-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VXK2b5aVFQJx6+VNrGkxWfh/tdm17QXQnrQJ0YySnurn/ItQTUVMgCgqCwNF8lWZ
 QJ+DgSGTsRuw4qvtiJG7QA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-011454.txt : 20030602
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-011454.hdr.sgml : 20030602
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030602113434
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-011454
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030529
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030602

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEALTH NET INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000916085
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOSPITAL & MEDICAL SERVICE PLANS [6324]
		IRS NUMBER:				954288333
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21650 OXNARD ST
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8186766000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 N MAIN ST
		CITY:			PUEBLO
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			81003

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FOUNDATION HEALTH SYSTEMS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970513

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HEALTH SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940207

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HN MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS INC/DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931213

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MOORE TIMOTHY J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214696

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12718
		FILM NUMBER:		03727424

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21650 OXNARD STREET, 22ND FLOOR
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8186766000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HEALTH NET, INC.
		STREET 2:		21650 OXNARD STREET, 22ND FL
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>j1674_4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="no"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-05-29</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000916085</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEALTH NET INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HNT</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214696</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOORE TIMOTHY J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
      <officerTitle>SVP and Chief Medical Officer</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-05-29</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      <footnoteId id="F1"/>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>4528</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>23.02</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>A</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>4528</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </nonDerivativeSecurity>
  <nonDerivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-05-29</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      <footnoteId id="F2"/>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>26667</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>20.40</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>A</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>31195</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </nonDerivativeSecurity>
  <nonDerivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-05-29</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>31195</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>29.5053</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>0</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </nonDerivativeSecurity>
  <derivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <value>23.02</value>
    </conversionOrExercisePrice>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-05-29</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      <footnoteId id="F1"/>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>4528</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>0</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <exerciseDate>
      <value>2002-02-09</value>
      <footnoteId id="F3"/>
    </exerciseDate>
    <expirationDate>
      <value>2011-02-09</value>
    </expirationDate>
    <underlyingSecurity>
      <underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
      </underlyingSecurityTitle>
      <underlyingSecurityShares>
        <value>4528</value>
      </underlyingSecurityShares>
    </underlyingSecurity>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>0</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </derivativeSecurity>
  <derivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <value>20.40</value>
    </conversionOrExercisePrice>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-05-29</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      <footnoteId id="F2"/>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>26667</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>0</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <exerciseDate>
      <value>2002-02-21</value>
      <footnoteId id="F4"/>
    </exerciseDate>
    <expirationDate>
      <value>2011-02-21</value>
    </expirationDate>
    <underlyingSecurity>
      <underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
      </underlyingSecurityTitle>
      <underlyingSecurityShares>
        <value>26667</value>
      </underlyingSecurityShares>
    </underlyingSecurity>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>13333</value>
        <footnoteId id="F5"/>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </derivativeSecurity>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Exercise of option (right to buy) granted to Reporting Person under the Issuer's 1991 Stock Option Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">Exercise of option (right to buy) granted to Reporting Person under the Issuer's 1998 Stock Option Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">The option became exercisable in full on the first anniversary of the February 9, 2001 option grant date.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F4">The option became exercisable in three equal installments on each of the first, second and third anniversary of the February 21, 2001 option grant date.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F5">Represents unexercised options from the February 21, 2001 option grant beneficially owned by the Reporting Person.  </footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>Timothy J. Moore</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-05-29</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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