelligence; and clinical care management and coordination to help meet the demands of the health system. The Company offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides pharmacy care services and information and technology-enabled health services. 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” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 as filed with the SEC ( 2015 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 Consolidated Financial Statements include certain amounts based on the Company’s best estimates and judgments. The Company’s most significant estimates relate to estimates and judgments for medical costs payable and revenues, valuation and impairment analysis of goodwill and other intangible assets and valuations of certain investments. 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. The accounting policies disclosed in Note 2 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in the 2015 10-K remain unchanged. Reclassification During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company aligned its accounting policy to conform the presentation of certain pharmacy fulfillment costs related to an acquired OptumRx business. These costs are now included in medical costs and cost of products sold, whereas they were previously included in operating costs. Prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The reclassification increased medical expenses by $101 million , decreased operating costs by $115 million and increased cost of products sold by $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The reclassification had no impact on total operating costs, earnings from operations, net earnings, earnings per share or total equity. 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). 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 are required to adopt the new standard using a modified retrospective approach for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption of ASU 2016-02 is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the new leasing guidance. 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). The new guidance changes the current accounting related to (i) the classification and measurement of certain equity investments, (ii) the presentation of changes in the fair value of financial liabilities measured under the fair value option that are due to instrument-specific credit risk, and (iii) certain disclosures associated with the fair value of financial instruments. Most notably, ASU 2016-01 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 new guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the new financial instruments guidance. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (ASU 2014-09) as modified by ASU No. 2015-14, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date,” ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)” and ASU No. 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing.” ASU 2014-09 will supersede existing revenue recognition standards with a single model unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (e.g., an insurance entity’s insurance contracts). The revenue recognition principle in ASU 2014-09 is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, new and enhanced disclosures will be required. Companies may adopt the new standard either using the full retrospective approach, a modified retrospective approach with practical expedients, or a cumulative effect upon adoption approach. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption at the original effective date, interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, will be permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the new revenue recognition guidance. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (ASU 2016-09). ASU 2016-09 modifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment awards, including income tax consequences, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The Company early adopted ASU 2016-09 in the first quarter of 2016. The provisions of ASU 2016-09 related to the timing of when excess tax benefits are recognized, minimum statutory withholding requirements and forfeitures were adopted using a modified retrospective transition method by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of January 1, 2016. The provisions of ASU 2016-09 related to the recognition of excess tax benefits in the income statement and classification in the statement of cash flows were adopted prospectively and the prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted. The adoption of ASU 2016-09 did not materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, equity or cash flows. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes” (ASU 2015-17). ASU 2015-17 requires entities to present deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as noncurrent on the balance sheet. Prior to the issuance of ASU 2015-17, deferred taxes were required to be presented as a net current asset or liability and a net noncurrent asset or liability. The Company adopted ASU 2015-17 on a prospective basis in the first quarter of 2016 and the prior period was not retrospectively adjusted. The adoption of ASU 2015-17 did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, equity or cash flows. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, “Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” (ASU 2015-03). ASU 2015-03 requires debt issuance costs to be presented as a reduction of the carrying amount of the related debt liability. Prior to the issuance of ASU 2015-03, debt issuance costs were required to be presented as an asset in the balance sheet. The Company adopted ASU 2015-03 on a retrospective basis, as required, in the first quarter of 2016. The Company reclassified $129 million in debt issuance costs that were recorded in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015 to long-term debt, less current maturities. 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.

Investments (Notes)

Investments (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Investments [Abstract]
Investments [Text Block]	Investments A summary of short-term and long-term investments by major security type is as follows: (in millions) Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Fair Value March 31, 2016 Debt securities - available-for-sale: U.S. government and agency obligations $ 2,318 $ 13 $ (1 ) $ 2,330 State and municipal obligations 6,233 180 (2 ) 6,411 Corporate obligations 8,751 110 (30 ) 8,831 U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 2,488 28 (3 ) 2,513 Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 958 17 (4 ) 971 Total debt securities - available-for-sale 20,748 348 (40 ) 21,056 Equity securities - available-for-sale 1,739 63 (53 ) 1,749 Debt securities - held-to-maturity: U.S. government and agency obligations 175 3 — 178 State and municipal obligations 7 — — 7 Corporate obligations 326 — — 326 Total debt securities - held-to-maturity 508 3 — 511 Total investments $ 22,995 $ 414 $ (93 ) $ 23,316 December 31, 2015 Debt securities - available-for-sale: U.S. government and agency obligations $ 1,982 $ 1 $ (6 ) $ 1,977 State and municipal obligations 6,022 149 (3 ) 6,168 Corporate obligations 7,446 41 (81 ) 7,406 U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 2,127 13 (16 ) 2,124 Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 962 5 (11 ) 956 Total debt securities - available-for-sale 18,539 209 (117 ) 18,631 Equity securities - available-for-sale 1,638 58 (57 ) 1,639 Debt securities - held-to-maturity: U.S. government and agency obligations 163 1 — 164 State and municipal obligations 8 — — 8 Corporate obligations 339 — — 339 Total debt securities - held-to-maturity 510 1 — 511 Total investments $ 20,687 $ 268 $ (174 ) $ 20,781 The amortized cost and fair value of debt securities as of March 31, 2016 , by contractual maturity, were as follows: Available-for-Sale Held-to-Maturity (in millions) Amortized Cost Fair Value Amortized Fair Due in one year or less $ 2,534 $ 2,539 $ 128 $ 128 Due after one year through five years 7,944 8,019 184 186 Due after five years through ten years 4,841 4,968 114 114 Due after ten years 1,983 2,046 82 83 U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 2,488 2,513 — — Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 958 971 — — Total debt securities $ 20,748 $ 21,056 $ 508 $ 511 The fair value of available-for-sale investments with gross unrealized losses by major 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 Fair Value Gross March 31, 2016 Debt securities - available-for-sale: U.S. government and agency obligations $ 507 $ (1 ) $ — $ — $ 507 $ (1 ) State and municipal obligations 488 (2 ) — — 488 (2 ) Corporate obligations 2,107 (22 ) 337 (8 ) 2,444 (30 ) U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities — — 214 (3 ) 214 (3 ) Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 203 (1 ) 145 (3 ) 348 (4 ) Total debt securities - available-for-sale $ 3,305 $ (26 ) $ 696 $ (14 ) $ 4,001 $ (40 ) Equity securities - available-for-sale $ 98 $ (8 ) $ 94 $ (45 ) $ 192 $ (53 ) December 31, 2015 Debt securities - available-for-sale: U.S. government and agency obligations $ 1,473 $ (6 ) $ — $ — $ 1,473 $ (6 ) State and municipal obligations 650 (3 ) — — 650 (3 ) Corporate obligations 4,629 (63 ) 339 (18 ) 4,968 (81 ) U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 1,304 (12 ) 116 (4 ) 1,420 (16 ) Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 593 (7 ) 127 (4 ) 720 (11 ) Total debt securities - available-for-sale $ 8,649 $ (91 ) $ 582 $ (26 ) $ 9,231 $ (117 ) Equity securities - available-for-sale $ 112 $ (11 ) $ 89 $ (46 ) $ 201 $ (57 ) The Company’s unrealized losses from all securities as of March 31, 2016 were generated from approximately 5,000 positions out of a total of 26,000 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. As of March 31, 2016 , 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. Net realized gains reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income were from the following sources: Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions) 2016 2015 Total other than temporary impairments recognized in earnings $ (21 ) $ (1 ) Gross realized losses from sales (31 ) (6 ) Gross realized gains from sales 87 10 Net realized gains (included in investment and other income on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations) 35 3 Income tax effect (included in provision for income taxes on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations) (13 ) (1 ) Realized gains, net of taxes $ 22 $ 2

Fair Value (Notes)

