UnitedHealth (UNH) 10-Q 2004 Q3 Quarterly report

EXHIBIT 32

CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2004 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, William W. McGuire, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

     (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ WILLIAM W. MCGUIRE, M.D.

William W. McGuire, M.D.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

November 8, 2004

In connection with the Quarterly Report of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2004 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Patrick J. Erlandson, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

     (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ PATRICK J. ERLANDSON

Patrick J. Erlandson

Chief Financial Officer

November 8, 2004