Edgar Filing: UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC

UNH 2012.9.30 10Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

__________________________________________________________

Form 10-Q

__________________________________________________________



x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2012



o	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _______ TO _______

Commission file number: 1-10864

__________________________________________________________

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

__________________________________________________________



Minnesota		41-1321939
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

UnitedHealth Group Center 9900 Bren Road East Minnetonka, Minnesota		55343
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(952) 936-1300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

__________________________________________________________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):



Large accelerated filer	x	Accelerated filer	o	Non-accelerated filer	o	Smaller reporting company	o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x

As of October 26, 2012, there were 1,021,492,625 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, issued and outstanding.

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP

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		Page

Part I. Financial Information
Item 1.	Financial Statements	1
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011	1
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011	2
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011	3
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011	4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011	5
	Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	6
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	23
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	34
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	35

Part II. Other Information
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	36
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	36
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	36
Item 6.	Exhibits	37
Signatures		38

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

UnitedHealth Group

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)



(in millions, except per share data)	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	8,916	$	9,429
Short-term investments	3,038		2,577
Accounts receivable, net	2,403		2,294
Other current receivables, net	2,145		2,255
Assets under management	2,737		2,708
Deferred income taxes	414		472
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	678		615
Total current assets	20,331		20,350
Long-term investments	17,227		16,166
Property, equipment and capitalized software, net	2,619		2,515
Goodwill	26,339		23,975
Other intangible assets, net	3,049		2,795
Other assets	2,135		2,088
Total assets	$	71,700	$	67,889
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Medical costs payable	$	10,393	$	9,799
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	6,579		6,853
Other policy liabilities	4,843		5,063
Commercial paper and current maturities of long-term debt	1,852		982
Unearned revenues	1,186		1,225
Total current liabilities	24,853		23,922
Long-term debt, less current maturities	11,146		10,656
Future policy benefits	2,445		2,445
Deferred income taxes and other liabilities	3,033		2,574
Total liabilities	41,477		39,597
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value - 10 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding	—		—
Common stock, $0.01 par value - 3,000 shares authorized; 1,012 and 1,039 issued and outstanding	10		10
Retained earnings	29,638		27,821
Accumulated other comprehensive income	575		461
Total shareholders’ equity	30,223		28,292
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	71,700	$	67,889

See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

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UnitedHealth Group

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions, except per share data)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Revenues:
Premiums	$	24,640		$	22,806		$	73,880		$	68,622
Services	1,824			1,637			5,415			4,891
Products	693			667			2,059			1,921
Investment and other income	145			170			495			512
Total revenues	27,302			25,280			81,849			75,946
Operating costs:
Medical costs	19,471			18,408			59,423			55,711
Operating costs	4,277			3,899			12,453			11,249
Cost of products sold	627			609			1,881			1,762
Depreciation and amortization	317			294			939			834
Total operating costs	24,692			23,210			74,696			69,556
Earnings from operations	2,610			2,070			7,153			6,390
Interest expense	(158		)	(129		)	(459		)	(366		)
Earnings before income taxes	2,452			1,941			6,694			6,024
Provision for income taxes	(895		)	(670		)	(2,412		)	(2,140		)
Net earnings	$	1,557		$	1,271		$	4,282		$	3,884
Basic net earnings per common share	$	1.52		$	1.19		$	4.16		$	3.62
Diluted net earnings per common share	$	1.50		$	1.17		$	4.08		$	3.56
Basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding	1,022			1,065			1,030			1,074
Dilutive effect of common stock equivalents	17			18			19			17
Diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding	1,039			1,083			1,049			1,091
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from the calculation of dilutive effect of common stock equivalents	23			43			19			49
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.2125		$	0.1625		$	0.5875		$	0.4500

See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

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UnitedHealth Group

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(Unaudited)



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)	2012			2011			2012			2011

Net earnings	$	1,557		$	1,271		$	4,282		$	3,884
Other comprehensive income:
Gross unrealized holding gains on investment securities during the period	166			152			277			313
Income tax expense	(54		)	(54		)	(100		)	(113		)
Total unrealized gains, net of tax	112			98			177			200
Gross reclassification adjustment for net realized gains included in net earnings	(20		)	(37		)	(109		)	(106		)
Income tax effect	7			13			40			38
Total reclassification adjustment, net of tax	(13		)	(24		)	(69		)	(68		)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	7			(9		)	6			13
Other comprehensive income	106			65			114			145
Comprehensive income	$	1,663		$	1,336		$	4,396		$	4,029

See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

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UnitedHealth Group

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

(Unaudited)



											Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
					Additional Paid-In Capital			Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)					Total Shareholders' Equity
	Common Stock										Net Unrealized Gains on Investments		Foreign Currency Translation (Losses) Gains
(in millions)	Shares		Amount								Net Unrealized Gains on Investments		Foreign Currency Translation (Losses) Gains
Balance at January 1, 2012	1,039		$	10	$	—		$	27,821		$	476	$	(15	)	$	28,292
Net earnings								4,282								4,282
Other comprehensive income											108		6			114
Issuances of common stock, and related tax effects	21		—		273											273
Share-based compensation, and related tax benefits					459											459
Common stock repurchases	(48	)	—		(732		)	(1,862		)						(2,594		)
Common stock dividends								(603		)						(603		)
Balance at September 30, 2012	1,012		$	10	$	—		$	29,638		$	584	$	(9	)	$	30,223

Balance at January 1, 2011	1,086		$	11	$	—		$	25,562		$	280	$	(28	)	$	25,825
Net earnings								3,884								3,884
Other comprehensive income											132		13			145
Issuances of common stock, and related tax effects	14		—		231											231
Share-based compensation, and related tax benefits					362											362
Common stock repurchases	(46	)	—		(593		)	(1,501		)						(2,094		)
Common stock dividends								(481		)						(481		)
Balance at September 30, 2011	1,054		$	11	$	—		$	27,464		$	412	$	(15	)	$	27,872

See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

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UnitedHealth Group

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)	2012			2011
Operating activities
Net earnings	$	4,282		$	3,884
Noncash items:
Depreciation and amortization	939			834
Deferred income taxes	181			(88		)
Share-based compensation	329			316
Other, net	(154		)	(80		)
Net change in other operating items, net of effects from acquisitions and changes in AARP balances:
Accounts receivable	93			(215		)
Other assets	(101		)	(235		)
Medical costs payable	141			74
Accounts payable and other liabilities	252			254
Other policy liabilities	(316		)	542
Unearned revenues	(173		)	2,097
Cash flows from operating activities	5,473			7,383
Investing activities
Purchases of investments	(7,432		)	(6,984		)
Sales of investments	2,566			2,986
Maturities of investments	3,742			2,974
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash assumed	(2,550		)	(1,478		)
Cash received from dispositions	—			385
Purchases of property, equipment and capitalized software	(786		)	(806		)
Cash flows used for investing activities	(4,460		)	(2,923		)
Financing activities
Common stock repurchases	(2,594		)	(2,094		)
Proceeds from common stock issuances	508			311
Dividends paid	(603		)	(481		)
Proceeds from commercial paper, net	540			820
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,480			747
Repayments of long-term debt	(631		)	(955		)
Interest rate swap termination	—			132
Customer funds administered	309			1,656
Checks outstanding in excess of bank deposits	(287		)	(94		)
Other, net	(248		)	54
Cash flows (used for) from financing activities	(1,526		)	96
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(513		)	4,556
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	9,429			9,123
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	8,916		$	13,679

See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

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UNITEDHEALTH GROUP

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)


1.	Basis of Presentation

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (also referred to as “UnitedHealth Group” and the “Company”) is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making health care work better. We offer a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services.

The Company has prepared the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements according to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and has included the accounts of UnitedHealth Group and its subsidiaries. The Company has eliminated intercompany balances and transactions. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Company has omitted certain footnote disclosures that would substantially duplicate the disclosures contained in its annual audited Consolidated Financial Statements. Therefore, these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read together with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 as filed with the SEC (2011 10-K). The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present the interim financial statements fairly.

Use of Estimates

These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include certain amounts based on the Company’s best estimates and judgments. The Company’s most significant estimates relate to medical costs payable and medical costs, premium rebates and risk-adjustment and risk-sharing provisions related to revenues, valuation and impairment analysis of goodwill and other intangible assets, estimates of other policy liabilities and other current receivables, valuations of investments, income taxes and contingent liabilities. These estimates require the application of complex assumptions and judgments, often because they involve matters that are inherently uncertain and will likely change in subsequent periods. The impact of any changes in estimates is included in earnings in the period in which the estimate is adjusted.

Accounting Policies

Following is an expanded portion of the Company's revenue policy related to premium rebates. All other accounting policies disclosed in Note 2 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2011 10-K remain unchanged.

The Company's fully insured commercial premium revenues are generally subject to the minimum medical loss ratio requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the associated reconciliation measure, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Health Reform Legislation). Premium revenues are recognized based on the estimated premiums earned net of projected rebates because the Company is able to reasonably estimate the ultimate premiums of these contracts. Each period, the Company estimates premium rebates based on the expected financial performance of the applicable contracts within each defined aggregation set (e.g., by state, group size and licensed subsidiary). The most significant factors in estimating the financial performance are current and future premiums and medical claim experience, effective tax rates and expected changes in business mix. The estimated ultimate premium is revised each period to reflect current and projected experience.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs” (ASU 2011-04). This update provides guidance on how fair value measurement should be applied where existing GAAP already requires or permits fair value measurements. In addition, ASU 2011-04 requires expanded disclosures regarding fair value measurements. ASU 2011-04 became effective for the Company's fiscal year 2012. The adoption of the measurement guidance of ASU 2011-04 did not have a material impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The new disclosures have been included with the Company's fair value disclosures in Note 3 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) - Presentation of Comprehensive Income” (ASU 2011-05). ASU 2011-05 requires entities to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements and eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive

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income as a part of the statement of equity. ASU 2011-05 became effective for the Company's fiscal year 2012. The Company presented separate Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, which appear consecutive to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company has determined that there have been no other recently adopted or issued accounting standards that had or will have a material impact on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


2.	Investments

A summary of short-term and long-term investments is as follows:



(in millions)	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
September 30, 2012
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	2,690	$	55	$	—		$	2,745
State and municipal obligations	6,300		435		—			6,735
Corporate obligations	6,422		292		(3		)	6,711
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	2,340		95		—			2,435
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	465		39		—			504
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	18,217		916		(3		)	19,130
Equity securities - available-for-sale	633		12		(2		)	643
Debt securities - held-to-maturity:
U.S. government and agency obligations	169		7		—			176
State and municipal obligations	31		—		—			31
Corporate obligations	292		—		—			292
Total debt securities - held-to-maturity	492		7		—			499
Total investments	$	19,342	$	935	$	(5	)	$	20,272
December 31, 2011
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	2,319	$	54	$	—		$	2,373
State and municipal obligations	6,363		403		(1		)	6,765
Corporate obligations	5,825		205		(23		)	6,007
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	2,279		74		—			2,353
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	476		28		—			504
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	17,262		764		(24		)	18,002
Equity securities - available-for-sale	529		23		(8		)	544
Debt securities - held-to-maturity:
U.S. government and agency obligations	166		7		—			173
State and municipal obligations	13		—		—			13
Corporate obligations	18		—		—			18
Total debt securities - held-to-maturity	197		7		—			204
Total investments	$	17,988	$	794	$	(32	)	$	18,750

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Included in the Company’s investment portfolio were securities collateralized by sub-prime home equity lines of credit with fair values of $2 million at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Also included were Alt-A securities with fair values of $7 million and $9 million at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The fair values of the Company’s mortgage-backed securities by credit rating (when multiple credit ratings are available for an individual security, the average of the available ratings is used) and origination as of September 30, 2012 were as follows:



