-----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,
 Aucds7/gbUo1QId47Jsb0S5KG95d6R+C/3tbWqV4oS5r2S1dmHWDgkVjK7r+5L5c
 3l0wSBrrHza8UeOUhxCu7A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-11-003301.txt : 20110223
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-11-003301.hdr.sgml : 20110223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110223183327
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-11-003301
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110218
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110223
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Capezza Joseph C.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001415947

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12718
		FILM NUMBER:		11633561

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		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>2011-02-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001415947</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Capezza Joseph C.</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>EVP &amp; Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>39750</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>140377</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1176</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.49</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>139201</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>30.73</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>54000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-02-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>54000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>54000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 12,750 performance shares, which represent the portion of the Reporting Person's February 17, 2009 performance share award attributable to the Issuer's achievement of a target level of pre-tax income in 2010.  Vesting of the performance shares is subject to continued employment of the Reporting Person through the date on which the Compensation Committee makes a determination regarding the satisfaction of certain additional criteria, which shall occur as soon as practicable following December 31, 2011 and in any event, no later than the third anniversary of the grant date.  Also includes 27,000 restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) granted to the Reporting Person on February 18, 2011 (the &quot;2011 Grant Date&quot;) under the Issuer's 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended (the &quot;2006 Plan&quot;), which vest and become non-forfeitable with respect to 33-1/3% of the RSUs on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the 2011 Grant Date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Stock option granted to the Reporting Person under the Issuer's 2006 Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This stock option becomes exercisable with respect to 33-1/3% of the shares underlying the options on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the 2011 Grant Date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents the total number of stock options granted to the Reporting Person on the 2011 Grant Date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Shares forfeited in lieu of payment of tax liability in connection with the vesting of twenty-five percent of a grant of 12,500 restricted stock units made to the Reporting Person on February 22, 2010 pursuant to the Issuer's 2006 Plan (the &quot;2010 Grant&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The number of shares forfeited by the Reporting Person was based on the closing price of the Issuer's common stock on February 22, 2011, the first vesting date of the 2010 Grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Joseph C. Capezza</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----