<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000731766</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UNH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198119</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RENWICK GLENN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9900 BREN ROAD EAST</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNETONKA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55343</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3125</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3125</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>140</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3265</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33.94</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-06-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-06-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents restricted stock units granted to Mr. Renwick in connection with his appointment to the Board of Directors of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated.  The restricted stock units will vest at a rate of 25% annually on June 5 from the years 2009 through 2012, subject to continued service as a director on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares of common stock are being granted as compensation for attendance at the regularly scheduled quarterly meetings of the Board of Directors and committee meeting(s) of the Issuer.  The reporting person previously elected to convert cash meeting attendance fees into common stock pursuant to a previously approved policy.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents a non-qualified stock option granted to Mr. Renwick in connection with his appointment to the Board of Directors of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated.  The option is exercisable at a rate of 25% annually on June 5 from the years 2009 through 2012, subject to continued service as a director on the applicable vesting dates.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Dannette L. Smith, Attorney-In-Fact  For: Glenn M. Renwick</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2008-06-05
0
0000731766
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC
UNH
0001198119
RENWICK GLENN M
C/O UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED
9900 BREN ROAD EAST
MINNETONKA
MN
55343
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2008-06-05
4
A
0
3125
0
A
3125
D
Common Stock
2008-06-05
4
A
0
140
0
A
3265
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
33.94
2008-06-05
4
A
0
12500
0
A
2009-06-05
2018-06-05
Common Stock
12500
12500
D
Represents restricted stock units granted to Mr. Renwick in connection with his appointment to the Board of Directors of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated.  The restricted stock units will vest at a rate of 25% annually on June 5 from the years 2009 through 2012, subject to continued service as a director on the applicable vesting date.
These shares of common stock are being granted as compensation for attendance at the regularly scheduled quarterly meetings of the Board of Directors and committee meeting(s) of the Issuer.  The reporting person previously elected to convert cash meeting attendance fees into common stock pursuant to a previously approved policy.
Represents a non-qualified stock option granted to Mr. Renwick in connection with his appointment to the Board of Directors of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated.  The option is exercisable at a rate of 25% annually on June 5 from the years 2009 through 2012, subject to continued service as a director on the applicable vesting dates.
By: Dannette L. Smith, Attorney-In-Fact  For: Glenn M. Renwick
2008-06-06