Fair Value (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
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 5 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in the 2015 10-K. The Company elected to measure the entirety of the Supplemental Health Insurance Program (AARP Program) assets under management at fair value pursuant to the fair value option. See Note 2 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in the 2015 10-K for further detail on the AARP Program. 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, excluding assets and liabilities related to the AARP Program: (in millions) Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Total Fair and Carrying Value March 31, 2016 Cash and cash equivalents $ 10,590 $ 6 $ — $ 10,596 Debt securities - available-for-sale: U.S. government and agency obligations 2,159 171 — 2,330 State and municipal obligations — 6,411 — 6,411 Corporate obligations 8 8,725 98 8,831 U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities — 2,513 — 2,513 Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities — 971 — 971 Total debt securities - available-for-sale 2,167 18,791 98 21,056 Equity securities - available-for-sale 1,344 15 390 1,749 Interest rate swap assets — 245 — 245 Total assets at fair value $ 14,101 $ 19,057 $ 488 $ 33,646 Percentage of total assets at fair value 42 % 57 % 1 % 100 % December 31, 2015 Cash and cash equivalents $ 10,906 $ 17 $ — $ 10,923 Debt securities - available-for-sale: U.S. government and agency obligations 1,779 198 — 1,977 State and municipal obligations — 6,168 — 6,168 Corporate obligations 5 7,308 93 7,406 U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities — 2,124 — 2,124 Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities — 951 5 956 Total debt securities - available-for-sale 1,784 16,749 98 18,631 Equity securities - available-for-sale 1,223 14 402 1,639 Interest rate swap assets — 93 — 93 Total assets at fair value $ 13,913 $ 16,873 $ 500 $ 31,286 Percentage of total assets at fair value 44 % 54 % 2 % 100 % Interest rate swap liabilities $ — $ 11 $ — $ 11 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 or liabilities during the three months ended March 31, 2016 or 2015 . 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 March 31, 2016 Debt securities - held-to-maturity: U.S. government and agency obligations $ 178 $ — $ — $ 178 $ 175 State and municipal obligations — — 7 7 7 Corporate obligations 87 11 228 326 326 Total debt securities - held-to-maturity $ 265 $ 11 $ 235 $ 511 $ 508 Other assets $ — $ 477 $ — $ 477 $ 478 Long-term debt and other financing obligations $ — $ 32,605 $ — $ 32,605 $ 30,020 December 31, 2015 Debt securities - held-to-maturity: U.S. government and agency obligations $ 164 $ — $ — $ 164 $ 163 State and municipal obligations — — 8 8 8 Corporate obligations 91 10 238 339 339 Total debt securities - held-to-maturity $ 255 $ 10 $ 246 $ 511 $ 510 Other assets $ — $ 493 $ — $ 493 $ 500 Long-term debt and other financing obligations $ — $ 29,455 $ — $ 29,455 $ 27,978 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 three months ended March 31, 2016 or 2015 . A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs is as follows: March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 (in millions) Debt Securities Equity Securities Total Debt Securities Equity Securities Total Balance at beginning of period $ 98 $ 402 $ 500 $ 74 $ 310 $ 384 Purchases 4 12 16 4 4 8 Sales (7 ) (2 ) (9 ) — (1 ) (1 ) Net unrealized gains (losses) in accumulated other comprehensive income 3 (6 ) (3 ) 1 (5 ) (4 ) Net realized (losses) gains in investment and other income — (16 ) (16 ) — 1 1 Balance at end of period $ 98 $ 390 $ 488 $ 79 $ 309 $ 388

Medicare Part D Pharmacy Benefi

Medicare Part D Pharmacy Benefits (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Medicare Part D Pharmacy Benefits Contract [Text Block]	Medicare Part D Pharmacy Benefits The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include the following amounts associated with the Medicare Part D program: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 (in millions) Subsidies Drug Discount Risk-Share Subsidies Drug Discount Risk-Share Other current receivables $ 1,356 $ 242 $ — $ 1,703 $ 423 $ — Other policy liabilities — 34 527 — 58 496 See Note 2 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in the 2015 10-K for further detail on Medicare Part D.

Other Current Receivables (Note

Other Current Receivables (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Other Current Receivables [Abstract]
Other Current Receivables [Text Block]	5. Other Current Receivables The Company’s pharmacy care services businesses contract with pharmaceutical manufacturers, some of which provide rebates based on use of the manufacturers’ products by its affiliated and non-affiliated clients. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, total pharmaceutical manufacturer rebates receivable included in other receivables in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets amounted to $2.8 billion and $2.6 billion , respectively. See Note 2 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in the 2015 10-K for more information on the Company’s pharmaceutical manufacturer rebates.

Medical Costs Reserve Developme

Medical Costs Reserve Development (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Line Items]
Medical Cost Development Disclosure Text Block	Medical Costs Reserve Development Favorable medical cost reserve development was $360 million and $140 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In both periods, favorable development was driven by a number of individual factors that were not material .

Commercial Paper and Long-Term

Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt [Text Block]	Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt Commercial paper, term loan and senior unsecured long-term debt consisted of the following: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 (in millions, except percentages) Par Value Carrying Value Fair Value Par Value Carrying Fair Value Commercial paper $ 3,702 $ 3,702 $ 3,702 $ 3,987 $ 3,987 $ 3,987 Floating rate term loan due July 2016 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 5.375% notes due March 2016 — — — 601 605 606 1.875% notes due November 2016 400 400 403 400 400 403 5.360% notes due November 2016 95 95 97 95 95 98 Floating rate notes due January 2017 750 749 751 750 749 751 6.000% notes due June 2017 441 455 467 441 458 469 1.450% notes due July 2017 750 749 754 750 749 750 1.400% notes due October 2017 625 624 627 625 624 624 6.000% notes due November 2017 156 162 168 156 162 168 1.400% notes due December 2017 750 751 753 750 751 748 6.000% notes due February 2018 1,100 1,112 1,194 1,100 1,114 1,196 1.900% notes due July 2018 1,500 1,495 1,523 1,500 1,494 1,505 1.700% notes due February 2019 750 747 756 — — — 1.625% notes due March 2019 500 502 504 500 502 494 2.300% notes due December 2019 500 509 508 500 499 502 2.700% notes due July 2020 1,500 1,494 1,558 1,500 1,493 1,516 3.875% notes due October 2020 450 464 487 450 452 476 4.700% notes due February 2021 400 424 452 400 413 438 2.125% notes due March 2021 750 744 757 — — — 3.375% notes due November 2021 500 516 534 500 500 517 2.875% notes due December 2021 750 778 779 750 753 760 2.875% notes due March 2022 1,100 1,097 1,140 1,100 1,059 1,099 3.350% notes due July 2022 1,000 994 1,064 1,000 994 1,023 0.000% notes due November 2022 15 11 12 15 10 11 2.750% notes due February 2023 625 635 636 625 611 613 2.875% notes due March 2023 750 810 770 750 781 742 3.750% notes due July 2025 2,000 1,985 2,155 2,000 1,985 2,062 3.100% notes due March 2026 1,000 994 1,023 — — — 4.625% notes due July 2035 1,000 991 1,116 1,000 991 1,038 5.800% notes due March 2036 850 837 1,081 850 838 1,003 6.500% notes due June 2037 500 491 674 500 492 628 6.625% notes due November 2037 650 640 896 650 641 829 6.875% notes due February 2038 1,100 1,074 1,544 1,100 1,076 1,439 5.700% notes due October 2040 300 295 377 300 296 348 5.950% notes due February 2041 350 345 454 350 345 416 4.625% notes due November 2041 600 588 669 600 588 609 4.375% notes due March 2042 502 483 540 502 483 493 3.950% notes due October 2042 625 606 629 625 606 582 4.250% notes due March 2043 750 733 790 750 734 728 4.750% notes due July 2045 2,000 1,971 2,293 2,000 1,971 2,107 Total commercial paper, term loan and long-term debt $ 33,586 $ 33,552 $ 36,137 $ 31,972 $ 31,801 $ 33,278 (a) In the first quarter of 2016, the Company adopted ASU 2015-03, retrospectively as required. See Note 1 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the adoption of ASU 2015-03. The Company’s long-term debt obligations also included $170 million and $164 million of other financing obligations, of which $58 million and $47 million were current as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , 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. As of March 31, 2016 , the Company’s outstanding commercial paper had a weighted-average annual interest rate of 0.7% . The Company has $3.0 billion five-year, $2.0 billion three-year and $1.0 billion 364-day revolving bank credit facilities with 23 banks, which mature in December 2020 , December 2018 , and November 2016 , respectively. These facilities provide liquidity support for the Company’s commercial paper program and are available for general corporate purposes. As of March 31, 2016 , 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 March 31, 2016 , annual interest rates would have ranged from 1.2% to 1.7% . Debt Covenants The Company’s bank credit facilities contain various covenants, including covenants requiring the Company to maintain a defined debt to debt-plus-shareholders’ equity ratio of not more than 55% . The Company was in compliance with its debt covenants as of March 31, 2016 .

