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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QVa5AtnqneK54cCNVteYlAyQcnakE8sxFBDErUzlS1Szsb9zz9Sb+HDbogkpMlJl
 VKSHeSPv+MZoAFrL5mJaVA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001156039-04-000022.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0001156039-04-000022.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106120506
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001156039-04-000022
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WARD JACKIE M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001086247

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16751
		FILM NUMBER:		04508647

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BUILDING G FOURTH FLOOR
		STREET 2:		5775 PEACHTREE-DUNWOODY ROAD
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30342

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BUILDING G FOURTH FLOOR
		STREET 2:		5775 PEACHTREE-DUNWOODY ROAD
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30342

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ANTHEM INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001156039
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOSPITAL & MEDICAL SERVICE PLANS [6324]
		IRS NUMBER:				352145715
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		120 MONUMENT CIRCLE
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3174886000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001156039</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ANTHEM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001086247</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WARD JACKIE M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>120 MONUMENT CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>INDIANAPOLIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>46204</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>65</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>76.28</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value
></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>65</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>65</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The phantom stock units were accrued under the Anthem, Inc. (&quot;Company&quot;) Board of Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan (&quot;The Plan&quot;).</footnote><footnote id="F2">The Conversion or Exercise Price of the Derivative Security is 1-for-1.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The phantom stock units shall be payable in Company common stock at the time designated in the reporting person's election made under the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Plan.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Nancy Purcell, Atto
rney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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