Document and Entity Information Document	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	May 05, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	Health Net Inc
Entity Central Index Key	0000916085
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2014
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		80,204,124
Treasury Stock, Shares	71,242,000	71,244,473	70,704,000