(in millions)	AAA		AA		Non-Investment Grade		Total Fair Value
2012	$	56	$	—	$	—	$	56
2011	27		—		—		27
2010	—		3		—		3
2007	76		—		3		79
2006	153		—		8		161
Pre - 2006	172		—		6		178
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	2,435		—		—		2,435
Total	$	2,919	$	3	$	17	$	2,939

The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale debt securities as of September 30, 2012, by contractual maturity, were as follows:



(in millions)	Amortized Cost		Fair Value
Due in one year or less	$	3,102	$	3,116
Due after one year through five years	6,110		6,353
Due after five years through ten years	4,534		4,911
Due after ten years	1,666		1,811
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	2,340		2,435
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	465		504
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	$	18,217	$	19,130

The amortized cost and fair value of held-to-maturity debt securities as of September 30, 2012, by contractual maturity, were as follows:



(in millions)	Amortized Cost		Fair Value
Due in one year or less	$	71	$	72
Due after one year through five years	131		133
Due after five years through ten years	180		181
Due after ten years	110		113
Total debt securities - held-to-maturity	$	492	$	499

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The fair value of available-for-sale investments with gross unrealized losses by investment type and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position were as follows:



	Less Than 12 Months					12 Months or Greater					Total
(in millions)	Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses
September 30, 2012
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
Corporate obligations	$	452	$	(2	)	$	33	$	(1	)	$	485	$	(3	)
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	$	452	$	(2	)	$	33	$	(1	)	$	485	$	(3	)
Equity securities - available-for-sale	$	27	$	(1	)	$	5	$	(1	)	$	32	$	(2	)
December 31, 2011
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
State and municipal obligations	$	85	$	(1	)	$	21	$	—		$	106	$	(1	)
Corporate obligations	1,496		(22		)	28		(1		)	1,524		(23		)
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	$	1,581	$	(23	)	$	49	$	(1	)	$	1,630	$	(24	)
Equity securities - available-for-sale	$	24	$	(7	)	$	3	$	(1	)	$	27	$	(8	)

The unrealized losses from all securities as of September 30, 2012 were generated from 700 positions out of a total of 18,000 positions. The Company believes that it will collect the principal and interest due on its investments that have an amortized cost in excess of fair value. The unrealized losses were primarily caused by interest rate increases and not by unfavorable changes in the credit ratings associated with these securities. At each reporting period, the Company evaluates securities for impairment when the fair value of the investment is less than its amortized cost. The Company evaluated the underlying credit quality and credit ratings of the issuers, noting neither a significant deterioration since purchase nor other factors leading to an other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI). As of September 30, 2012, the Company did not have the intent to sell any of the securities in an unrealized loss position.

As of September 30, 2012, the Company’s holdings of non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities included $6 million of commercial mortgage loans in default. These loans represented less than 1% of the Company’s total mortgage-backed security holdings as of September 30, 2012.

A portion of the Company’s investments in equity securities and venture capital funds consists of investments held in various public and nonpublic companies concentrated in the areas of health care services and related information technologies. Market conditions that affect the value of health care and related technology stocks will likewise impact the value of the Company’s equity portfolio. The equity securities and venture capital funds were evaluated for severity and duration of unrealized loss, overall market volatility and other market factors.

Net realized gains included in Investment and Other Income on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations were from the following sources:



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Total OTTI	$	—		$	(4	)	$	(4	)	$	(10	)
Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income	—			—			—			—
Net OTTI recognized in earnings	—			(4		)	(4		)	(10		)
Gross realized losses from sales	(2		)	(5		)	(5		)	(9		)
Gross realized gains from sales	22			46			118			125
Net realized gains	$	20		$	37		$	109		$	106


3.	Fair Value

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements or have fair values disclosed in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. These assets and liabilities are classified into one of three levels of a hierarchy defined by GAAP. In instances in which the inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular item to

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the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, including the consideration of inputs specific to the asset or liability.

The fair value hierarchy is summarized as follows:

Level 1 — Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets/liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 — Other observable inputs, either directly or indirectly, including:


•	Quoted prices for similar assets/liabilities in active markets;


•	Quoted prices for identical or similar assets/liabilities in non-active markets (e.g., few transactions, limited information, non-current prices, high variability over time);


•	Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset/liability (e.g., interest rates, yield curves, implied volatilities, credit spreads); and


•	Inputs that are corroborated by other observable market data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by observable market data.

Transfers between levels, if any, are recorded as of the beginning of the reporting period in which the transfer occurs; there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 of any financial assets or liabilities during 2012 or 2011.

Non-financial assets and liabilities or financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances, such as when the Company records an impairment. There were no significant fair value adjustments for these assets and liabilities recorded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value and determine the fair value hierarchy classification of each class of financial instrument included in the tables below:

Cash and Cash Equivalents. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value as maturities are less than three months. Fair values of cash equivalent instruments that do not trade on a regular basis in active markets are classified as Level 2.

Debt and Equity Securities. Fair values of debt and equity securities are based on quoted market prices, where available. The Company obtains one price for each security primarily from a third-party pricing service (pricing service), which generally uses quoted or other observable inputs for the determination of fair value. The pricing service normally derives the security prices through recently reported trades for identical or similar securities, and, if necessary, makes adjustments through the reporting date based upon available observable market information. For securities not actively traded, the pricing service may use quoted market prices of comparable instruments or discounted cash flow analyses, incorporating inputs that are currently observable in the markets for similar securities. Inputs that are often used in the valuation methodologies include, but are not limited to, benchmark yields, credit spreads, default rates, prepayment speeds and non-binding broker quotes. As the Company is responsible for the determination of fair value, it performs quarterly analyses on the prices received from the pricing service to determine whether the prices are reasonable estimates of fair value. Specifically, the Company compares the prices received from the pricing service to a secondary pricing source, prices reported by its custodian, its investment consultant and third-party investment advisors. Additionally, the Company compares changes in the reported market values and returns to relevant market indices to test the reasonableness of the reported prices. The Company’s internal price verification procedures and reviews of fair value methodology documentation provided by independent pricing services have not historically resulted in adjustment in the prices obtained from the pricing service.

Fair values of debt securities that do not trade on a regular basis in active markets but are priced using other observable inputs are classified as Level 2.

Fair value estimates for Level 1 and Level 2 equity securities are based on quoted market prices for actively traded equity securities and/or other market data for the same or comparable instruments and transactions in establishing the prices.

The Company's Level 3 equity securities are primarily investments in venture capital securities. The fair values of Level 3 investments in venture capital portfolios are estimated using a market valuation technique that relies heavily on management assumptions and qualitative observations. Under the market approach, the fair values of the Company's various venture capital investments are computed using limited quantitative and qualitative observations of activity for similar companies in the current market. The Company's market modeling utilizes, as applicable, transactions for comparable companies in similar industries and having similar revenue and growth characteristics; and similar preferences in their capital structure. Key significant unobservable inputs in the market technique include implied earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) multiples and revenue multiples. Additionally, the fair value of certain of the Company's venture capital securities are based off of recent transactions in inactive markets for identical or similar securities. Significant changes in any of these inputs could result in significantly lower or higher fair value measurements.

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Throughout the procedures discussed above in relation to the Company's processes for validating third party pricing information, the Company validates the understanding of assumptions and inputs used in security pricing and determines the proper classification in the hierarchy based on that understanding.

AARP Program-related Investments. AARP Program-related investments consist of debt and equity securities held to fund costs associated with the AARP Program and are priced and classified using the same methodologies as the Company’s other securities.

Interest Rate Swaps. Fair values of the Company’s interest rate swaps are estimated using the terms of the swaps and publicly available market yield curves. Because the swaps are unique and not actively traded but are valued using other observable inputs, the fair values are classified as Level 2.

Senior Unsecured Notes. The fair values of the senior unsecured notes are estimated and classified using the same methodologies as the Company's investments in debt securities.

AARP Program-related Other Liabilities. AARP Program-related other liabilities consist of liabilities that represent the amount of net investment gains and losses related to AARP Program-related investments that accrue to the benefit of the AARP policyholders.

The following table presents a summary of fair value measurements by level and carrying values for items measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets excluding AARP related assets and liabilities, which are presented in a separate table below:



(in millions)	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)			Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total Fair Value			Total Carrying Value
September 30, 2012
Cash and cash equivalents	$	8,002		$	914		$	—		$	8,916		$	8,916
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	1,923			822			—			2,745			2,745
State and municipal obligations	—			6,735			—			6,735			6,735
Corporate obligations	3			6,708			—			6,711			6,711
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			2,435			—			2,435			2,435
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			498			6			504			504
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	1,926			17,198			6			19,130			19,130
Equity securities - available-for-sale	423			2			218			643			643
Interest rate swap assets	—			17			—			17			17
Total assets at fair value	$	10,351		$	18,131		$	224		$	28,706		N/A
Percentage of total assets at fair value	36		%	63		%	1		%	100		%	N/A
December 31, 2011
Cash and cash equivalents	$	8,569		$	860		$	—		$	9,429		$	9,429
Debt securities - available-for-sale:
U.S. government and agency obligations	1,551			822			—			2,373			2,373
State and municipal obligations	—			6,750			15			6,765			6,765
Corporate obligations	16			5,805			186			6,007			6,007
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			2,353			—			2,353			2,353
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—			497			7			504			504
Total debt securities - available-for-sale	1,567			16,227			208			18,002			18,002
Equity securities - available-for-sale	333			2			209			544			544
Total assets at fair value	$	10,469		$	17,089		$	417		$	27,975		N/A
Percentage of total assets at fair value	37		%	61		%	2		%	100		%	N/A

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The following table presents a summary of fair value measurements by level and carrying values for certain financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:



(in millions)	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value		Total Carrying Value
September 30, 2012
Debt securities - held-to-maturity:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	176	$	—	$	—	$	176	$	169
State and municipal obligations	—		—		31		31		31
Corporate obligations	9		13		270		292		292
Total debt securities - held-to-maturity	$	185	$	13	$	301	$	499	$	492
Senior unsecured notes	$	—	$	14,372	$	—	$	14,372	$	12,458
December 31, 2011
Debt securities - held-to-maturity:
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	173	$	—	$	—	$	173	$	166
State and municipal obligations	—		1		12		13		13
Corporate obligations	9		9		—		18		18
Total debt securities - held-to-maturity	$	182	$	10	$	12	$	204	$	197
Senior unsecured notes	$	—	$	13,149	$	—	$	13,149	$	11,638

The carrying amounts reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for accounts and other current receivables, unearned revenues, commercial paper, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value because of their short-term nature. These assets and liabilities are not listed in the table above.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs is as follows:



	Three Months Ended									Nine Months Ended
(in millions)	Debt Securities			Equity Securities			Total			Debt Securities			Equity Securities			Total
September 30, 2012
Balance at beginning of period	$	7		$	228		$	235		$	208		$	209		$	417
Purchases	—			2			2			—			53			53
Sales	—			(11		)	(11		)	—			(20		)	(20		)
Settlements	(1		)	—			(1		)	(1		)	—			(1		)
Net unrealized losses in accumulated other comprehensive income	—			(9		)	(9		)	—			(12		)	(12		)
Net realized gains in investment and other income	—			8			8			—			9			9
Transfers to held-to-maturity	—			—			—			(201		)	(21		)	(222		)
Balance at end of period	$	6		$	218		$	224		$	6		$	218		$	224

September 30, 2011
Balance at beginning of period	$	140		$	222		$	362		$	141		$	208		$	349
Purchases	6			—			6			15			31			46
Sales	—			(2		)	(2		)	—			(16		)	(16		)
Settlements	(7		)	(6		)	(13		)	(17		)	(6		)	(23		)
Net unrealized losses in accumulated other comprehensive income	—			—			—			—			(3		)	(3		)
Net realized losses in investment and other income	—			(5		)	(5		)	—			(5		)	(5		)
Balance at end of period	$	139		$	209		$	348		$	139		$	209		$	348

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The following table presents quantitative information regarding unobservable inputs that were significant to the valuation of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs:

Range

(in millions)

Fair Value

Valuation Technique

Unobservable Input

Low

High

September 30, 2012

Equity securities - available-for-sale

Venture capital portfolios

194

Market approach - comparable companies

Revenue multiple

1.0

10.0

EBITDAmultiple

8.0

10.0

Market approach - recent transactions

Inactive market transactions

N/A

Total equity securities

available-for-sale

218

Also included in the Company's assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs were $6 million of available-for-sale debt securities at September 30, 2012, which were not significant.