Commitments and Contingencies (

Commitments and Contingencies (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
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. Litigation Matters California Claims Processing Matter. On January 25, 2008, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) issued an Order to Show Cause to PacifiCare Life and Health Insurance Company, a subsidiary of the Company, alleging violations of certain insurance statutes and regulations related to an alleged failure to include certain language in standard claims correspondence, timeliness and accuracy of claims processing, interest payments, care provider contract implementation, care provider dispute resolution and other related matters. Although the Company believes that CDI had never before issued a fine in excess of $8 million , CDI advocated a fine of approximately $325 million in this matter. The matter was the subject of an administrative hearing before a California administrative law judge beginning in December 2009, and in August 2013, the administrative law judge issued a nonbinding proposed decision recommending a fine of $11.5 million . The California Insurance Commissioner rejected the administrative law judge’s recommendation and on June 9, 2014, issued his own decision imposing a fine of approximately $174 million . On July 10, 2014, the Company filed a lawsuit in California state court challenging the Commissioner’s decision. On September 8, 2015, in the first phase of that lawsuit, the California state court issued an order invalidating certain of the regulations the Commissioner had relied upon in issuing his decision and penalty. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the range of loss, if any, that may result from this matter given the procedural status of the dispute, the wide range of possible outcomes, the legal issues presented (including the legal basis for the majority of the alleged violations), the inherent difficulty in predicting a regulatory fine in the event of a remand, and the various remedies and levels of judicial review that remain available to the Company. 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. The Company has produced documents, information and witnesses to the Department of Justice in cooperation with a current review of the Company’s risk-adjustment processes, including the Company’s patient chart review and related programs. 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. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the range of loss, if any, that may result from any material government investigations, audits and reviews in which it is currently involved given the status of the reviews, the wide range of possible outcomes and inherent difficulty in predicting regulatory action, fines and penalties, if any, the Company’s legal and factual defenses and the various remedies and levels of judicial review available to the Company in the event of an adverse finding. Guaranty Fund Assessments Under state guaranty association laws, certain insurance companies can be assessed (up to prescribed limits) for certain obligations to the policyholders and claimants of impaired or insolvent insurance companies (including state health insurance cooperatives) that write the same line or similar lines of business. In 2009, the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner placed long term care insurer Penn Treaty Network America Insurance Company and its subsidiary (Penn Treaty), neither of which is affiliated with the Company, in rehabilitation and petitioned a state court for approval to liquidate Penn Treaty. In 2012, the court denied the liquidation petition and ordered the Insurance Commissioner to submit a rehabilitation plan. The court held a hearing in July 2015 to begin its consideration of the latest proposed rehabilitation plan. The hearing is scheduled to continue in 2016. If the current proposed rehabilitation plan, which contemplates the partial liquidation of Penn Treaty, is approved by the court, the Company’s insurance entities and other insurers may be required to pay a portion of Penn Treaty’s policyholder claims through state guaranty association assessments. The Company continues to vigorously challenge the proposed rehabilitation plan. The Company is currently unable to estimate losses or ranges of losses because the Company cannot predict when or to what extent Penn Treaty will ultimately be liquidated, the amount of the insolvency, the amount and timing of any associated guaranty fund assessments or the availability and amount of any premium tax and other potential offsets.

Segment Financial Information (

Segment Financial Information (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
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 14 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in the 2015 10-K. The following table presents the reportable segment financial information: Optum (in millions) UnitedHealthcare OptumHealth OptumInsight OptumRx Optum Eliminations Optum Corporate and Eliminations Consolidated Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Revenues - external customers: Premiums $ 33,963 $ 848 $ — $ — $ — $ 848 $ — $ 34,811 Products — 13 20 6,360 — 6,393 — 6,393 Services 1,796 612 606 126 — 1,344 — 3,140 Total revenues - external customers 35,759 1,473 626 6,486 — 8,585 — 44,344 Total revenues - intersegment — 2,485 1,041 7,785 (254 ) 11,057 (11,057 ) — Investment and other income 141 40 — 2 — 42 — 183 Total revenues $ 35,900 $ 3,998 $ 1,667 $ 14,273 $ (254 ) $ 19,684 $ (11,057 ) $ 44,527 Earnings from operations $ 1,854 $ 300 $ 246 $ 560 $ — $ 1,106 $ — $ 2,960 Interest expense — — — — — — (259 ) (259 ) Earnings before income taxes $ 1,854 $ 300 $ 246 $ 560 $ — $ 1,106 $ (259 ) $ 2,701 Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Revenues - external customers: Premiums $ 30,905 $ 769 $ — $ — $ — $ 769 $ — $ 31,674 Products — 5 20 1,205 — 1,230 — 1,230 Services 1,603 521 559 23 — 1,103 — 2,706 Total revenues - external customers 32,508 1,295 579 1,228 — 3,102 — 35,610 Total revenues - intersegment — 1,963 811 7,067 (159 ) 9,682 (9,682 ) — Investment and other income 115 31 — — — 31 — 146 Total revenues $ 32,623 $ 3,289 $ 1,390 $ 8,295 $ (159 ) $ 12,815 $ (9,682 ) $ 35,756 Earnings from operations $ 1,898 $ 234 $ 222 $ 286 $ — $ 742 $ — $ 2,640 Interest expense — — — — — — (150 ) (150 ) Earnings before income taxes $ 1,898 $ 234 $ 222 $ 286 $ — $ 742 $ (150 ) $ 2,490

