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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-04-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000905023</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BURKE RICHARD T</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>2007-04-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>52.8885</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2836300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>132248</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects the average per share price of 100,000 shares of common stock of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated sold by the reporting person in multiple transactions on April 20, 2007, with sales prices ranging from $52.50 to $53.21 per share.  Mr. Burke has had no purchase transactions within the last six months.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Dannette L. Smith  For: Richard T. Burke</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-04-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-04-20
0
0000731766
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC
UNH
0000905023
BURKE RICHARD T
C/O UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED
9900 BREN ROAD EAST
MINNETONKA
MN
55343
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2007-04-20
4
S
0
100000
52.8885
D
2836300
D
Common Stock
132248
I
by Spouse
Reflects the average per share price of 100,000 shares of common stock of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated sold by the reporting person in multiple transactions on April 20, 2007, with sales prices ranging from $52.50 to $53.21 per share.  Mr. Burke has had no purchase transactions within the last six months.
By: Dannette L. Smith  For: Richard T. Burke
2007-04-24