-----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,
 KI+twUeGp7Ix4+LGyAYezSocXpMDAT+nRi9aGYOK4sMeD2D9kUREvTaHdWDwXBQp
 2Z9PM2kPyn++FMfllAK4xQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-11-002079.txt : 20110207
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-11-002079.hdr.sgml : 20110207
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110207190049
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-11-002079
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110207
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110207
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110207

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Sivori John P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001450520

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12718
		FILM NUMBER:		11579924

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O HEALTH NET, INC.
		STREET 2:		21650 OXNARD STREET
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-02-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000916085</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEALTH NET INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HNT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001450520</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sivori John P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HEALTH NET, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>21650 OXNARD STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WOODLAND HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91367</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Health Care Svcs OfcrPresPharm</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>932</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40736</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>932</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4995</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares transferred to the Sivori Family Trust, John and Roxanne Sivori TTES (the &quot;Sivori Family Trust&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares are held by the Sivori Family Trust, of which the Reporting Person is a trustee and beneficiary.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John P. Sivori</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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