Basis of Presentation (Policies

Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Basis of presentation [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	1. Basis of Presentation UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (individually and together with its subsidiaries, “UnitedHealth Group” and “the Company”) is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone. Through its diversified family of businesses, the Company leverages core competencies in advanced, enabling technology; health care data, information and intelligence; and clinical care management and coordination to help meet the demands of the health system. The Company offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides pharmacy care services and information and technology-enabled health services. 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” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 as filed with the SEC ( 2015 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 Consolidated Financial Statements include certain amounts based on the Company’s best estimates and judgments. The Company’s most significant estimates relate to estimates and judgments for medical costs payable and revenues, valuation and impairment analysis of goodwill and other intangible assets and valuations of certain investments. 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. The accounting policies disclosed in Note 2 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements” in the 2015 10-K remain unchanged.
Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Reclassification During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company aligned its accounting policy to conform the presentation of certain pharmacy fulfillment costs related to an acquired OptumRx business. These costs are now included in medical costs and cost of products sold, whereas they were previously included in operating costs. Prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The reclassification increased medical expenses by $101 million , decreased operating costs by $115 million and increased cost of products sold by $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The reclassification had no impact on total operating costs, earnings from operations, net earnings, earnings per share or total equity.
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). 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 are required to adopt the new standard using a modified retrospective approach for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption of ASU 2016-02 is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the new leasing guidance. 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). The new guidance changes the current accounting related to (i) the classification and measurement of certain equity investments, (ii) the presentation of changes in the fair value of financial liabilities measured under the fair value option that are due to instrument-specific credit risk, and (iii) certain disclosures associated with the fair value of financial instruments. Most notably, ASU 2016-01 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 new guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the new financial instruments guidance. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (ASU 2014-09) as modified by ASU No. 2015-14, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date,” ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)” and ASU No. 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing.” ASU 2014-09 will supersede existing revenue recognition standards with a single model unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (e.g., an insurance entity’s insurance contracts). The revenue recognition principle in ASU 2014-09 is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, new and enhanced disclosures will be required. Companies may adopt the new standard either using the full retrospective approach, a modified retrospective approach with practical expedients, or a cumulative effect upon adoption approach. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption at the original effective date, interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, will be permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the new revenue recognition guidance. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (ASU 2016-09). ASU 2016-09 modifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment awards, including income tax consequences, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The Company early adopted ASU 2016-09 in the first quarter of 2016. The provisions of ASU 2016-09 related to the timing of when excess tax benefits are recognized, minimum statutory withholding requirements and forfeitures were adopted using a modified retrospective transition method by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of January 1, 2016. The provisions of ASU 2016-09 related to the recognition of excess tax benefits in the income statement and classification in the statement of cash flows were adopted prospectively and the prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted. The adoption of ASU 2016-09 did not materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, equity or cash flows. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes” (ASU 2015-17). ASU 2015-17 requires entities to present deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as noncurrent on the balance sheet. Prior to the issuance of ASU 2015-17, deferred taxes were required to be presented as a net current asset or liability and a net noncurrent asset or liability. The Company adopted ASU 2015-17 on a prospective basis in the first quarter of 2016 and the prior period was not retrospectively adjusted. The adoption of ASU 2015-17 did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, equity or cash flows. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, “Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” (ASU 2015-03). ASU 2015-03 requires debt issuance costs to be presented as a reduction of the carrying amount of the related debt liability. Prior to the issuance of ASU 2015-03, debt issuance costs were required to be presented as an asset in the balance sheet. The Company adopted ASU 2015-03 on a retrospective basis, as required, in the first quarter of 2016. The Company reclassified $129 million in debt issuance costs that were recorded in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015 to long-term debt, less current maturities.

Investments (Tables)

Investments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Short-Term and Long-Term Investments [Table Text Block]	A summary of short-term and long-term investments by major security type is as follows: (in millions) Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Fair Value March 31, 2016 Debt securities - available-for-sale: U.S. government and agency obligations $ 2,318 $ 13 $ (1 ) $ 2,330 State and municipal obligations 6,233 180 (2 ) 6,411 Corporate obligations 8,751 110 (30 ) 8,831 U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 2,488 28 (3 ) 2,513 Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 958 17 (4 ) 971 Total debt securities - available-for-sale 20,748 348 (40 ) 21,056 Equity securities - available-for-sale 1,739 63 (53 ) 1,749 Debt securities - held-to-maturity: U.S. government and agency obligations 175 3 — 178 State and municipal obligations 7 — — 7 Corporate obligations 326 — — 326 Total debt securities - held-to-maturity 508 3 — 511 Total investments $ 22,995 $ 414 $ (93 ) $ 23,316 December 31, 2015 Debt securities - available-for-sale: U.S. government and agency obligations $ 1,982 $ 1 $ (6 ) $ 1,977 State and municipal obligations 6,022 149 (3 ) 6,168 Corporate obligations 7,446 41 (81 ) 7,406 U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 2,127 13 (16 ) 2,124 Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 962 5 (11 ) 956 Total debt securities - available-for-sale 18,539 209 (117 ) 18,631 Equity securities - available-for-sale 1,638 58 (57 ) 1,639 Debt securities - held-to-maturity: U.S. government and agency obligations 163 1 — 164 State and municipal obligations 8 — — 8 Corporate obligations 339 — — 339 Total debt securities - held-to-maturity 510 1 — 511 Total investments $ 20,687 $ 268 $ (174 ) $ 20,781
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 investments with gross unrealized losses by major 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 Fair Value Gross March 31, 2016 Debt securities - available-for-sale: U.S. government and agency obligations $ 507 $ (1 ) $ — $ — $ 507 $ (1 ) State and municipal obligations 488 (2 ) — — 488 (2 ) Corporate obligations 2,107 (22 ) 337 (8 ) 2,444 (30 ) U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities — — 214 (3 ) 214 (3 ) Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 203 (1 ) 145 (3 ) 348 (4 ) Total debt securities - available-for-sale $ 3,305 $ (26 ) $ 696 $ (14 ) $ 4,001 $ (40 ) Equity securities - available-for-sale $ 98 $ (8 ) $ 94 $ (45 ) $ 192 $ (53 ) December 31, 2015 Debt securities - available-for-sale: U.S. government and agency obligations $ 1,473 $ (6 ) $ — $ — $ 1,473 $ (6 ) State and municipal obligations 650 (3 ) — — 650 (3 ) Corporate obligations 4,629 (63 ) 339 (18 ) 4,968 (81 ) U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 1,304 (12 ) 116 (4 ) 1,420 (16 ) Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 593 (7 ) 127 (4 ) 720 (11 ) Total debt securities - available-for-sale $ 8,649 $ (91 ) $ 582 $ (26 ) $ 9,231 $ (117 ) Equity securities - available-for-sale $ 112 $ (11 ) $ 89 $ (46 ) $ 201 $ (57 )
Net Realized Gains, Included in Investment and Other Income [Table Text Block]	Net realized gains reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income were from the following sources: Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions) 2016 2015 Total other than temporary impairments recognized in earnings $ (21 ) $ (1 ) Gross realized losses from sales (31 ) (6 ) Gross realized gains from sales 87 10 Net realized gains (included in investment and other income on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations) 35 3 Income tax effect (included in provision for income taxes on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations) (13 ) (1 ) Realized gains, net of taxes $ 22 $ 2
Available-for-sale Securities [Member]
Investments by Contractual Maturity [Table Text Block]	The amortized cost and fair value of debt securities as of March 31, 2016 , by contractual maturity, were as follows: Available-for-Sale Held-to-Maturity (in millions) Amortized Cost Fair Value Amortized Fair Due in one year or less $ 2,534 $ 2,539 $ 128 $ 128 Due after one year through five years 7,944 8,019 184 186 Due after five years through ten years 4,841 4,968 114 114 Due after ten years 1,983 2,046 82 83 U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 2,488 2,513 — — Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities 958 971 — — Total debt securities $ 20,748 $ 21,056 $ 508 $ 511
Held-to-maturity Securities [Member]
Investments by Contractual Maturity [Table Text Block]

Fair Value (Tables)