The Company provides health insurance products and services to members of AARP under a Supplemental Health Insurance Program (the AARP Program). The Company elected to measure the entirety of the AARP Assets Under Management at fair value pursuant to the fair value option. See Note 2 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s 2011 10-K for further detail on AARP. The following table presents fair value information about the AARP Program-related financial assets and liabilities:



(in millions)	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value
September 30, 2012
Cash and cash equivalents	$	161	$	—	$	—	$	161
Debt securities:
U.S. government and agency obligations	545		249		—		794
State and municipal obligations	—		49		—		49
Corporate obligations	—		1,130		—		1,130
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—		450		—		450
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—		150		—		150
Total debt securities	545		2,028		—		2,573
Equity securities - available-for-sale	—		3		—		3
Total assets at fair value	$	706	$	2,031	$	—	$	2,737
Other liabilities	$	26	$	68	$	—	$	94
Total liabilities at fair value	$	26	$	68	$	—	$	94
December 31, 2011
Cash and cash equivalents	$	257	$	10	$	—	$	267
Debt securities:
U.S. government and agency obligations	566		214		—		780
State and municipal obligations	—		25		—		25
Corporate obligations	—		1,048		—		1,048
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—		436		—		436
Non-U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—		150		—		150
Total debt securities	566		1,873		—		2,439
Equity securities - available-for-sale	—		2		—		2
Total assets at fair value	$	823	$	1,885	$	—	$	2,708
Other liabilities	$	27	$	49	$	—	$	76
Total liabilities at fair value	$	27	$	49	$	—	$	76

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4.	Medicare Part D Pharmacy Benefits

The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include the following amounts associated with the Medicare Part D program:



	September 30, 2012						December 31, 2011
(in millions)	Subsidies		Drug Discounts		Risk-Share		Subsidies		Drug Discounts		Risk-Share
Other current receivables	$	—	$	371	$	—	$	—	$	509	$	—
Other policy liabilities	85		487		259		70		649		170

The Catastrophic Reinsurance and Low-Income Member Cost Sharing Subsidies (Subsidies) and drug discounts represent cost reimbursements under the Medicare Part D program. The Company is fully reimbursed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for costs incurred for these contract elements and, accordingly, there is no insurance risk to the Company. Amounts received for these contract elements are not reflected as premium revenues, but rather are accounted for as a reduction of receivables and/or increase in deposit liabilities. CMS provides prospective payments, which the Company records as liabilities when received. The drug discounts are ultimately funded by the pharmaceutical manufacturers. The Company bills them for claims under the program and records those bills as receivables. Related cash flows are presented as customer funds administered within financing activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Premiums from CMS are subject to risk-sharing provisions based on a comparison of the Company’s annual bid estimates of prescription drug costs and the actual costs incurred. Variances may result in CMS making additional payments to the Company or require the Company to remit funds to CMS subsequent to the end of the year. The Company records risk-share adjustments to premium revenue and other current receivables or other policy liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.


5.	Medical Costs and Medical Costs Payable

The following table provides details of the Company's favorable medical reserve development:



	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Related to Prior Years	$	170	$	90	$	790	$	650
Related to Current Year	220		110		N/A		N/A

The favorable development for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011 was driven by lower than expected health system utilization levels and increased efficiency in claims handling and processing.

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6.	Commercial Paper and Long-Term Debt

Commercial paper and long-term debt consisted of the following:



	September 30, 2012						December 31, 2011
(in millions)	Par Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value		Par Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Commercial Paper	$	540	$	540	$	540	$	—	$	—	$	—
5.500% senior unsecured notes due November 2012	352		354		354		352		363		366
4.875% senior unsecured notes due February 2013	534		536		542		534		540		556
4.875% senior unsecured notes due April 2013	409		413		417		409		421		427
4.750% senior unsecured notes due February 2014	172		180		181		172		184		185
5.000% senior unsecured notes due August 2014	389		414		419		389		423		424
4.875% senior unsecured notes due March 2015	416		449		457		416		458		460
5.375% senior unsecured notes due March 2016	601		664		688		601		678		689
1.875% senior unsecured notes due November 2016	400		397		413		400		397		400
5.360% senior unsecured notes due November 2016	95		95		111		95		95		110
6.000% senior unsecured notes due June 2017	441		492		537		441		499		518
6.000% senior unsecured notes due November 2017	156		171		194		156		173		183
6.000% senior unsecured notes due February 2018	1,100		1,120		1,351		1,100		1,123		1,308
3.875% senior unsecured notes due October 2020	450		442		495		450		442		478
4.700% senior unsecured notes due February 2021	400		418		466		400		419		450
3.375% senior unsecured notes due November 2021	500		515		533		500		497		517
2.875% senior unsecured notes due March 2022	1,100		996		1,121		—		—		—
Zero coupon senior unsecured notes due November 2022	15		9		11		1,095		619		696
5.800% senior unsecured notes due March 2036	850		844		1,028		850		844		1,017
6.500% senior unsecured notes due June 2037	500		495		658		500		495		636
6.625% senior unsecured notes due November 2037	650		645		873		650		645		834
6.875% senior unsecured notes due February 2038	1,100		1,084		1,527		1,100		1,084		1,475
5.700% senior unsecured notes due October 2040	300		298		364		300		298		359
5.950% senior unsecured notes due February 2041	350		348		448		350		348		430
4.625% senior unsecured notes due November 2041	600		593		648		600		593		631
4.375% senior unsecured notes due March 2042	502		486		536		—		—		—
Total commercial paper and long-term debt	$	12,922	$	12,998	$	14,912	$	11,860	$	11,638	$	13,149

Long-Term Debt

In October 2012, the Company issued $2.5 billion in senior unsecured notes, which included: $625 million of 0.850% fixed-rate notes due October 2015, $625 million of 1.400% fixed-rate notes due October 2017, $625 million of 2.750% fixed-rate notes due February 2023 and $625 million of 3.950% fixed-rate notes due October 2042. The proceeds of the debt issuance were used primarily to fund a recent acquisition. For more detail on the acquisition see Note 9 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2012, the Company completed an exchange of $1,080 million of its zero coupon senior unsecured notes due November of 2022 for $500 million additional issuance of its 2.875% notes due in March 2022 and $102 million additional issuance of its 4.375% notes due March 2042, as well as $138 million in cash. Reflecting lower market rates, the additional note issuance was at a premium to the existing notes to yield 2.568% on the new 10-year notes, and 3.881% on the new 30-year notes. The transaction was undertaken to increase financial flexibility and reduce interest expense.

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Commercial Paper and Bank Credit Facility

Commercial paper consists of short-duration, senior unsecured debt privately placed on a discount basis through broker-dealers. As of September 30, 2012, the Company's outstanding commercial paper had a weighted-average annual interest rate of 0.4%.

The Company has a $3.0 billion five-year revolving bank credit facility with 21 banks, which will mature in December 2016. This facility supports the Company’s commercial paper program and is available for general corporate purposes. There were no amounts outstanding under this facility as of September 30, 2012 or December 31, 2011. The interest rate on borrowings is variable based on term and amount and is calculated based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus a credit spread based on the Company’s senior unsecured credit ratings. As of September 30, 2012, the annual interest rate on this facility, had it been drawn, would have ranged from 1.0% to 1.4%.

Debt Covenants

The Company’s bank credit facility contains various covenants including requiring the Company to maintain a debt to debt-plus-equity ratio below 50%. The Company was in compliance with its debt covenants as of September 30, 2012.

Interest Rate Swap Contracts

In March 2012, the Company entered into interest rate swap contracts to convert a portion of its interest rate exposure from fixed rates to floating rates to more closely align interest expense with interest income received on its cash equivalent and variable rate investment balances. The floating rates are benchmarked to LIBOR. The swaps are designated as fair value hedges on the Company's fixed-rate debt issue maturing November 2021 and have a notional amount of $500 million. Since the critical terms of the swaps match those of the debt being hedged, they are assumed to be highly effective hedges and all changes in fair value of the swaps are recorded as an adjustment to the carrying value of the related debt with no net impact recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of September 30, 2012, the fair value of the interest rate swap asset was $17 million, which was recorded in other long-term assets in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.


7.	Shareholders' Equity

Share Repurchase Program

Under its Board of Directors’ authorization, the Company maintains a share repurchase program. The objectives of the share repurchase program are to optimize the Company’s capital structure and cost of capital, thereby improving returns to shareholders, as well as to offset the dilutive impact of share-based awards. Repurchases may be made from time to time in open market purchases or other types of transactions (including prepaid or structured share repurchase programs), subject to certain Board restrictions. In June 2012, the Board renewed and expanded the Company’s share repurchase program with an authorization to repurchase up to 110 million shares of its common stock. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company repurchased 48 million shares at an average price of $54.49 per share and an aggregate cost of $2.6 billion. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had Board authorization to purchase up to an additional 94 million shares of its common stock.

Dividends

In June 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors increased the Company’s cash dividend to shareholders to an annual dividend rate of $0.85 per share, paid quarterly. Since May 2011, the Company had paid an annual dividend of $0.65 per share, paid quarterly. Declaration and payment of future quarterly dividends is at the discretion of the Board and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change.

The following table provides details of the Company’s 2012 dividend payments:



Payment Date	Amount per Share		Total Amount Paid
			(in millions)
3/19/2012	$	0.1625	$	168
6/22/2012	0.2125		218
9/21/2012	0.2125		217


8.	Share-Based Compensation

As of September 30, 2012, the Company had 45 million shares available for future grants of share-based awards under its share-based compensation plan, including, but not limited to, incentive or non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights

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(SARs) and up to 17 million of awards in restricted stock and restricted stock units (restricted shares). The Company’s outstanding share-based awards consist mainly of non-qualified stock options, SARs and restricted shares.

