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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-02-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001235046</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RENFRO LARRY C</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; CEO Publc &amp; Sr Mkts Grp</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30304</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>128124</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>76024</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-02-09</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-02-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>76024</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>76024</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The restricted stock units will vest at a rate of 25% annually on February 9 from the years 2011 through 2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Amount does not include performance-based restricted stock units granted to the executive officer on February 9, 2010, as performance awards not tied to stock price are not derivative securities for purposes of Section 16 under guidance from the staff of the SEC.  The number of performance-based restricted stock units that the executive officer will receive will be determined at the end of the 3-year performance period and will be dependent upon the achievement of cumulative 3-year EPS and average return-on-equity performance metrics approved by the Compensation and Human Resources Committee. The target number of performance-based restricted stock units is 60,607.  Amount does include shares acquired under UnitedHealth Group's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The stock appreciation rights will vest at a rate of 25% annually on February 9 from the years 2011 through 2014.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Christopher J. Walsh, Attorney-in-Fact  For: Larry C Renfro</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
[{"type": "4", "sequence": "1", "filename": "edgardoc.xml", "description": "PRIMARY DOCUMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 6300}]
X0303
4
2010-02-09
0
0000731766
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC
UNH
0001235046
RENFRO LARRY C
C/O UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED
9900 BREN ROAD EAST
MINNETONKA
MN
55343
0
1
0
0
EVP & CEO Publc & Sr Mkts Grp
Common Stock
2010-02-09
4
A
0
30304
0
A
128124
D
Stock Appreciation Rights
33
2010-02-09
4
A
0
76024
0
A
2011-02-09
2020-02-09
Common Stock
76024
76024
D
The restricted stock units will vest at a rate of 25% annually on February 9 from the years 2011 through 2014.
Amount does not include performance-based restricted stock units granted to the executive officer on February 9, 2010, as performance awards not tied to stock price are not derivative securities for purposes of Section 16 under guidance from the staff of the SEC.  The number of performance-based restricted stock units that the executive officer will receive will be determined at the end of the 3-year performance period and will be dependent upon the achievement of cumulative 3-year EPS and average return-on-equity performance metrics approved by the Compensation and Human Resources Committee. The target number of performance-based restricted stock units is 60,607.  Amount does include shares acquired under UnitedHealth Group's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
The stock appreciation rights will vest at a rate of 25% annually on February 9 from the years 2011 through 2014.
By: Christopher J. Walsh, Attorney-in-Fact  For: Larry C Renfro
2010-02-11