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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

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            <rptOwnerCik>0001140422</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHALALA DONNA E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
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            <rptOwnerStreet2>9900 BREN ROAD EAST</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNETONKA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55343</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
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            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                    <value>2300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>89.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.9</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-05-29</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-05-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>36000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: David J. Lubben  For: Donna E. Shalala</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-02-07
0
0000731766
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC
UNH
0001140422
SHALALA DONNA E
C/O UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED
9900 BREN ROAD EAST
MINNETONKA
MN
55343
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2005-02-07
4
M
0
36000
26.9
A
36000
D
Common Stock
2005-02-07
4
M
0
5000
46.175
A
41000
D
Common Stock
2005-02-07
4
M
0
5000
44.235
A
46000
D
Common Stock
2005-02-07
4
M
0
5000
42.855
A
51000
D
Common Stock
2005-02-07
4
M
0
5000
45.64
A
56000
D
Common Stock
2005-02-07
4
M
0
5000
50.31
A
61000
D
Common Stock
2005-02-07
4
S
0
58700
89.05
D
2300
D
Common Stock
2005-02-07
4
S
0
2300
89.39
D
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
26.9
2005-02-07
4
M
0
36000
0
D
2002-05-29
2011-05-29
Common Stock
36000
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
42.855
2005-02-07
4
M
0
5000
0
D
2003-01-02
2013-01-02
Common Stock
5000
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
44.235
2005-02-07
4
M
0
5000
0
D
2002-10-01
2012-10-01
Common Stock
5000
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
45.64
2005-02-07
4
M
0
5000
0
D
2003-04-01
2013-04-01
Common Stock
5000
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
46.175
2005-02-07
4
M
0
5000
0
D
2002-07-01
2012-07-01
Common Stock
5000
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
50.31
2005-02-07
4
M
0
5000
0
D
2003-07-01
2013-07-01
Common Stock
5000
0
D
By: David J. Lubben  For: Donna E. Shalala
2005-02-07