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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-11-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

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            <rptOwnerCik>0001024367</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEATHERDALE DOUGLAS W</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>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>906165</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-20</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Dannette L. Smith, Attorney-In-Fact  For: Douglas W. Leatherdale</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-11-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-11-20
0
0000731766
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC
UNH
0001024367
LEATHERDALE DOUGLAS W
C/O UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED
9900 BREN ROAD EAST
MINNETONKA
MN
55343
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2007-11-20
4
S
0
4900
53.73
D
914965
D
Common Stock
2007-11-20
4
S
0
2200
53.74
D
912765
D
Common Stock
2007-11-20
4
S
0
2200
53.75
D
910565
D
Common Stock
2007-11-20
4
S
0
2600
53.76
D
907965
D
Common Stock
2007-11-20
4
S
0
100
53.77
D
907865
D
Common Stock
2007-11-20
4
S
0
1400
53.78
D
906465
D
Common Stock
2007-11-20
4
S
0
300
53.79
D
906165
D
Common Stock
2007-11-20
4
S
0
1600
53.8
D
904565
D
Common Stock
2007-11-20
4
S
0
3000
53.81
D
901565
D
Common Stock
2007-11-20
4
S
0
352
53.83
D
901213
D
Common Stock
2007-11-20
4
S
0
1100
53.84
D
900113
D
Common Stock
2007-11-20
4
S
0
4348
53.85
D
895765
D
Common Stock
2007-11-20
4
S
0
900
53.86
D
894865
D
By: Dannette L. Smith, Attorney-In-Fact  For: Douglas W. Leatherdale
2007-11-21