United Healthcare 2010 Annual Report Download - page 3

PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
INTRODUCTION
Overview
UnitedHealth Group is a diversified health and well-being company, whose focus is on improving the overall
health and well-being of the people we serve and their communities and enhancing the performance of the health
system (the terms “we,” “our,” “us” “UnitedHealth Group” or the “Company” used in this report refer to
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and our subsidiaries). We work with health care professionals and other key
partners to expand access to high quality health care. We help people get the care they need at an affordable cost;
support the physician/patient relationship; and empower people with the information, guidance and tools they
need to make personal health choices and decisions.
During 2010, we managed approximately $125 billion in aggregate health care spending on behalf of the
constituents and consumers we served across our various businesses. Our primary focus is on improving the
health care system by simplifying the administrative components of health care delivery, promoting evidence-
based medicine as the standard for care, and providing relevant, actionable data that physicians, health care
professionals, consumers, employers and other participants in health care can use to make better, more informed
decisions.
Through our diversified family of businesses, we leverage core competencies in advanced technology-based
transactional capabilities; health care data, knowledge and information; and health care resource organization and
care facilitation to help make health care work better. These core competencies are focused in two market areas,
health benefits and health services. Health benefits are offered in the individual and employer markets and the
public and senior markets through our UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual (formerly UnitedHealthcare),
UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement (formerly Ovations), and UnitedHealthcare Community & State
(formerly AmeriChoice) businesses. Health services are provided to the participants in the health system itself,
ranging from consumers, employers and health plans to physicians and life sciences companies through our
OptumHealth, Ingenix and Prescription Solutions businesses. In aggregate, these businesses have more than two
dozen distinct business units that address specific end markets. Each of these business units focuses on the key
goals in health and well-being: access, affordability, quality and simplicity as they apply to their specific market.
Our revenues are derived from premiums on risk-based products; fees from management, administrative,
technology and consulting services; sales of a wide variety of products and services related to the broad health
and well-being industry; and investment and other income. We have four reporting segments:
• Health Benefits, which includes UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual, UnitedHealthcare Medicare &
Retirement and UnitedHealthcare Community & State;
• OptumHealth;
• Ingenix; and
• Prescription Solutions.
For our financial results and the presentation of certain other financial information by segment, see Note 14 of
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
2011 Business Realignment
On January 1, 2011, we realigned certain of our businesses to respond to changes in the markets we serve and the
opportunities that are emerging as the health system evolves. For example, in 2011 OptumHealth’s results of
operations will include our clinical services assets, including Southwest Medical multi-specialty clinics in
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