Fair Value (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
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]	(in millions) Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Total Fair and Carrying Value March 31, 2016 Cash and cash equivalents $ 10,590 $ 6 $ — $ 10,596 Debt securities - available-for-sale: U.S. government and agency obligations 2,159 171 — 2,330 State and municipal obligations — 6,411 — 6,411 Corporate obligations 8 8,725 98 8,831 U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities — 2,513 — 2,513 Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities — 971 — 971 Total debt securities - available-for-sale 2,167 18,791 98 21,056 Equity securities - available-for-sale 1,344 15 390 1,749 Interest rate swap assets — 245 — 245 Total assets at fair value $ 14,101 $ 19,057 $ 488 $ 33,646 Percentage of total assets at fair value 42 % 57 % 1 % 100 % December 31, 2015 Cash and cash equivalents $ 10,906 $ 17 $ — $ 10,923 Debt securities - available-for-sale: U.S. government and agency obligations 1,779 198 — 1,977 State and municipal obligations — 6,168 — 6,168 Corporate obligations 5 7,308 93 7,406 U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities — 2,124 — 2,124 Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities — 951 5 956 Total debt securities - available-for-sale 1,784 16,749 98 18,631 Equity securities - available-for-sale 1,223 14 402 1,639 Interest rate swap assets — 93 — 93 Total assets at fair value $ 13,913 $ 16,873 $ 500 $ 31,286 Percentage of total assets at fair value 44 % 54 % 2 % 100 % Interest rate swap liabilities $ — $ 11 $ — $ 11
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 March 31, 2016 Debt securities - held-to-maturity: U.S. government and agency obligations $ 178 $ — $ — $ 178 $ 175 State and municipal obligations — — 7 7 7 Corporate obligations 87 11 228 326 326 Total debt securities - held-to-maturity $ 265 $ 11 $ 235 $ 511 $ 508 Other assets $ — $ 477 $ — $ 477 $ 478 Long-term debt and other financing obligations $ — $ 32,605 $ — $ 32,605 $ 30,020 December 31, 2015 Debt securities - held-to-maturity: U.S. government and agency obligations $ 164 $ — $ — $ 164 $ 163 State and municipal obligations — — 8 8 8 Corporate obligations 91 10 238 339 339 Total debt securities - held-to-maturity $ 255 $ 10 $ 246 $ 511 $ 510 Other assets $ — $ 493 $ — $ 493 $ 500 Long-term debt and other financing obligations $ — $ 29,455 $ — $ 29,455 $ 27,978
Reconciliation of Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Using Level 3 Inputs [Table Text Block]	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs is as follows: March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 (in millions) Debt Securities Equity Securities Total Debt Securities Equity Securities Total Balance at beginning of period $ 98 $ 402 $ 500 $ 74 $ 310 $ 384 Purchases 4 12 16 4 4 8 Sales (7 ) (2 ) (9 ) — (1 ) (1 ) Net unrealized gains (losses) in accumulated other comprehensive income 3 (6 ) (3 ) 1 (5 ) (4 ) Net realized (losses) gains in investment and other income — (16 ) (16 ) — 1 1 Balance at end of period $ 98 $ 390 $ 488 $ 79 $ 309 $ 388

Medicare Part D Pharmacy Bene20

Medicare Part D Pharmacy Benefits (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Schedule of Other Current Receivables and Other Policy Liabilities Associated with Medicare Part D Program [Table Text Block]	The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include the following amounts associated with the Medicare Part D program: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 (in millions) Subsidies Drug Discount Risk-Share Subsidies Drug Discount Risk-Share Other current receivables $ 1,356 $ 242 $ — $ 1,703 $ 423 $ — Other policy liabilities — 34 527 — 58 496

Commercial Paper and Long-Ter21

Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt [Table Text Block]	Commercial paper, term loan and senior unsecured long-term debt consisted of the following: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 (in millions, except percentages) Par Value Carrying Value Fair Value Par Value Carrying Fair Value Commercial paper $ 3,702 $ 3,702 $ 3,702 $ 3,987 $ 3,987 $ 3,987 Floating rate term loan due July 2016 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 5.375% notes due March 2016 — — — 601 605 606 1.875% notes due November 2016 400 400 403 400 400 403 5.360% notes due November 2016 95 95 97 95 95 98 Floating rate notes due January 2017 750 749 751 750 749 751 6.000% notes due June 2017 441 455 467 441 458 469 1.450% notes due July 2017 750 749 754 750 749 750 1.400% notes due October 2017 625 624 627 625 624 624 6.000% notes due November 2017 156 162 168 156 162 168 1.400% notes due December 2017 750 751 753 750 751 748 6.000% notes due February 2018 1,100 1,112 1,194 1,100 1,114 1,196 1.900% notes due July 2018 1,500 1,495 1,523 1,500 1,494 1,505 1.700% notes due February 2019 750 747 756 — — — 1.625% notes due March 2019 500 502 504 500 502 494 2.300% notes due December 2019 500 509 508 500 499 502 2.700% notes due July 2020 1,500 1,494 1,558 1,500 1,493 1,516 3.875% notes due October 2020 450 464 487 450 452 476 4.700% notes due February 2021 400 424 452 400 413 438 2.125% notes due March 2021 750 744 757 — — — 3.375% notes due November 2021 500 516 534 500 500 517 2.875% notes due December 2021 750 778 779 750 753 760 2.875% notes due March 2022 1,100 1,097 1,140 1,100 1,059 1,099 3.350% notes due July 2022 1,000 994 1,064 1,000 994 1,023 0.000% notes due November 2022 15 11 12 15 10 11 2.750% notes due February 2023 625 635 636 625 611 613 2.875% notes due March 2023 750 810 770 750 781 742 3.750% notes due July 2025 2,000 1,985 2,155 2,000 1,985 2,062 3.100% notes due March 2026 1,000 994 1,023 — — — 4.625% notes due July 2035 1,000 991 1,116 1,000 991 1,038 5.800% notes due March 2036 850 837 1,081 850 838 1,003 6.500% notes due June 2037 500 491 674 500 492 628 6.625% notes due November 2037 650 640 896 650 641 829 6.875% notes due February 2038 1,100 1,074 1,544 1,100 1,076 1,439 5.700% notes due October 2040 300 295 377 300 296 348 5.950% notes due February 2041 350 345 454 350 345 416 4.625% notes due November 2041 600 588 669 600 588 609 4.375% notes due March 2042 502 483 540 502 483 493 3.950% notes due October 2042 625 606 629 625 606 582 4.250% notes due March 2043 750 733 790 750 734 728 4.750% notes due July 2045 2,000 1,971 2,293 2,000 1,971 2,107 Total commercial paper, term loan and long-term debt $ 33,586 $ 33,552 $ 36,137 $ 31,972 $ 31,801 $ 33,278 (a) In the first quarter of 2016, the Company adopted ASU 2015-03, retrospectively as required. See Note 1 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the adoption of ASU 2015-03.

Segment Financial Information22

Segment Financial Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Financial Information [Table Text Block]	The following table presents the reportable segment financial information: Optum (in millions) UnitedHealthcare OptumHealth OptumInsight OptumRx Optum Eliminations Optum Corporate and Eliminations Consolidated Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Revenues - external customers: Premiums $ 33,963 $ 848 $ — $ — $ — $ 848 $ — $ 34,811 Products — 13 20 6,360 — 6,393 — 6,393 Services 1,796 612 606 126 — 1,344 — 3,140 Total revenues - external customers 35,759 1,473 626 6,486 — 8,585 — 44,344 Total revenues - intersegment — 2,485 1,041 7,785 (254 ) 11,057 (11,057 ) — Investment and other income 141 40 — 2 — 42 — 183 Total revenues $ 35,900 $ 3,998 $ 1,667 $ 14,273 $ (254 ) $ 19,684 $ (11,057 ) $ 44,527 Earnings from operations $ 1,854 $ 300 $ 246 $ 560 $ — $ 1,106 $ — $ 2,960 Interest expense — — — — — — (259 ) (259 ) Earnings before income taxes $ 1,854 $ 300 $ 246 $ 560 $ — $ 1,106 $ (259 ) $ 2,701 Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Revenues - external customers: Premiums $ 30,905 $ 769 $ — $ — $ — $ 769 $ — $ 31,674 Products — 5 20 1,205 — 1,230 — 1,230 Services 1,603 521 559 23 — 1,103 — 2,706 Total revenues - external customers 32,508 1,295 579 1,228 — 3,102 — 35,610 Total revenues - intersegment — 1,963 811 7,067 (159 ) 9,682 (9,682 ) — Investment and other income 115 31 — — — 31 — 146 Total revenues $ 32,623 $ 3,289 $ 1,390 $ 8,295 $ (159 ) $ 12,815 $ (9,682 ) $ 35,756 Earnings from operations $ 1,898 $ 234 $ 222 $ 286 $ — $ 742 $ — $ 2,640 Interest expense — — — — — — (150 ) (150 ) Earnings before income taxes $ 1,898 $ 234 $ 222 $ 286 $ — $ 742 $ (150 ) $ 2,490

