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Basis of Presentation (Policies) | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2026
Basis of presentation [Abstract] |
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] | 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, including variable interest entities. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. 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 and Supplementary Data” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 as filed with the SEC (2025 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] | These Condensed 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 goodwill. 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.
Revenue [Policy Text Block] | As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, accounts receivable related to products and services were $9.3 billion and $9.7 billion, respectively. As of March 31, 2026, revenue expected to be recognized in any future year related to remaining performance obligations, excluding revenue pertaining to contracts having an original expected duration of one year or less, contracts where revenue is recognized as invoiced and contracts with variable consideration related to undelivered performance obligations, was $11.0 billion, of which approximately half is expected to be recognized in the next three years.
Receivables Financing Facility [Policy Text Block] | Receivables Financing Facility The Company has a $3.3 billion 364-day uncommitted receivables financing facility under which certain receivables may be sold to financial institutions. During the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company sold $585 million of receivables under the receivables financing facility, of which $245 million has been collected from counterparties and not yet remitted to financial institutions. During the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company also remitted $2.0 billion to financial institutions related to receivables sold in 2025. This was comprised of $1.0 billion collected but not remitted in 2025 and an additional $1.0 billion collected in 2026. The loss on discounted receivables was immaterial for the three months ended March 31, 2026.
Net Portfolio Divestitures and Restructuring and Other Actions [Policy Text Block] | Net Portfolio Divestitures and Restructuring and Other Actions Net Portfolio Divestitures In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company took various actions as a result of a strategic review of its assets and businesses aimed at advancing and scaling its core operations, including the value-based care business at Optum Health. In the first quarter of 2026, these actions resulted in a net gain of $230 million, reflecting gains on the sales of businesses previously held for sale as of December 31, 2025, partially offset by incremental losses on other businesses held for sale. By segment, this included gains of $528 million and $8 million at Optum Insight and Optum Rx, respectively, partially offset by a net loss of $306 million at Optum Health. Gains and losses on portfolio actions were recorded within operating costs on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Restructuring and Other Actions In the first quarter of 2026, restructuring and other items included a $400 million contribution to the United Health Foundation funded by the cash gain on the disposition of an Optum Insight business. This was partially offset by a $137 million reduction of loss contract reserves established in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $59 million of net valuation gains on equity securities. Restructuring and other actions resulted in an impact of $339 million at Optum Insight, partially offset by $135 million at Optum Health. These items increased operating costs by $415 million, partially offset by an increase to investment and other income of $74 million and decreased medical costs of $137 million on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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