Stock Options and SARs

Stock options and SARs vest ratably over four to six years and may be exercised up to 10 years from the date of grant. Compensation expense related to stock options and SARs is based on the fair value at date of grant. Stock option and SAR activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 is summarized in the table below:



	Shares		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
	(in millions)				(in years)	(in millions)
Outstanding at beginning of period	91		$	42
Granted	1		55
Exercised	(23	)	37
Forfeited	(1	)	42
Outstanding at end of period	68		44		4.0	$	809
Exercisable at end of period	59		45		3.7	627
Vested and expected to vest end of period	67		44		4.0	804

Restricted Shares

Restricted shares vest ratably, primarily over three to four years. Compensation expense related to restricted shares is based on the share price on date of grant. Restricted share activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 is summarized in the table below:



(shares in millions)	Shares		Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share
Nonvested at beginning of period	17		$	36
Granted	7		52
Vested	(7	)	34
Forfeited	(1	)	43
Nonvested at end of period	16		43

Other Share-Based Compensation Data



(in millions, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions, except per share amounts)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Stock Options and SARs
Weighted-average grant date fair value of shares granted, per share	$	16	$	16	$	18	$	15
Total intrinsic value of stock options and SARs exercised	44		42		442		216
Restricted Shares
Weighted-average grant date fair value of shares granted, per share	51		41		52		42
Total fair value of restricted shares vested	5		2		357		110
Share-Based Compensation Items
Share-based compensation expense, before tax	87		98		329		316
Share-based compensation expense, net of tax effects	70		44		230		198
Income tax benefit realized from share-based award exercises	14		19		288		135

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(in millions, except years)	September 30, 2012
Unrecognized compensation expense related to share awards	$	372
Weighted-average years to recognize compensation expense	1.0

Share-Based Compensation Recognition and Estimates

The Company recognizes compensation expense for share-based awards, including stock options, SARs and restricted shares, on a straight-line basis over the related service period (generally the vesting period) of the award, or to an employee’s eligible retirement date under the award agreement, if earlier. Share-based compensation expense is recognized in operating costs in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

To determine compensation expense related to the Company’s stock options and SARs, the fair value of each award is estimated on the date of grant using a binomial option-pricing model. The principal assumptions the Company used in applying the option-pricing model were as follows:



	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012	2011	2012	2011
Risk free interest rate	0.7%	1.2%	0.7% - 0.9%	1.2% - 2.3%
Expected volatility	44.0%	44.6%	43.4% - 44.0%	44.3% - 44.6%
Expected dividend yield	1.7%	1.4%	1.2% - 1.7%	1.0% - 1.4%
Forfeiture rate	5.0%	5.0%	5.0%	5.0%
Expected life in years	5.3	4.9	5.3 - 5.6	4.9

Risk-free interest rates are based on U.S. Treasury yields in effect at the time of grant. Expected volatilities are based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock and the implied volatility from exchange-traded options on the Company’s common stock. Expected dividend yields are based on the per share dividend declared by the Company's Board of Directors. The Company uses historical data to estimate option and SAR exercises and forfeitures within the valuation model. The expected lives of options and SARs granted represents the period of time that the awards granted are expected to be outstanding based on historical exercise patterns.


9.	Commitments and Contingencies

In October 2012, the Company purchased approximately 60 percent of the outstanding equity of Amil Participações S.A. (Amil) from controlling shareholders, including Amil's CEO, and management. Amil is a health care company located in Brazil, providing health and dental benefits, hospital and clinical services, and advanced care management resources to more than 5 million people. Additionally, in the first half of 2013, the Company is expected to complete a tender offer to purchase approximately 30 percent of the outstanding shares from public shareholders. The Company has issued debt to fund the first 60 percent of the purchase; see Note 6 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for detail on the related October 2012 debt issuance. The Company intends to acquire a total of 90 percent of the 359 million outstanding common shares of Amil for 30.75 Brazilian Real (BRL) in cash and, in conjunction with this transaction, the Company expects to generate significant Brazilian tax deductible goodwill. Amil's CEO has also committed to purchase approximately 8.4 million UnitedHealth Group common shares.

Legal Matters

Because of the nature of its businesses, the Company is frequently made party to a variety of legal actions and regulatory inquiries, including class actions and suits brought by members, care providers, customers and regulators, relating to the Company’s management and administration of health benefit plans. These matters include medical malpractice, employment, intellectual property, antitrust, privacy and contract claims, and claims related to health care benefits coverage and other business practices.

The Company records liabilities for its estimates of probable costs resulting from these matters where appropriate. Estimates of probable costs resulting from legal and regulatory matters involving the Company are inherently difficult to predict, particularly where the matters: involve indeterminate claims for monetary damages or may involve fines, penalties or punitive damages; present novel legal theories or represent a shift in regulatory policy; involve a large number of claimants or regulatory bodies; are in the early stages of the proceedings; or could result in a change in business practices. Accordingly, the Company is often unable to estimate the losses or ranges of losses for those matters where there is a reasonable possibility or it is probable that a loss may be incurred.

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Litigation Matters

Out-of-Network Reimbursement Litigation. In 2000, a group of plaintiffs including the American Medical Association filed a lawsuit against the Company asserting a variety of claims challenging the Company's determination of reimbursement amounts for non-network health care services based on the Company's use of a database previously maintained by Ingenix, Inc. (now known as OptumInsight). The parties entered into a settlement agreement in 2009 and this class action lawsuit, along with a related industry-wide investigation by the New York Attorney General, is now resolved. The Company remains involved in a number of other lawsuits challenging the determination of out-of-network reimbursement amounts based on use of the same database, including putative class actions and multidistrict litigation brought on behalf of members of Aetna and WellPoint. These suits allege, among other things, that the database licensed to these companies by Ingenix was flawed and that Ingenix conspired with these companies to underpay their members' claims and seek unspecified damages and treble damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, interest, costs and attorneys' fees. The Company is vigorously defending these suits. In January 2012, the Company was dismissed as a party from a similar lawsuit involving Cigna and its members, and in September 2012, claims against the Company in a similar suit involving WellPoint members were dismissed by the court with leave to amend the complaint. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the range of loss, if any, that may result from these matters due to the procedural status of the cases, dispositive motions that remain pending, the absence of class certification in any of the cases, the lack of a formal demand on the Company by the plaintiffs, and the involvement of other insurance companies as defendants.

California Claims Processing Matter. On January 25, 2008, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) issued an Order to Show Cause to PacifiCare Life and Health Insurance Company, a subsidiary of the Company, alleging violations of certain insurance statutes and regulations related to an alleged failure to include certain language in standard claims correspondence, timeliness and accuracy of claims processing, interest payments, care provider contract implementation, care provider dispute resolution and other related matters. The matter has been the subject of an administrative hearing before a California administrative law judge since December 2009. Although we believe that CDI has never issued a penalty in excess of $8 million, CDI is seeking a penalty of approximately $325 million in this matter. The Company is vigorously defending against the claims in this matter and believes that the penalty requested by CDI is excessive and without merit. After the administrative law judge issues a ruling at the conclusion of the administrative proceeding, expected no earlier than November 2012, the California Insurance Commissioner may accept, reject or modify the administrative law judge's ruling, issue his own decision, and impose a fine or penalty. The Commissioner's decision is subject to challenge in court. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the range of loss, if any, that may result from this matter given the procedural status of the dispute, the novel legal issues presented (including the legal basis for the majority of the alleged violations), the inherent difficulty in predicting regulatory fines and penalties, and the various remedies and levels of judicial review available to the Company in the event a fine or penalty is assessed.

Government Regulation

The Company’s business is regulated at federal, state, local and international levels. The laws and rules governing the Company’s business and interpretations of those laws and rules are subject to frequent change. Broad latitude is given to the agencies administering those regulations. Further, the Company must obtain and maintain regulatory approvals to market and sell many of its products.

The Company has been and is currently involved in various governmental investigations, audits and reviews. These include routine, regular and special investigations, audits and reviews by CMS, state insurance and health and welfare departments, state attorneys general, the Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Civil Rights, the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Congressional committees, the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorneys, the SEC, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and other governmental authorities.

Government actions can result in assessment of damages, civil or criminal fines or penalties, or other sanctions, including loss of licensure or exclusion from participation in government programs and could have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

Risk Adjustment Data Validation Audits. CMS adjusts capitation payments to Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D plans according to the predicted health status of each beneficiary as supported by data from care providers. The Company collects claim and encounter data from care providers, who the Company generally relies on to appropriately code their claim submissions and document their medical records. CMS then determines the risk score and payment amount for each enrolled member based on the health care data submitted and member demographic information.

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In February 2012, CMS announced a final RADV audit and payment adjustment methodology and that it will conduct RADV audits beginning with the 2011 payment year. These audits involve a review of medical records maintained by care providers and may result in retrospective adjustments to payments made to health plans. CMS has not communicated how the final payment adjustment under its methodology will be implemented, nor has the Company been notified of specific health plans that will be selected for audit. Accordingly, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the range of loss, if any, that may result from future RADV audits.


10.	Segment Financial Information

Factors used to determine the Company’s reportable segments include the nature of operating activities, economic characteristics, existence of separate senior management teams and the type of information presented to the Company’s chief operating decision maker to evaluate its results of operations. Reportable segments with similar economic characteristics are combined.

The following is a description of the types of products and services from which each of the Company's four reportable segments derives its revenues:

•

UnitedHealthcare includes the combined results of operations of UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement and UnitedHealthcare Community & State because they have similar economic characteristics, products and services, customers, distribution methods and operational processes and operate in a similar regulatory environment. These businesses also share significant common assets, including a contracted network of physicians, health care professionals, hospitals and other facilities, information technology infrastructure and other resources. UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual offers an array of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for large national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses and individuals nationwide and internationally. UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement provides health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older, addressing their unique needs for preventive and acute health care services as well as services dealing with chronic disease and other specialized issues for older individuals. UnitedHealthcare Community & State provides health plans and care programs to beneficiaries of acute and long-term care Medicaid plans, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Special Needs Plans and other federal and state health care programs.

•

OptumHealth serves the physical, emotional and financial needs of individuals, enabling consumer health management and integrated care delivery through programs offered by employers, payers, government entities and directly with the care delivery system. OptumHealth offers personalized health management services, decision support services, access to networks of care provider specialists, well-being solutions, behavioral health management solutions, financial services and clinical services.

•

OptumInsight is a health information, technology, services and consulting company providing software and information products, advisory consulting services, and business process outsourcing to participants in the health care industry. Hospitals, physicians, commercial health plans, government agencies, life sciences companies and other organizations within the health care system work with OptumInsight to reduce costs, meet compliance mandates, improve clinical performance and adapt to the changing health system landscape.

•

OptumRx offers a multitude of pharmacy benefit management services and programs including claims processing, retail network contracting, rebate contracting and management, clinical programs, such as step therapy, formulary management and disease/drug therapy management programs to achieve a low-cost, high-quality pharmacy benefit. OptumRx also provides patient support programs and dispensing of prescribed medications, including specialty medications, through its mail order pharmacies.

Transactions between reportable segments principally consist of sales of pharmacy benefit products and services to UnitedHealthcare customers by OptumRx, certain product offerings and clinical services sold to UnitedHealthcare by OptumHealth, and health information and technology solutions, consulting and other services sold to UnitedHealthcare by OptumInsight. These transactions are recorded at management’s estimate of fair value. Intersegment transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Goodwill at the UnitedHealthcare reportable segment increased over the first nine months of 2012 by $2.2 billion to $20.2 billion as of September 30, 2012, as a result of 2012 acquisitions.