Basis of Presentation Basis of

Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation, Uses of Estimates and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Medical Costs [Member]
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment		$ 101
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment		(115)
Cost of Goods, Total [Member]
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment		$ 14
Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Description of Transition Method	Modified Retrospective
Accounting Standards Update 2015-17 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Description of Transition Method	Prospective
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Description of Transition Method	Retrospective
Reclassification from Other Assets to Long-Term Debt, Less Current Maturities [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification	$ 129

Investments (Narrative) (Detail

Investments (Narrative) (Details)	Mar. 31, 2016positions
Investment [Line Items]
Available-for-sale, Securities in Unrealized Loss Positions, Qualitative Disclosure, Number of Positions	5,000
Total number of security positions	26,000

Investments (Short-Term and Lon

Investments (Short-Term and Long-Term Investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	$ 20,748	$ 18,539
Securities, Available for sale Debt Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	348	209
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(40)	(117)
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	21,056	18,631
Available-for-sale Equity Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	1,739	1,638
Securities, Available for sale Equity Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	63	58
Securities, Available for sale Equity Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(53)	(57)
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	1,749	1,639
Held-to-maturity securities, Amortized Cost	508	510
Securities, Held to maturity, Unrecognized Holding Gain	3	1
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Loss	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	511	511
Total investments, Amortized Cost	22,995	20,687
Total investments, Gross Unrealized Gains	414	268
Total investments, Gross Unrealized Losses	(93)	(174)
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	23,316	20,781
Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	21,056	18,631
U.S. Government and Agency Obligations [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	2,318	1,982
Securities, Available for sale Debt Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	13	1
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(1)	(6)
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	2,330	1,977
Held-to-maturity securities, Amortized Cost	175	163
Securities, Held to maturity, Unrecognized Holding Gain	3	1
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Loss	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	178	164
State and Municipal Obligations [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	6,233	6,022
Securities, Available for sale Debt Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	180	149
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(2)	(3)
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	6,411	6,168
Held-to-maturity securities, Amortized Cost	7	8
Securities, Held to maturity, Unrecognized Holding Gain	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Loss	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	7	8
Corporate Obligations [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	8,751	7,446
Securities, Available for sale Debt Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	110	41
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(30)	(81)
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	8,831	7,406
Held-to-maturity securities, Amortized Cost	326	339
Securities, Held to maturity, Unrecognized Holding Gain	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Loss	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	326	339
U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	2,488	2,127
Securities, Available for sale Debt Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	28	13
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(3)	(16)
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	2,513	2,124
Non-U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	958	962
Securities, Available for sale Debt Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	17	5
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(4)	(11)
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	$ 971	$ 956

Investments (Amortized Cost and

Investments (Amortized Cost and Fair Value of Available-for-Sale Debt Securities by Contractual Maturity) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale, Debt Maturities, Due in one year or less, Amortized Cost	$ 2,534
Available-for-sale, Debt Maturities, Due in one year or less, Fair Value	2,539
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, within One Year, Net Carrying Amount	128
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, within one year, Fair Value	128
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Year Two Through Five, Amortized Cost Basis	7,944
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Year Two Through Five, Fair Value	8,019
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, Year Two Through Five, Net Carrying Amount	184
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, Year Two Through Five, Fair Value	186
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Due after five years through ten years, Amortized Cost	4,841
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Due after five years through ten years, Fair Value	4,968
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, due after five years through ten years, Net Carrying Amount	114
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, due after five years through ten years, Fair Value	114
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Due after ten years, Amortized Cost	1,983
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Due after ten years, Fair Value	2,046
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, after ten years, Net Carrying Amount	82
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, after ten years, Fair Value	83
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	20,748	$ 18,539
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	21,056	18,631
Held-to-maturity Securities	508	510
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	511	511
U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Mortgage-backed securities, Amortized Cost	2,488
Mortgage-backed securities, Fair Value	2,513
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	2,488	2,127
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	2,513	2,124
Non-U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Mortgage-backed securities, Amortized Cost	958
Mortgage-backed securities, Fair Value	971
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	958	962
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	$ 971	$ 956

Investments (Fair Value of Avai

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	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Less Than 12 Months, Fair Value	$ 3,305	$ 8,649
Less Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(26)	(91)
Greater Than 12 Months, Fair Value	696	582
Greater Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(14)	(26)
Total, Fair Value	4,001	9,231
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(40)	(117)
U.S. Government and Agency Obligations [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Less Than 12 Months, Fair Value	507	1,473
Less Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(1)	(6)
Total, Fair Value	507	1,473
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(1)	(6)
State and Municipal Obligations [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Less Than 12 Months, Fair Value	488	650
Less Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(2)	(3)
Total, Fair Value	488	650
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(2)	(3)
Corporate Obligations [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Less Than 12 Months, Fair Value	2,107	4,629
Less Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(22)	(63)
Greater Than 12 Months, Fair Value	337	339
Greater Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(8)	(18)
Total, Fair Value	2,444	4,968
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(30)	(81)
U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Less Than 12 Months, Fair Value		1,304
Less Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses		(12)
Greater Than 12 Months, Fair Value	214	116
Greater Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(3)	(4)
Total, Fair Value	214	1,420
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(3)	(16)
Non-U.S. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Less Than 12 Months, Fair Value	203	593
Less Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(1)	(7)
Greater Than 12 Months, Fair Value	145	127
Greater Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(3)	(4)
Total, Fair Value	348	720
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(4)	(11)
Equity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Less Than 12 Months, Fair Value	98	112
Less Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(8)	(11)
Greater Than 12 Months, Fair Value	94	89
Greater Than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses	(45)	(46)
Total, Fair Value	192	201
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	$ (53)	$ (57)

Investments (Net Realized Gains

Investments (Net Realized Gains) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Income tax effect (included in Provision for Income Taxes on the Consolidated Statements of Operations)	$ (1,074)	$ (1,077)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Total other than temporary impairment (OTTI) recognized in earnings	(21)	(1)
Gross realized losses from sales	(31)	(6)
Gross realized gains from sales	87	10
Net realized gains (included in investment and other income on the Consolidated Statements of Operations)	35	3
Income tax effect (included in Provision for Income Taxes on the Consolidated Statements of Operations)	(13)	(1)
Realized gains, net of taxes	$ 22	$ 2

Fair Value (Narrative) (Details

Fair Value (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
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

Fair Value (Financial Assets an

Fair Value (Financial Assets and Liabilities, Excluding AARP, Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 10,596	$ 10,923
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	21,056	18,631
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	1,749	1,639
Interest rate swap assets	245	93
Total assets at fair value	$ 33,646	$ 31,286
Percentage of total assets at fair value	100.00%	100.00%
Interest rate swap liabilities		$ 11
Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	$ 21,056	18,631
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	2,330	1,977
State and Municipal Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	6,411	6,168
Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	8,831	7,406
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	2,513	2,124
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	971	956
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	10,590	10,906
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	1,344	1,223
Interest rate swap assets	0	0
Total assets at fair value	$ 14,101	$ 13,913
Percentage of total assets at fair value	42.00%	44.00%
Interest rate swap liabilities		$ 0
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	$ 2,167	1,784
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	2,159	1,779
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	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]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	8	5
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	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]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	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	6	17
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	15	14
Interest rate swap assets	245	93
Total assets at fair value	$ 19,057	$ 16,873
Percentage of total assets at fair value	57.00%	54.00%
Interest rate swap liabilities		$ 11
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	$ 18,791	16,749
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	171	198
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	6,411	6,168
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	8,725	7,308
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	2,513	2,124
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	971	951
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	390	402
Interest rate swap assets	0	0
Total assets at fair value	$ 488	$ 500
Percentage of total assets at fair value	1.00%	2.00%
Interest rate swap liabilities		$ 0
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	$ 98	98
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]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	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]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	0	0
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	98	93
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]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	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]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	$ 0	$ 5

