EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below hereby constitutes and appoints William W. McGuire, M.D. Stephen J.
Hemsley, and David J. Lubben, and each of them, his or her true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, each actin alone, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign an Annual Report on Form 10-K
of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, and any and all amendments thereto, and
to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or
his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

Dated:  March 30, 2000


                                         
/s/ William C. Ballard, Jr.                 /s/ William W. McGuire, M.D.
- -----------------------------------         -----------------------------------
William C. Ballard Jr.                      William W. McGuire, M.D.

/s/ Richard T. Burke Sr.                    /s/ Walter F. Mondale
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Richard T. Burke Sr.                        Walter F. Mondale

/s/ Stephen J. Hemsley                      /s/ Mary O'Neil Mundinger
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Stephen J. Hemsley                          Mary O'Neil Mundinger

/s/ James A. Johnson                        /s/ Robert L. Ryan
- -----------------------------------         -----------------------------------
James A. Johnson                            Robert L. Ryan

/s/ Thomas H. Kean                          /s/ William G. Spears
- -----------------------------------         -----------------------------------
Thomas H. Kean                              William G. Spears

/s/ Douglas W. Leatherdale                  /s/ Gail R. Wilensky
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Douglas W. Leatherdale                      Gail R. Wilensky