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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-06-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001407932</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sweere Lori</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, Human Capital</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-06-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1927</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.34</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>65921</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2880</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Since the date of the reporting person's last ownership report, she transferred 663 shares of restricted stock and stock settled stock appreciation rights that convert into 8,944 shares of common stock to her ex-husband pursuant to a domestic relations order.  These awards were initially granted on July 30, 2007, as reported in the reporting person's Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 3, filed on August 2, 2007.  The reporting person no longer reports as beneficially owned any securities owned by her ex-husband.  Amount does include dividend shares acquired under UnitedHealth Group Incorporated's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Christopher J. Walsh, Attorney-in-Fact  For: Lori K. Sweere</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2010-06-05
0
0000731766
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC
UNH
0001407932
Sweere Lori
C/O UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED
9900 BREN ROAD EAST
MINNETONKA
MN
55343
0
1
0
0
EVP, Human Capital
Common Stock
2010-06-05
4
F
0
1927
30.34
D
65921
D
Common Stock
2880
I
by Trust
Since the date of the reporting person's last ownership report, she transferred 663 shares of restricted stock and stock settled stock appreciation rights that convert into 8,944 shares of common stock to her ex-husband pursuant to a domestic relations order.  These awards were initially granted on July 30, 2007, as reported in the reporting person's Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 3, filed on August 2, 2007.  The reporting person no longer reports as beneficially owned any securities owned by her ex-husband.  Amount does include dividend shares acquired under UnitedHealth Group Incorporated's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
By: Christopher J. Walsh, Attorney-in-Fact  For: Lori K. Sweere
2010-06-08