Fair Value (Financial Assets 31

Fair Value (Financial Assets and Liabilities, Excluding AARP, Not Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities - held-to-maturity	$ 508	$ 510
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	511	511
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	36,137	33,278
Carrying Value	33,552	31,801	[1]
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	511	511
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]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	265	255
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	11	10
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	235	246
U.S. Government and Agency Obligations [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	178	164
U.S. Government and Agency Obligations [Member] | 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]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	178	164
U.S. Government and Agency Obligations [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	0	0
U.S. Government and Agency Obligations [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	0	0
State and Municipal Obligations [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	7	8
State and Municipal Obligations [Member] | 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]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	0	0
State and Municipal Obligations [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	0	0
State and Municipal Obligations [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	7	8
Corporate Obligations [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	326	339
Corporate Obligations [Member] | 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]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	87	91
Corporate Obligations [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	11	10
Corporate Obligations [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	228	238
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 Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	32,605	29,455
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 Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	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 Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	32,605	29,455
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 Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Other Assets [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	477	493
Other Assets [Member] | 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]
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Other Assets [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	477	493
Other Assets [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities - held-to-maturity	508	510
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | U.S. Government and Agency Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities - held-to-maturity	175	163
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | State and Municipal Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities - held-to-maturity	7	8
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities - held-to-maturity	326	339
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Long-term debt and other financing obligations
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Carrying Value	30,020	27,978
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 478	$ 500
[1]	(a)In the first quarter of 2016, the Company adopted ASU 2015-03, retrospectively as required. See Note 1 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the adoption of ASU 2015-03.

Fair Value (Reconciliation of A

Fair Value (Reconciliation of Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Using Level 3 Inputs) (Details) - Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 500	$ 384
Purchases	16	8
Sales	(9)	(1)
Net unrealized gains (losses) in accumulated other comprehensive income	(3)	(4)
Net realized (losses) gains in investment and other income	(16)	1
Balance at end of period	488	388
Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	98	74
Purchases	4	4
Sales	(7)	0
Net unrealized gains (losses) in accumulated other comprehensive income	3	1
Net realized (losses) gains in investment and other income	0	0
Balance at end of period	98	79
Equity Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	402	310
Purchases	12	4
Sales	(2)	(1)
Net unrealized gains (losses) in accumulated other comprehensive income	(6)	(5)
Net realized (losses) gains in investment and other income	(16)	1
Balance at end of period	$ 390	$ 309

Medicare Part D Pharmacy Bene33

Medicare Part D Pharmacy Benefits Schedule of Receivables and Payables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Other current receivables	$ 6,865	$ 6,801
Other policy liabilities	8,317	7,798
CMS Subsidies [Member]
Other current receivables	1,356	1,703
Other policy liabilities	0	0
Drug Discount [Member]
Other current receivables	242	423
Other policy liabilities	34	58
Risk-Share [Member]
Other current receivables	0	0
Other policy liabilities	$ 527	$ 496

Other Current Receivables (Deta

Other Current Receivables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Other current receivables	$ 6,865	$ 6,801
PharmaceuticalManufacturerRebatesReceivable [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Other current receivables	$ 2,800	$ 2,600

Medical Costs Reserve Develop35

Medical Costs Reserve Development (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Line Items]
Related to Prior Years	$ (360)	$ (140)

Commercial Paper and Long-Ter36

Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)banks	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Commercial Paper [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	0.70%
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
Number Of Years Of Revolving Bank Credit	5 years
Number of banks that comprise revolving bank credit facility (banks)	23
Maximum percentage of indebtedness to total net capital bank covenant	55.00%
Five Year $3.0 Billion Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period	1.20%
Five Year $3.0 Billion Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period	1.70%
Three Year 2.0 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	$ 2,000
Number Of Years Of Revolving Bank Credit	3
Number of banks that comprise revolving bank credit facility (banks)	23
Maximum percentage of indebtedness to total net capital bank covenant	55.00%
Three Year 2.0 Billion Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period	1.20%
Three Year 2.0 Billion Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period	1.70%
364 Day $1.0 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	$ 1,000
Credit Facility, Number of Days	364 days
Number of banks that comprise revolving bank credit facility (banks) | banks	23
Maximum percentage of indebtedness to total net capital bank covenant	55.00%
364 Day $1.0 Billion Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period	1.20%
364 Day $1.0 Billion Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period	1.70%
Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other Long-term Debt	$ 170	$ 164
Other Long-term Debt, Current	$ 58	$ 47