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Corporate and intersegment elimination amounts are presented to reconcile the reportable segment results to the consolidated results. The following table presents the reportable segment financial information:



			Optum
(in millions)	UnitedHealthcare		OptumHealth		OptumInsight		OptumRx		Total Optum		Corporate and Intersegment Eliminations			Consolidated
Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
Revenues - external customers:
Premiums	$	24,197	$	443	$	—	$	—	$	443	$	—		$	24,640
Services	1,196		176		431		21		628		—			1,824
Products	—		4		21		668		693		—			693
Total revenues - external customers	25,393		623		452		689		1,764		—			27,157
Total revenues - intersegment	—		1,405		266		3,765		5,436		(5,436		)	—
Investment and other income	119		26		—		—		26		—			145
Total revenues	$	25,512	$	2,054	$	718	$	4,454	$	7,226	$	(5,436	)	$	27,302
Earnings from operations	$	2,202	$	168	$	126	$	114	$	408	$	—		$	2,610
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—		(158		)	(158		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	2,202	$	168	$	126	$	114	$	408	$	(158	)	$	2,452
Three months ended September 30, 2011
Revenues - external customers:
Premiums	$	22,441	$	365	$	—	$	—	$	365	$	—		$	22,806
Services	1,058		197		363		19		579		—			1,637
Products	—		5		24		638		667		—			667
Total revenues - external customers	23,499		567		387		657		1,611		—			25,110
Total revenues - intersegment	—		1,131		237		4,217		5,585		(5,585		)	—
Investment and other income	144		25		1		—		26		—			170
Total revenues	$	23,643	$	1,723	$	625	$	4,874	$	7,222	$	(5,585	)	$	25,280
Earnings from operations	$	1,750	$	115	$	91	$	114	$	320	$	—		$	2,070
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—		(129		)	(129		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	1,750	$	115	$	91	$	114	$	320	$	(129	)	$	1,941

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			Optum
(in millions)	UnitedHealthcare		OptumHealth		OptumInsight		OptumRx		Total Optum		Corporate and Intersegment Eliminations			Consolidated
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
Revenues - external customers:
Premiums	$	72,592	$	1,288	$	—	$	—	$	1,288	$	—		$	73,880
Services	3,558		565		1,231		61		1,857		—			5,415
Products	—		17		48		1,994		2,059		—			2,059
Total revenues - external customers	76,150		1,870		1,279		2,055		5,204		—			81,354
Total revenues - intersegment	—		4,064		781		11,725		16,570		(16,570		)	—
Investment and other income	411		84		—		—		84		—			495
Total revenues	$	76,561	$	6,018	$	2,060	$	13,780	$	21,858	$	(16,570	)	$	81,849
Earnings from operations	$	6,173	$	383	$	310	$	287	$	980	$	—		$	7,153
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—		(459		)	(459		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	6,173	$	383	$	310	$	287	$	980	$	(459	)	$	6,694
Nine months ended September 30, 2011
Revenues - external customers:
Premiums	$	67,535	$	1,087	$	—	$	—	$	1,087	$	—		$	68,622
Services	3,194		421		1,220		56		1,697		—			4,891
Products	—		17		51		1,853		1,921		—			1,921
Total revenues - external customers	70,729		1,525		1,271		1,909		4,705		—			75,434
Total revenues - intersegment	—		3,305		682		12,285		16,272		(16,272		)	—
Investment and other income	441		70		1		—		71		—			512
Total revenues	$	71,170	$	4,900	$	1,954	$	14,194	$	21,048	$	(16,272	)	$	75,946
Earnings from operations	$	5,408	$	359	$	261	$	362	$	982	$	—		$	6,390
Interest expense	—		—		—		—		—		(366		)	(366		)
Earnings before income taxes	$	5,408	$	359	$	261	$	362	$	982	$	(366	)	$	6,024

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ITEM 2.	MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read together with the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes. References to the terms “UnitedHealth Group,” “we,” “our” or “us” used throughout this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations refer to UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and its subsidiaries.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

General

UnitedHealth Group is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making health care work better. We offer a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services.

Business Trends

Our businesses participate in the U.S. health economy, which comprises approximately 18% of U.S. gross domestic product and has grown consistently for many years. We expect overall spending on health care in the U.S. to continue to grow in the future, due to inflation, medical technology and pharmaceutical advancement, regulatory requirements, demographic trends in the U.S. population and national interest in health and well-being. The rate of market growth may be affected by a variety of factors, including macro-economic conditions and enacted health care reforms, which could also impact our results of operations.

Consistent with historical periods, we expect increasing unit costs to continue to be the primary cost driver of medical cost trends. Utilization trends declined significantly in 2010 and remained low into 2011. Utilization trends began to rise somewhat in late 2011 and early 2012, with their rate of increase moderating in the second and third quarter. The weak economic environment, combined with our medical cost management, has had a favorable impact on utilization trends. We have experienced and expect to continue to experience an increase in prescription drug costs compared to 2011. We believe our alignment of progressive benefit designs, consumer engagement, clinical management, pay-for-performance reimbursement programs for care providers and network performance is favorably controlling medical and pharmacy costs, enhancing affordability and quality for our customers and members and helping to drive strong market response and growth.

Care providers are facing market pressures to change from fee-for-service models to new delivery models focused on the holistic health of the consumer, integrated care across care providers and pay-for-performance payment structures. This is creating the need for health management services that can coordinate care around the primary care physician and for investment in new clinical and administrative information and management systems. We expect that the portion of our costs that is tied to incentive contracts that reward care providers for outcome-based results and improved cost efficiencies will continue to increase, and we expect these trends to provide growth opportunities for our Optum business platform.

We seek to price our products consistent with anticipated underlying medical trends, while balancing growth, margins, competitive dynamics, cost increases for the industry fees and tax provisions of Health Reform Legislation and premium rebates at the local market level. We work to sustain a stable medical care ratio for an equivalent mix of business. Changes in business mix and Health Reform Legislation, may impact our premiums, medical costs and medical care ratio. Further, we continue to expect premium rates to be under pressure through continued market competition in commercial products and government payment rates. In the commercial market segment, we expect pricing to continue to be highly competitive into 2013. We plan to hold to our pricing disciplines and, considering the competitive environment and persistently weak employment and new business formation rates, we expect continued pressure on our commercial risk-based product membership and gross margin percentages in 2013. In government programs, we are also seeing rate pressures intensifying, and rate changes for some Medicaid programs are slightly negative. Unlike in prior years, the current Medicaid reductions have generally not been mitigated by corresponding benefit reductions or care provider fee schedule reductions by the state sponsor. We continue to take a prudent, market-sustainable posture for both new bids and maintenance of existing Medicaid contracts. Medicare funding is similarly pressured, see further discussion below in “Regulatory Trends and Uncertainties.” We expect these factors to result in pressure on gross margin percentages for Medicare and Medicaid programs in 2013.

The government, as a benefit sponsor, has been increasingly relying on private sector solutions. We expect this trend to continue as we believe the private sector provides a more flexible, better managed, higher quality health care experience than do traditional passive indemnity programs.

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Regulatory Trends and Uncertainties

In the first quarter of 2010, the Health Reform Legislation was signed into law. The Health Reform Legislation expands access to coverage and modifies aspects of the commercial insurance market, the Medicaid and Medicare programs, CHIP and other aspects of the health care system. Although the HHS, DOL, IRS and the Treasury Department have issued or proposed regulations on a number of aspects of the Health Reform Legislation, final rules and interim guidance on other key aspects of the Health Reform Legislation, all of which have a variety of effective dates, remain pending.

Following is a summary of management's view of the trends and uncertainties related to some of the key provisions of the Health Reform Legislation and other regulatory items.

Medical Loss Ratio and Premium Rebates - Effective in 2011, commercial health plans with medical loss ratios on fully insured products that fall below certain targets are required to rebate ratable portions of their premiums annually.

In response to the Health Reform Legislation, minimum medical loss ratios and premium rebates are considered in the pricing of our products. We have also made changes to reduce our product distribution costs, including reducing producer commissions, and are continuing to implement changes to distribution in the large group insured market segment. Our results in 2012 and 2011 include the effects of our estimates of the premium rebates. The 2011 rebate was paid in the third quarter of 2012.

In addition, beginning in 2014, Medicare Advantage plans will be required to have a minimum medical loss ratio of 85%. CMS has not yet issued guidance as to how this requirement will be calculated for Medicare Advantage plans.

Commercial Rate Increase Review - The Health Reform Legislation also requires HHS to maintain an annual review of “unreasonable” increases in premium rates for commercial health plans. HHS established a review threshold of annual premium rate increases generally at or above 10% (with state-specific thresholds applying from September 2012) and clarified that HHS review will not supersede existing state review and approval procedures. Premium rate review legislation (ranging from new or enhanced rate filing requirements to prior approval requirements) has been introduced or passed in more than half of the states as of the date of this report.

The competitive forces common in our markets do not support unjustifiable rate increases. We have experienced and expect to continue to experience a tight, competitive commercial pricing environment. Further, our rates and rate filings are developed using methods consistent with the standards of actuarial practices. We anticipate requesting rate increases above 10% in a number of markets due to the combination of medical cost trends and the incremental costs of health care reform. We have begun to experience greater regulatory challenges to appropriate premium rate increases in several states, including California, New York, Rhode Island and Colorado. Depending on the level of scrutiny by the states, there is a broad range of potential business impacts. For example, it may become more difficult to price our commercial risk business consistent with expected underlying cost trends, leading to the risk of operating margin compression in the commercial health benefits business.

Medicare Advantage Rates - Beginning in 2012, additional cuts to Medicare Advantage benchmarks from 2011 have taken effect (benchmarks will ultimately range from 95% of Medicare fee-for-service rates in high cost areas to 115% in low cost areas), with changes being phased-in over two to six years, depending on the level of benchmark reduction in a county. Additionally, Congress passed the Budget Control Act of 2011, which following a failure of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to cut the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion, triggers automatic across-the-board budget cuts (sequestration), including Medicare spending cuts averaging 2% of total program costs for nine years, starting in 2013. Total Medicare spending cuts industry-wide for 2013 would be approximately 2.7%, or $11 billion.

A significant portion of our network contracts are tied to Medicare reimbursement levels. However, future Medicare Advantage rates may be outpaced by underlying medical cost trends, placing continued importance on effective medical management and ongoing improvements in administrative costs. There are a number of annual adjustments we can and are making to our operations, which may partially offset any impact from these rate reductions. For example, we seek to intensify our medical and operating cost management, adjust members' benefits and decide on a county-by-county basis in which geographies to participate. Additionally, achieving high quality scores from CMS for improving upon certain clinical and operational performance standards will impact future quality bonuses that may offset these anticipated rate reductions. CMS made certain changes to quality definitions after the quality score measurement period was completed that will adversely impact many Medicare Advantage market participants in 2013, including UnitedHealthcare. The expanded stars bonus program is set to expire in 2014. In 2015, quality bonus payments will only be paid to 4 and 5 star plans per PPACA. Approximately 60% of our current Medicare Advantage members are enrolled in plans that will be rated 3.5 stars or higher in 2014 based on scoring released by CMS in October 2012. Updated scores, to be released in October 2013, will determine what portion of our Medicare Advantage membership will reside in a 4 star or 5 star plan and qualify for quality bonus payments in 2015.

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We also may be able to mitigate the effects of reduced funding by increasing enrollment due, in part, to the increasing number of people eligible for Medicare in coming years. Compared to third quarter of 2011, our Medicare Advantage membership has increased by 400,000 consumers, or 18%, including acquisitions. Longer term, market wide decreases in the availability or relative quality of Medicare Advantage products may increase demand for other senior health benefits products such as our Medicare Part D and Medicare Supplement insurance offerings.

Industry Fees and Taxes - The Health Reform Legislation includes an annual, non-deductible insurance industry tax to be levied proportionally across the insurance industry for risk-based products, beginning January 1, 2014. The amount of the annual tax is $8 billion in 2014, $11.3 billion in 2015 and 2016, $13.9 billion in 2017 and $14.3 billion in 2018. For 2019 and beyond, the amount will be equal to the annual tax for the preceding year increased by the rate of premium growth for the preceding year. The annual tax will be allocated based on the ratio of an entity's net premiums written during the preceding calendar year to the total health insurance industry's net premiums written for any U.S. health risk-based products during the preceding calendar year, subject to certain exceptions. This tax will first be paid and expensed in 2014; however, because our policies are annual, related premium increases resulting from this tax for 2013 policies that have coverage into 2014 will increase the amount of premium recognized in 2013. Our effective income tax rate will increase significantly in 2014 as a result of the non-deductibility of these taxes.

