-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JDD/T4XDo463OSR0379d+W6aSKzaMXGDcVp6pegojzfiGawmu/sNN7XlMcSwtGmB
 EURIg9EehsJPgZvUmHYICg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001192085-03-000003.txt : 20030514
<SEC-HEADER>0001192085-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20030514
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030514123254
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001192085-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030512
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030514

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCDOWELL JAMES W JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001192085

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16751
		FILM NUMBER:		03697778

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 WILLOW AVE
		STREET 2:		UNIT 804
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40204

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>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-12</periodOfReport>
<issuer><issuerCik>0001156039</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ANTHEM INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>ATH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001192085</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCDOWELL JAMES W JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>71.7</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-12</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-12</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle
><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Exercisable in three equal installments on May 12, 2004, 2005 and 2006</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Nancy Purcell, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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