Commercial Paper and Long-Ter37

Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par Value	$ 33,586	$ 31,972
Carrying Value	33,552	31,801	[1]
Fair Value	36,137	33,278
Commercial Paper [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par Value	3,702	3,987
Commercial Paper	3,702	3,987	[1]
Fair Value	3,702	3,987
Floating rate Term Loan Due July 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par Value	1,500	1,500
Commercial Paper	1,500	1,500	[1]
Fair Value	$ 1,500	1,500
5.375% notes due March 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.375%
Par Value	$ 0	601
Carrying Value	0	605	[1]
Fair Value	$ 0	606
1.875% notes due November 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	1.875%
Par Value	$ 400	400
Carrying Value	400	400	[1]
Fair Value	$ 403	403
5.360% notes due November 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.36%
Par Value	$ 95	95
Carrying Value	95	95	[1]
Fair Value	97	98
Floating rate notes due January 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par Value	750	750
Carrying Value	749	749	[1]
Fair Value	$ 751	751
6.000% notes due June 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	6.00%
Par Value	$ 441	441
Carrying Value	455	458	[1]
Fair Value	$ 467	469
1.450% notes due July 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	1.45%
Par Value	$ 750	750
Carrying Value	749	749	[1]
Fair Value	$ 754	750
1.400% notes due October 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	1.40%
Par Value	$ 625	625
Carrying Value	624	624	[1]
Fair Value	$ 627	624
6.000% notes due November 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	6.00%
Par Value	$ 156	156
Carrying Value	162	162	[1]
Fair Value	$ 168	168
1.400% notes due December 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	1.40%
Par Value	$ 750	750
Carrying Value	751	751	[1]
Fair Value	$ 753	748
6.000% notes due February 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	6.00%
Par Value	$ 1,100	1,100
Carrying Value	1,112	1,114	[1]
Fair Value	$ 1,194	1,196
1.900% notes due July 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	1.90%
Par Value	$ 1,500	1,500
Carrying Value	1,495	1,494	[1]
Fair Value	$ 1,523	1,505
1.700% Notes due February 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	1.70%
Par Value	$ 750	0
Carrying Value	747	0	[1]
Fair Value	$ 756	0
1.625% notes due March 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	1.625%
Par Value	$ 500	500
Carrying Value	502	502	[1]
Fair Value	$ 504	494
2.300% notes due December 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.30%
Par Value	$ 500	500
Carrying Value	509	499	[1]
Fair Value	$ 508	502
2.700% notes due July 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.70%
Par Value	$ 1,500	1,500
Carrying Value	1,494	1,493	[1]
Fair Value	$ 1,558	1,516
3.875% notes due October 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.875%
Par Value	$ 450	450
Carrying Value	464	452	[1]
Fair Value	$ 487	476
4.700% notes due February 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.70%
Par Value	$ 400	400
Carrying Value	424	413	[1]
Fair Value	$ 452	438
2.125% notes due March 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.125%
Par Value	$ 750	0
Carrying Value	744	0	[1]
Fair Value	$ 757	0
3.375% notes due November 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.375%
Par Value	$ 500	500
Carrying Value	516	500	[1]
Fair Value	$ 534	517
2.875% notes due December 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.875%
Par Value	$ 750	750
Carrying Value	778	753	[1]
Fair Value	$ 779	760
2.875% notes due March 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.875%
Par Value	$ 1,100	1,100
Carrying Value	1,097	1,059	[1]
Fair Value	$ 1,140	1,099
3.350% notes due July 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.35%
Par Value	$ 1,000	1,000
Carrying Value	994	994	[1]
Fair Value	$ 1,064	1,023
0.000% notes due November 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	0.00%
Par Value	$ 15	15
Carrying Value	11	10	[1]
Fair Value	$ 12	11
2.750% notes due February 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.75%
Par Value	$ 625	625
Carrying Value	635	611	[1]
Fair Value	$ 636	613
2.875% notes due March 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.875%
Par Value	$ 750	750
Carrying Value	810	781	[1]
Fair Value	$ 770	742
3.750% notes due July 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.75%
Par Value	$ 2,000	2,000
Carrying Value	1,985	1,985	[1]
Fair Value	$ 2,155	2,062
3.100% notes due March 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.10%
Par Value	$ 1,000	0
Carrying Value	994	0	[1]
Fair Value	$ 1,023	0
4.625% notes due July 2035 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.625%
Par Value	$ 1,000	1,000
Carrying Value	991	991	[1]
Fair Value	$ 1,116	1,038
5.800% notes due March 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.80%
Par Value	$ 850	850
Carrying Value	837	838	[1]
Fair Value	$ 1,081	1,003
6.500% notes due June 2037 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	6.50%
Par Value	$ 500	500
Carrying Value	491	492	[1]
Fair Value	$ 674	628
6.625% notes due November 2037 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	6.625%
Par Value	$ 650	650
Carrying Value	640	641	[1]
Fair Value	$ 896	829
6.875% notes due February 2038 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	6.875%
Par Value	$ 1,100	1,100
Carrying Value	1,074	1,076	[1]
Fair Value	$ 1,544	1,439
5.700% notes due October 2040 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.70%
Par Value	$ 300	300
Carrying Value	295	296	[1]
Fair Value	$ 377	348
5.950% notes due February 2041 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.95%
Par Value	$ 350	350
Carrying Value	345	345	[1]
Fair Value	$ 454	416
4.625% notes due November 2041 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.625%
Par Value	$ 600	600
Carrying Value	588	588	[1]
Fair Value	$ 669	609
4.375% notes due March 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.375%
Par Value	$ 502	502
Carrying Value	483	483	[1]
Fair Value	$ 540	493
3.950% notes due October 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.95%
Par Value	$ 625	625
Carrying Value	606	606	[1]
Fair Value	$ 629	582
4.250% notes due March 2043 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.25%
Par Value	$ 750	750
Carrying Value	733	734	[1]
Fair Value	$ 790	728
4.750% notes due July 2045 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.75%
Par Value	$ 2,000	2,000
Carrying Value	1,971	1,971	[1]
Fair Value	$ 2,293	$ 2,107
[1]	(a)In the first quarter of 2016, the Company adopted ASU 2015-03, retrospectively as required. See Note 1 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the adoption of ASU 2015-03.

Commitments and Contingencies38

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - California Claims Processing Matter [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 09, 2014	Jan. 25, 2008	Aug. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2016
Loss Contingency [Line Items]
Estimated Largest Aggregate Penalty Issued By Cdi				$ 8
CDI aggregate penalty		$ 325
California Administrative Law Judge [Member] | Judicial Ruling [Member]
Loss Contingency [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value			$ 11.5
California Insurance Commissioner [Member] | Judicial Ruling [Member]
Loss Contingency [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value	$ 174

Segment Financial Information39

Segment Financial Information (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Statement [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments	4

Segment Financial Information40

Segment Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - external customers	$ 34,811	$ 31,674
Products, revenues - external customers	6,393	1,230
Services, revenues - external customers	3,140	2,706
Investment and other income	183	146
Total revenues	44,527	35,756
Earnings from operations	2,960	2,640
Interest expense	(259)	(150)
Earnings before income taxes	2,701	2,490
Optum [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Investment and other income	42	31
Total revenues	19,684	12,815
Earnings from operations	1,106	742
Interest expense	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	1,106	742
External Customers [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - external customers	34,811	31,674
Products, revenues - external customers	6,393	1,230
Services, revenues - external customers	3,140	2,706
Total revenues	44,344	35,610
External Customers [Member] | Optum [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - external customers	848	769
Products, revenues - external customers	6,393	1,230
Services, revenues - external customers	1,344	1,103
Total revenues	8,585	3,102
Intersegment [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	0	0
Intersegment [Member] | Optum [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	11,057	9,682
Operating Segments [Member] | UnitedHealthcare [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Investment and other income	141	115
Total revenues	35,900	32,623
Earnings from operations	1,854	1,898
Interest expense	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	1,854	1,898
Operating Segments [Member] | Optumhealth [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Investment and other income	40	31
Total revenues	3,998	3,289
Earnings from operations	300	234
Interest expense	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	300	234
Operating Segments [Member] | Optuminsight [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Investment and other income	0	0
Total revenues	1,667	1,390
Earnings from operations	246	222
Interest expense	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	246	222
Operating Segments [Member] | Optumrx [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Investment and other income	2	0
Total revenues	14,273	8,295
Earnings from operations	560	286
Interest expense	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	560	286
Operating Segments [Member] | External Customers [Member] | UnitedHealthcare [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - external customers	33,963	30,905
Products, revenues - external customers	0	0
Services, revenues - external customers	1,796	1,603
Total revenues	35,759	32,508
Operating Segments [Member] | External Customers [Member] | Optumhealth [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - external customers	848	769
Products, revenues - external customers	13	5
Services, revenues - external customers	612	521
Total revenues	1,473	1,295
Operating Segments [Member] | External Customers [Member] | Optuminsight [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - external customers	0	0
Products, revenues - external customers	20	20
Services, revenues - external customers	606	559
Total revenues	626	579
Operating Segments [Member] | External Customers [Member] | Optumrx [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - external customers	0	0
Products, revenues - external customers	6,360	1,205
Services, revenues - external customers	126	23
Total revenues	6,486	1,228
Operating Segments [Member] | Intersegment [Member] | UnitedHealthcare [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Intersegment [Member] | Optumhealth [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	2,485	1,963
Operating Segments [Member] | Intersegment [Member] | Optuminsight [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	1,041	811
Operating Segments [Member] | Intersegment [Member] | Optumrx [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	7,785	7,067
Optum Eliminations [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Investment and other income	0	0
Total revenues	(254)	(159)
Earnings from operations	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	0	0
Optum Eliminations [Member] | External Customers [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - external customers	0	0
Products, revenues - external customers	0	0
Services, revenues - external customers	0	0
Total revenues	0	0
Optum Eliminations [Member] | Intersegment [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	(254)	(159)
Corporate and Eliminations [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Investment and other income	0	0
Total revenues	(11,057)	(9,682)
Earnings from operations	0	0
Interest expense	(259)	(150)
Earnings before income taxes	(259)	(150)
Corporate and Eliminations [Member] | External Customers [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Premiums, revenues - external customers	0	0
Products, revenues - external customers	0	0
Services, revenues - external customers	0	0
Total revenues	0	0
Corporate and Eliminations [Member] | Intersegment [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ (11,057)	$ (9,682)