With the introduction of state health insurance exchanges in 2014, the Health Reform Legislation includes three programs designed to stabilize the health insurance markets. These programs are: a transitional Reinsurance Program; a temporary Risk Corridors Program; and a permanent Risk Adjustment Program. The transitional Reinsurance Program is a temporary program which will be funded on a per capita basis from all commercial lines of business including insured and self-funded arrangements ($25 billion over a three-year period beginning in 2014; $20 billion (subject to increases based on state decisions) which funds the state reinsurance pools and $5 billion funds the U.S. Treasury). While the final HHS regulations have been released, the terms of the specific reinsurance programs to be used in each state are not yet known.

It is our intention to pass these taxes and fees on to customers through increases in rates and/or decreases in benefits, subject to regulatory approval.

State-Based Exchanges and Coverage Expansion - Effective in 2014, state-based exchanges are required to be established for individuals and small employers, with enrollment processes scheduled to commence in October of 2013. The Health Reform Legislation also provides for expanded Medicaid coverage effective in January 2014. These measures remain subject to implementation at the state level.

Individual & Small Group Market Reforms - The Health Reform Legislation includes several provisions that will take effect on January 1, 2014 and are expected to alter the individual and small group marketplace, although final regulations or guidance related to these provisions remains pending. Key provisions include: (1) adjusted community rating requirements, which will change how individual and small group plans are rated in certain states and are expected to result in significant adjustments in some policyholders' rates during the transition period; (2) essential health benefit requirements, which will result in benefit changes for many individual and small group policyholders and will also impact rates; and (3) actuarial value requirements, which will significantly impact benefit designs (e.g. cost share requirements) and could significantly impact rates for some policyholders.

Court Proceedings and Legislative/Regulatory Actions - The United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in June 2012 declaring the Health Reform Legislation constitutional, with the exception of the provision that would have permitted HHS to withhold existing Medicaid funds from states choosing not to participate in Medicaid expansion.

For additional information regarding the Health Reform Legislation and Regulatory Trends and Uncertainties, see Item 1, “Business - Government Regulation,” Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and Item 7, “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Regulatory Trends and Uncertainties” in our 2011 10-K.

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RESULTS SUMMARY



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Increase/(Decrease)					Nine Months Ended September 30,						Increase/(Decrease)
(in millions, except percentages and per share data)	2012			2011			2012 vs. 2011					2012			2011			2012 vs. 2011
Revenues:
Premiums	$	24,640		$	22,806		$	1,834		8	%	$	73,880		$	68,622		$	5,258		8	%
Services	1,824			1,637			187			11		5,415			4,891			524			11
Products	693			667			26			4		2,059			1,921			138			7
Investment and other income	145			170			(25		)	(15	)	495			512			(17		)	(3	)
Total revenues	27,302			25,280			2,022			8		81,849			75,946			5,903			8
Operating costs:
Medical costs	19,471			18,408			1,063			6		59,423			55,711			3,712			7
Operating costs	4,277			3,899			378			10		12,453			11,249			1,204			11
Cost of products sold	627			609			18			3		1,881			1,762			119			7
Depreciation and amortization	317			294			23			8		939			834			105			13
Total operating costs	24,692			23,210			1,482			6		74,696			69,556			5,140			7
Earnings from operations	2,610			2,070			540			26		7,153			6,390			763			12
Interest expense	(158		)	(129		)	29			22		(459		)	(366		)	93			25
Earnings before income taxes	2,452			1,941			511			26		6,694			6,024			670			11
Provision for income taxes	(895		)	(670		)	225			34		(2,412		)	(2,140		)	272			13
Net earnings	$	1,557		$	1,271		$	286		23	%	$	4,282		$	3,884		$	398		10	%
Diluted net earnings per common share	$	1.50		$	1.17		$	0.33		28	%	$	4.08		$	3.56		$	0.52		15	%
Medical care ratio (a)	79.0		%	80.7		%	(1.7		)%			80.4		%	81.2		%	(0.8		)%
Operating cost ratio	15.7			15.4			0.3					15.2			14.8			0.4
Operating margin	9.6			8.2			1.4					8.7			8.4			0.3
Tax rate	36.5			34.5			2.0					36.0			35.5			0.5
Net margin	5.7			5.0			0.7					5.2			5.1			0.1
Return on equity (b)	20.9		%	18.4		%	2.5		%			19.6		%	19.2		%	0.4		%


(a)	Medical care ratio is calculated as medical costs divided by premium revenue.


(b)	Return on equity is calculated as annualized net earnings divided by average equity. Average equity is calculated using the equity balance at the end of the preceding year and the equity balances at the end of each of the quarters in the periods presented.

SELECTED OPERATING PERFORMANCE AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT ITEMS

The following represents a summary of selected third quarter 2012 year-over-year operating comparisons to the third quarter 2011 and other 2012 significant items.


•	Consolidated and UnitedHealthcare revenues increased 8%.


•	Over the past 12 months, UnitedHealthcare medical enrollment grew by 2.2 million people; Medicare Part D stand-alone membership decreased by 0.6 million people.


•	The consolidated medical care ratio of 79.0% decreased 170 basis points.


•	Net earnings of $1.6 billion and diluted earnings per share of $1.50 increased 23% and 28%, respectively.


•	$1.6 billion in cash was held by non-regulated entities as of September 30, 2012.


•	2012 debt offerings raised proceeds totaling $4.0 billion including the October 2012 issuance and August exchange.


•	Cash paid for acquisitions in the first three quarters 2012, net of cash assumed, totaled $2.6 billion.


•	In October 2012, we announced our intent to acquire 90% of the outstanding common shares of Amil. In the fourth quarter, we acquired approximately 60% of the outstanding shares and plan to acquire an additional 30% in the first half of 2013. See Note 9 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail on Amil.

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2012 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS COMPARED TO 2011 RESULTS

Consolidated Financial Results

Revenues

The increases in revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 were driven by growth in the number of individuals served and premium rate increases related to underlying medical cost trends in our UnitedHealthcare businesses and growth in our Optum health service and technology offerings.

Medical Costs

Medical costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 increased due to risk-based membership growth in our public and senior markets businesses, unit cost inflation across all businesses and continued moderate increases in health system use, partially offset by an increase in favorable medical reserve development. Unit cost increases represented the majority of the increases in our medical cost trend, with the largest contributor being price increases to hospitals.

Operating Costs

The increases in our operating costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 were due to business growth, including increases in revenues from UnitedHealthcare fee-based benefits and Optum services, which carry comparatively higher operating costs, as well as investments in the pharmacy management services and UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans businesses.

Income Tax Rate

The increase in our effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 was due to the favorable resolution of an outstanding tax matter in the third quarter 2011, which lowered the effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2011.

Reportable Segments

We have four reportable segments across our two business platforms, UnitedHealthcare and Optum:


•	UnitedHealthcare, which includes UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement and UnitedHealthcare Community & State;


•	OptumHealth;


•	OptumInsight; and


•	OptumRx.

See Note 10 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Item 1, “Business” in our 2011 10-K for a description of how each of our reportable segments derives its revenues.

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The following table presents reportable segment financial information:



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Increase/(Decrease)					Nine Months Ended September 30,						Increase/(Decrease)
(in millions, except percentages)	2012			2011			2012 vs. 2011					2012			2011			2012 vs. 2011
Revenues
UnitedHealthcare	$	25,512		$	23,643		$	1,869		8	%	$	76,561		$	71,170		$	5,391		8	%
OptumHealth	2,054			1,723			331			19		6,018			4,900			1,118			23
OptumInsight	718			625			93			15		2,060			1,954			106			5
OptumRx	4,454			4,874			(420		)	(9	)	13,780			14,194			(414		)	(3	)
Total Optum	7,226			7,222			4			—		21,858			21,048			810			4
Eliminations	(5,436		)	(5,585		)	(149		)	(3	)	(16,570		)	(16,272		)	298			2
Consolidated revenues	$	27,302		$	25,280		$	2,022		8	%	$	81,849		$	75,946		$	5,903		8	%
Earnings from operations
UnitedHealthcare	$	2,202		$	1,750		$	452		26	%	$	6,173		$	5,408		$	765		14	%
OptumHealth	168			115			53			46		383			359			24			7
OptumInsight	126			91			35			38		310			261			49			19
OptumRx	114			114			—			—		287			362			(75		)	(21	)
Total Optum	408			320			88			28		980			982			(2		)	—
Consolidated earnings from operations	$	2,610		$	2,070		$	540		26	%	$	7,153		$	6,390		$	763		12	%
Operating margin
UnitedHealthcare	8.6		%	7.4		%	1.2		%			8.1		%	7.6		%	0.5		%
OptumHealth	8.2			6.7			1.5					6.4			7.3			(0.9		)
OptumInsight	17.5			14.6			2.9					15.0			13.4			1.6
OptumRx	2.6			2.3			0.3					2.1			2.6			(0.5		)
Total Optum	5.6			4.4			1.2					4.5			4.7			(0.2		)
Consolidated operating margin	9.6		%	8.2		%	1.4		%			8.7		%	8.4		%	0.3		%

UnitedHealthcare

The following table summarizes UnitedHealthcare revenue by business:



	Three Months Ended September 30,				Increase/(Decrease)				Nine Months Ended September 30,				Increase/(Decrease)
(in millions, except percentages)	2012		2011		2012 vs. 2011				2012		2011		2012 vs. 2011
UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual	$	11,649	$	11,379	$	270	2	%	$	34,942	$	33,828	$	1,114	3	%
UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement	9,976		8,797		1,179		13		30,287		27,224		3,063		11
UnitedHealthcare Community & State	3,887		3,467		420		12		11,332		10,118		1,214		12
Total UnitedHealthcare revenue	$	25,512	$	23,643	$	1,869	8	%	$	76,561	$	71,170	$	5,391	8	%

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The following table summarizes the number of individuals served by our UnitedHealthcare businesses, by major market segment and funding arrangement:



	September 30,		Increase/(Decrease)
(in thousands, except percentages)	2012	2011	2012 vs. 2011
Commercial risk-based	9,340	9,545	(205	)	(2	)%
Commercial fee-based	17,585	16,255	1,330		8
Total commercial	26,925	25,800	1,125		4
Medicare Advantage	2,615	2,215	400		18
Medicaid	3,870	3,485	385		11
Medicare Supplement (Standardized)	3,135	2,895	240		8
Total public and senior	9,620	8,595	1,025		12
Total UnitedHealthcare - medical	36,545	34,395	2,150		6	%
Supplemental Data:
Medicare Part D stand-alone	4,230	4,830	(600	)	(12	)%

Commercial risk-based membership decreased due to a competitive market environment, conversions to fee-based products by large public sector clients that we retained and other decreases in the public sector. In fee-based commercial products, the increase was due to a number of new business awards and strong customer retention. Medicare Advantage increased due to strengthened execution in product design, marketing and local engagement, which drove sales growth, combined with the addition of 185,000 Medicare Advantage members from 2012 acquisitions. Medicaid growth was due to a combination of winning new state accounts and growth within existing state customers. Medicare Supplement growth was due to strong retention and new sales. In our Medicare Part D stand-alone business, membership decreased primarily as a result of the first quarter 2012 loss of approximately 470,000 auto-assigned low-income subsidy Medicare Part D beneficiaries, due to pricing benchmarks for the government-subsidized low income Medicare Part D market coming in below our bids in a number of regions.

UnitedHealthcare's revenue growth for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 was primarily due to growth in the number of individuals served, commercial premium rate increases related to expected increases in underlying medical cost trends and the impact of lower expected premium rebates.

UnitedHealthcare's earnings from operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 increased compared to the prior year primarily due to the factors that increased revenues combined with an improvement in the medical care ratio driven by effective management of medical costs and increased favorable medical reserve development. The increased favorable development for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 was driven by lower than expected health system utilization levels and increased efficiency in claims handling and processing.

In March 2012, UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans was awarded the TRICARE West Region Managed Care Support Contract. The contract, for health care operations, includes a transition period and five one-year renewals at the government's option. The first year of operations is anticipated to begin April 1, 2013. The base administrative services contract is expected to generate $1.4 billion in revenues over the five years.

Optum. Total revenue for Optum businesses for the three months ended September 30, 2012 was consistent with the prior year. Total revenues increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 due to business growth and 2011 acquisitions at OptumHealth, partially offset by a reduction in pharmacy service revenues related to reduced levels of UnitedHealthcare Part D prescription drug membership and related prescription volumes.

Optum’s earnings from operations and operating margin for the three months ended September 30, 2012 increased compared to 2011 due to gains in business simplification, overall efficiency and growth and margin expansion from business mix improvements. Earnings from operations and operating margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were flat compared to the prior year.

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The results by segment were as follows:

OptumHealth

The increases in revenues at OptumHealth for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 were primarily due to market expansion, including growth related to 2011 acquisitions in integrated care delivery, and strong growth in network-based health programs.

Earnings from operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 increased compared to 2011 primarily due to gains in operating efficiency and cost management as well as improvements in earnings from integrated care operations. Operating margins increased for the three months ended September 30, 2012 due to the factors that increased earnings from operations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, operating margins decreased due to business mix, as 2011 results do not include the full impact of comparatively lower margin integrated care delivery acquisitions in the first half of 2011, and business investments.

OptumInsight

Revenues at OptumInsight for the three months ended September 30, 2012 increased primarily due to the impact of growth in compliance services for both care providers and payers. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, organic revenue growth was partially offset by the June 2011 divestiture of the clinical trials services business.

The increases in earnings from operations and operating margins for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 reflect an improved mix of services and advances in operating efficiency and cost management.

OptumRx

The decreases in OptumRx revenues for both the three and nine months ended ended September 30, 2012 were due to the reduction in UnitedHealthcare Medicare Part D plan participants. The three month revenue results were also negatively impacted by consumers' rapid migration from brand name prescription drugs to cost-effective new generic offerings. Intersegment revenues eliminated in consolidation were $3.8 billion and $11.7 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and $4.2 billion and $12.3 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

OptumRx earnings from operations and operating margins for the three months ended September 30, 2012, were stable year-over-year primarily due to earnings contributions from rising generic usage, which offset the investments to support growth initiatives, including the in-sourcing of our commercial pharmacy benefit programs, and decreased prescription volume in the Medicare Part D business. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012 earnings from operations and operating margins decreased as the investments described previously more than offset the earnings contribution from specialty pharmacy growth and greater use of generic medications.

LIQUIDITY, FINANCIAL CONDITION AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity

Introduction

We manage our liquidity and financial position in the context of our overall business strategy. We continually forecast and manage our cash, investments, working capital balances and capital structure to meet the short- and long-term obligations of our businesses while seeking to maintain liquidity and financial flexibility. Cash flows generated from operating activities are principally from earnings before non-cash expenses.

Our regulated subsidiaries generate significant cash flows from operations and are subject to financial regulations and standards in their respective states of domicile. Most of these regulations and standards conform to those established by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. These standards, among other things, require these subsidiaries to maintain specified levels of statutory capital, as defined by each state, and restrict the timing and amount of dividends and other distributions that may be paid to their parent companies. Except in the case of extraordinary dividends, these standards generally permit dividends to be paid from statutory unassigned surplus of the regulated subsidiary and are limited based on the regulated subsidiary’s level of statutory net income and statutory capital and surplus. These dividends are referred to as “ordinary dividends” and generally can be paid without prior regulatory approval. If the dividend, together with other dividends paid within the preceding twelve months, exceeds a specified statutory limit or is paid from sources other than earned surplus, the entire dividend is generally considered an “extraordinary dividend” and must receive prior regulatory approval.

In 2012, based on the 2011 statutory net income and statutory capital and surplus levels, the maximum amount of ordinary dividends that can be paid by our regulated subsidiaries to their parent companies is $4.6 billion. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, our regulated subsidiaries paid their parent companies dividends of $3.3 billion, including $601 million of

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extraordinary dividends. For the year ended December 31, 2011, our regulated subsidiaries paid their parent companies dividends of $4.5 billion, including $1.1 billion of extraordinary dividends.

Our non-regulated businesses also generate cash flows from operations for general corporate use. Cash flows generated by these entities, combined with dividends from our regulated entities and financing through the issuance of long term debt as well as issuance of commercial paper or drawings under our committed credit facility, further strengthen our operating and financial flexibility. We use these cash flows to expand our businesses through acquisitions, reinvest in our businesses through capital expenditures, repay debt, and return capital to our shareholders through shareholder dividends and/or repurchases of our common stock, depending on market conditions.

Summary of our Major Sources and Uses of Cash



	Nine Months Ended September 30,						Increase/(Decrease)
(in millions)	2012			2011			2012 vs. 2011
Sources of cash:
Cash provided by operating activities	$	5,473		$	7,383		$	(1,910	)
Proceeds from issuances of long-term debt and commercial paper, net of repayments	1,389			612			777
Proceeds from customer funds administered	309			1,656			(1,347		)
Other	508			497			11
Total sources of cash	7,679			10,148
Uses of cash:
Common stock repurchases	(2,594		)	(2,094		)	(500		)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash assumed	(2,550		)	(1,093		)	(1,457		)
Purchases of investments, net of sales and maturities	(1,124		)	(1,024		)	(100		)
Purchases of property, equipment and capitalized software	(786		)	(806		)	20
Dividends paid	(603		)	(481		)	(122		)
Other	(535		)	(94		)	(441		)
Total uses of cash	(8,192		)	(5,592		)
Net (decrease) increase in cash	$	(513	)	$	4,556		$	(5,069	)

2012 Cash Flows Compared to 2011 Cash Flows

Cash flows from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 decreased $1.9 billion, from the comparable period in 2011. The decreased cash flows were primarily driven by the decrease in unearned revenues of $2.3 billion due to the 2011 amount including the early receipt of the October 2011 CMS payment and the payment in 2012 of 2011 premium rebate obligations, which were partially offset by increased net income.

Cash flows used for investing activities increased $1.5 billion, or 53%, primarily due to increased investments in acquisitions in 2012.

Cash flows used for financing activities increased $1.6 billion primarily due to an decrease in proceeds from customer funds administered related to Medicare Part D and increased share repurchases, partially offset by an increase in net issuances of long-term debt and commercial paper.

Financial Condition

As of September 30, 2012, our cash, cash equivalent and available-for-sale investment balances of $28.7 billion included $8.9 billion of cash and cash equivalents (of which $1.6 billion was held by non-regulated entities), $19.1 billion of debt securities and $643 million of investments in equity securities and venture capital funds. Given the significant portion of our portfolio held in cash equivalents, we do not anticipate fluctuations in the aggregate fair value of our financial assets to have a material impact on our liquidity or capital position. The use of different market assumptions or valuation methodologies, especially those used in valuing our $224 million of available-for-sale Level 3 securities (those securities priced using significant unobservable inputs), may have an effect on the estimated fair value amounts of our investments. Due to the subjective nature of these assumptions, the estimates may not be indicative of the actual exit price if we had sold the investment at the measurement date. Other sources of liquidity, primarily from operating cash flows and our commercial paper program, which is supported by our $3.0 billion bank credit facility, reduce the need to sell investments during adverse market conditions. See Note 3 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail of our fair value measurements.

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Our cash equivalent and investment portfolio has a weighted-average duration of 2.1 years and a weighted-average credit rating of “AA” as of September 30, 2012. Included in the debt securities balance are $2.0 billion of state and municipal obligations that are guaranteed by a number of third parties. Due to the high underlying credit ratings of the issuers, the weighted-average credit rating of these securities with and without the guarantee was “AA” as of September 30, 2012. We do not have any significant exposure to any single guarantor (neither indirect through the guarantees, nor direct through investment in the guarantor). When multiple credit ratings are available for an individual security, the average of the available ratings is used to determine the weighted-average credit rating.

Capital Resources and Uses of Liquidity

In addition to cash flow from operations and cash and cash equivalent balances available for general corporate use, our capital resources and uses of liquidity are as follows:

Commercial Paper. We maintain a commercial paper borrowing program, which facilitates the private placement of unsecured debt through third-party broker-dealers. The commercial paper program is supported by the bank credit facility described below. As of September 30, 2012, we had $540 million of commercial paper outstanding.

Bank Credit Facility. We have a $3.0 billion five-year revolving bank credit facility with 21 banks, which will mature in December 2016. This facility supports our commercial paper program and is available for general corporate purposes. There were no amounts outstanding under this facility as of September 30, 2012. The interest rate on borrowings is variable based on term and amount and is calculated based on the LIBOR plus a credit spread based on our senior unsecured credit ratings. As of September 30, 2012, the annual interest rate on this facility, had it been drawn, would have ranged from 1.0% to 1.4%.

Our bank credit facility contains various covenants, including requiring us to maintain a debt to debt-plus-equity ratio below 50%. Our debt to debt-plus-equity ratio, calculated as the sum of debt divided by the sum of debt and shareholders’ equity, which approximates the actual covenant ratio, was 30.1% and 29.1% as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. We were in compliance with our debt covenants as of September 30, 2012.

Long-term debt. Periodically, we access capital markets and issue long-term debt for general corporate purposes and the funds may be used, for example, to meet our working capital requirements, to refinance debt, to finance acquisitions, for share repurchases or for other general corporate purposes.

In October 2012, we issued $2.5 billion in senior unsecured notes, which included: $625 million of 0.850% fixed-rate notes due October 2015, $625 million of 1.400% fixed-rate notes due October 2017, $625 million of 2.750% fixed-rate notes due February 2023 and $625 million of 3.950% fixed-rate notes due October 2042. The proceeds of the debt issuance were used primarily to fund a recent acquisition. For more detail on the acquisition see Note 9 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2012, we completed an exchange of $1,080 million of our zero coupon senior unsecured notes due November of 2022 for $500 million additional issuance of our 2.875% notes due in March 2022 and $102 million additional issuance of our 4.375% notes due March 2042, as well as $138 million in cash. Reflecting lower market rates, the additional note issuance was at a premium to the existing notes to yield 2.568% on the new 10-year notes, and 3.881% on the new 30-year notes. The transaction was undertaken to increase financial flexibility and reduce interest expense.

In March 2012, we issued $1 billion in senior unsecured notes. The issuance included $600 million of 2.875% fixed-rate notes due March 2022 and $400 million of 4.375% fixed-rate notes due March 2042.

Credit Ratings. Our credit ratings at September 30, 2012 were as follows:

Moody’s

Standard & Poor’s

Fitch

A.M. Best

Ratings

Outlook

Ratings

Outlook

Ratings

Outlook

Ratings

Outlook

Senior unsecured debt

Stable ⁽¹⁾

Stable

A-

Stable

bbb+

Stable

Commercial paper

P-2

n/a

A-1

n/a

AMB-2

n/a

(1) Outlook lowered to Negative in October 2012.

The availability of financing in the form of debt or equity is influenced by many factors, including our profitability, operating cash flows, debt levels, credit ratings, debt covenants and other contractual restrictions, regulatory requirements and economic and market conditions. For example, a significant downgrade in our credit ratings or conditions in the capital markets may increase the cost of borrowing for us or limit our access to capital. We have adopted strategies and actions toward maintaining financial flexibility to mitigate the impact of such factors on our ability to raise capital.

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Share Repurchase Program. Under our Board of Directors’ authorization, we maintain a share repurchase program. Repurchases may be made from time to time in open market purchases or other types of transactions (including prepaid or structured share repurchase programs), subject to certain Board restrictions. In June 2012, our Board renewed and expanded the Company’s share repurchase program with an authorization to repurchase up to 110 million shares of our common stock. As of September 30, 2012, we had Board authorization to purchase up to an additional 94 million shares of our common stock. For details of our 2012 share repurchases, see Note 7 to the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Dividends. In June 2012, our Board of Directors increased our cash dividend to shareholders to an annual dividend rate of $0.85 per share, paid quarterly. Since May 2011, we had paid an annual dividend of $0.65 per share, paid quarterly. Declaration and payment of future quarterly dividends is at the discretion of the Board and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change. For details of our 2012 dividend payments, see Note 7 to the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS

A summary of future obligations under our various contractual obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2011 was disclosed in our 2011 10-K. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 there were no material changes to this previously-filed information outside the ordinary course of business. However, we continually evaluate opportunities to expand our operations, including internal development of new products, programs and technology applications and acquisitions. For example, see Note 9 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for detail on a recent acquisition.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

We have determined that there have been no recently issued, but not yet adopted, accounting standards that will have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

We prepared our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. In preparing these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, we are required to make judgments, assumptions and estimates, which we believe are reasonable and prudent based on the available facts and circumstances. These judgments, assumptions and estimates affect certain of our revenues and expenses and their related balance sheet accounts and disclosure of our contingent liabilities. We base our assumptions and estimates primarily on historical experience and trends and factor in known and projected trends. On an on-going basis, we re-evaluate our selection of assumptions and the method of calculating our estimates. Actual results, however, may materially differ from our calculated estimates and this difference would be reported in our current operations.

Our critical accounting estimates include medical costs, revenues, goodwill and intangible assets, investments, income taxes and contingent liabilities. For a detailed description of our critical accounting estimates, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II of our 2011 10-K. As of September 30, 2012, our critical accounting policies have not changed from those described in our 2011 10-K. For a detailed discussion of our significant accounting policies, see Note 2 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2011 10-K.

CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK

Investments in financial instruments such as marketable securities and accounts receivable may subject us to concentrations of credit risk. Our investments in marketable securities are managed under an investment policy authorized by our Board of Directors. This policy limits the amounts that may be invested in any one issuer and generally limits our investments to U.S. government and agency securities, state and municipal securities and corporate debt obligations that are investment grade. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are limited due to the large number of employer groups and other customers that constitute our client base. As of September 30, 2012, we had an aggregate $1.9 billion reinsurance receivable resulting from the sale of our Golden Rule Financial Corporation life and annuity business in 2005. We regularly evaluate the financial condition of the reinsurer and only record the reinsurance receivable to the extent that the amounts are deemed probable of recovery. Currently, the reinsurer is rated by A.M. Best as “A+.” As of September 30, 2012, there were no other significant concentrations of credit risk.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The statements, estimates, projections, guidance or outlook contained in this report include “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA). These statements are intended to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the PSLRA. Generally the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “project,” “should” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. These statements may contain information about financial prospects, economic conditions and trends and

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involve risks and uncertainties. We caution that actual results could differ materially from those that management expects, depending on the outcome of certain factors.

Some factors that could cause results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include: our ability to effectively estimate, price for and manage our medical costs, including the impact of any new coverage requirements; the potential impact that new laws or regulations, or changes in existing laws or regulations, or their enforcement or application could have on our results of operations, financial position and cash flows, including as a result of increases in medical, administrative, technology or other costs or decreases in enrollment resulting from U.S., Brazilian and other jurisdictions' regulations affecting the health care industry; the impact of any potential assessments for insolvent payers under state guaranty fund laws, including any that could arise out of the potential liquidation of Penn Treaty Network America Insurance Company; the ultimate impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows through reduced revenues, increased costs, new taxes and expanded liability, or require changes to the ways in which we conduct business or put us at risk for loss of business; potential reductions in revenue received from Medicare and Medicaid programs; uncertainties regarding changes in Medicare, including potential changes in risk adjustment data validation audit and payment adjustment methodology; failure to comply with patient privacy and data security regulations; regulatory and other risks and uncertainties associated with the pharmacy benefits management industry and our ability to successfully repatriate our pharmacy benefits management business; competitive pressures, which could affect our ability to maintain or increase our market share; the impact of challenges to our public sector contract awards; our ability to execute contracts on competitive terms with physicians, hospitals and other service professionals; our ability to attract, retain and provide support to a network of independent producers (i.e., brokers and agents) and consultants; events that may adversely affect our relationship with AARP; increases in costs and other liabilities associated with increased litigation, government investigations, audits or reviews; the potential impact of adverse economic conditions on our revenues (including decreases in enrollment resulting from increases in the unemployment rate and commercial attrition) and results of operations; the performance of our investment portfolio; possible impairment of the value of our goodwill and intangible assets in connection with dispositions or if estimated future results do not adequately support goodwill and intangible assets recorded for our existing businesses or the businesses that we acquire; increases in health care costs resulting from large-scale medical emergencies; failure to maintain effective and efficient information systems or if our technology products otherwise do not operate as intended; misappropriation of our proprietary technology; our ability to obtain sufficient funds from our regulated subsidiaries or the debt or capital markets to fund our obligations, to maintain our debt to total capital ratio at targeted levels, to maintain our quarterly dividend payment cycle or to continue repurchasing shares of our common stock; failure to complete or receive anticipated benefits of acquisitions and other strategic transactions, including the Amil acquisition; the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates on our reported shareholders' equity and results of operations; potential downgrades in our credit ratings; and failure to achieve targeted operating cost productivity improvements, including savings resulting from technology enhancement and administrative modernization.

This list of important factors is not intended to be exhaustive. We discuss certain of these matters more fully, as well as certain risk factors that may affect our business operations, financial condition and results of operations, in our other periodic and current filings with the SEC, including our 2011 10-K. Any or all forward-looking statements we make may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. By their nature, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict or quantify. Actual future results may vary materially from expectations expressed in this report or any of our prior communications. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our primary market risks are exposures to (a) changes in interest rates that impact our investment income and interest expense and the fair value of certain of our fixed-rate investments and debt and (b) changes in equity prices that impact the value of our equity investments.

As of September 30, 2012, we had $9.8 billion of cash, cash equivalents and investments on which the interest rates received vary with market interest rates, which may materially impact our investment income. Also, $2.7 billion of our debt and deposit liabilities as of September 30, 2012 were at interest rates that vary with market rates, either directly or through the use of related interest rate swap contracts.

The fair value of certain of our fixed-rate investments and debt also varies with market interest rates. As of September 30, 2012, $18.7 billion of our investments were fixed-rate debt securities and $11.9 billion of our debt was non-swapped fixed-rate term debt. An increase in market interest rates decreases the market value of fixed-rate investments and fixed-rate debt. Conversely, a decrease in market interest rates increases the market value of fixed-rate investments and fixed-rate debt.

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We manage exposure to market interest rates by diversifying investments across different fixed income market sectors and debt across maturities, as well as endeavoring to match our floating-rate assets and liabilities over time, either directly or periodically through the use of interest rate swap contracts.

The following table summarizes the impact of hypothetical changes in market interest rates across the entire yield curve by 1% or 2% as of September 30, 2012 on our investment income and interest expense per annum, and the fair value of our investments and debt (in millions, except percentages):



	September 30, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Market Interest Rate	Investment Income Per Annum (a)			Interest Expense Per Annum (a)			Fair Value of Investments (b)			Fair Value of Debt
2 %	$	197		$	54		$	(1,300	)	$	(2,102	)
1	98			27			(647		)	(1,116		)
(1)	(16		)	(6		)	491			1,280
(2)	nm			nm			624			2,621

nm = not meaningful


(a)	Given the low absolute level of short-term market rates on our floating-rate assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2012, the assumed hypothetical change in interest rates does not reflect the full 100 basis point reduction in interest income or interest expense as the rate cannot fall below zero and thus the 200 basis point reduction is not meaningful.


(b)	As of September 30, 2012, some of our investments had interest rates below 2% so the assumed hypothetical change in the fair value of investments does not reflect the full 200 basis point reduction.

As of September 30, 2012, we had $643 million of investments in equity securities and venture capital funds, a portion of which were invested in various public and non-public companies concentrated in the areas of health care delivery and related information technologies. Market conditions that affect the value of health care or technology stocks will impact the value of our equity investments.


ITEM 4.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms; and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

In connection with the filing of this Form 10-Q, management evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2012. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of September 30, 2012.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

A description of our legal proceedings is included in and incorporated by reference to Note 9 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part I, Item 1 of this report.


ITEM 1A.	RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item

1A, “Risk Factors” of our 2011 10-K, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks

described in our 2011 10-K are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that

we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating

results.

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our 2011 10-K.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (a)

Third Quarter 2012



For the Month Ended	Total Number of Shares Purchased	Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under The Plans or Programs
	(in millions)			(in millions)	(in millions)
July 31, 2012	2	$	54.54	2	106
August 31, 2012	3	51.97		3	103
September 30, 2012	10	53.46		10	94
Total	15	$	53.30	15

(a)

In November 1997, our Board of Directors adopted a share repurchase program, which the Board evaluates periodically. In June 2012, the Board renewed and expanded our share repurchase program with an authorization to repurchase up to 110 million shares of our common stock in open market purchases or other types of transactions (including prepaid or structured repurchase programs). There is no established expiration date for the program.

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS *

The following exhibits are filed in response to Item 601 of Regulation S-K.



3.1			Third Restated Articles of Incorporation of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 29, 2007)
3.2			Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 23, 2009)
4.1			Senior Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1998, between United HealthCare Corporation and The Bank of New York (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3/A, SEC File Number 333-66013, filed on January 11, 1999)
4.2			Amendment, dated as of November 6, 2000, to Senior Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1998, between the UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and The Bank of New York (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001)
4.3			Instrument of Resignation, Appointment and Acceptance of Trustee, dated January 8, 2007, pursuant to the Senior Indenture, dated November 15, 1998, amended November 6, 2000, among UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, The Bank of New York and Wilmington Trust Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007)
4.4			Indenture, dated as of February 4, 2008, between UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3, SEC File Number 333-149031, filed on February 4, 2008)
12.1			Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
31.1			Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1			Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101			The following materials from UnitedHealth Group Incorporated’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 filed on October 30, 2012, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

________________



*		Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K, copies of instruments defining the rights of certain holders of long-term debt are not filed. The Company will furnish copies thereof to the SEC upon request.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED



/s/ STEPHEN J. HEMSLEY	President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)	Dated:	October 30, 2012
Stephen J. Hemsley

/s/ DAVID S. WICHMANN	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of UnitedHealth Group and President of UnitedHealth Group Operations (principal financial officer)	Dated:	October 30, 2012
David S. Wichmann

/S/ ERIC S. RANGEN	Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (principal accounting officer)	Dated:	October 30, 2012
Eric S. Rangen

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EXHIBIT INDEX*



3.1			Third Restated Articles of Incorporation of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 29, 2007)
3.2			Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 23, 2009)
4.1			Senior Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1998, between United HealthCare Corporation and The Bank of New York (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3/A, SEC File Number 333-66013, filed on January 11, 1999)
4.2			Amendment, dated as of November 6, 2000, to Senior Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1998, between the UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and The Bank of New York (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001)
4.3			Instrument of Resignation, Appointment and Acceptance of Trustee, dated January 8, 2007, pursuant to the Senior Indenture, dated November 15, 1998, amended November 6, 2000, among UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, The Bank of New York and Wilmington Trust Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007)
4.4			Indenture, dated as of February 4, 2008, between UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3, SEC File Number 333-149031, filed on February 4, 2008)
12.1			Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
31.1			Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1			Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101			The following materials from UnitedHealth Group Incorporated's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 filed on October 30, 2012, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

________________



*		Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K, copies of instruments defining the rights of certain holders of long-term debt are not filed. The Company will furnish copies thereof to the SEC upon request.