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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KDJzSHy8EtWPn9jZMLjNZfvgjsnvPEJ/XGHN1eTfW47uBtB9xTee46XBvMs5GPRc
 CJkTYtlwtD2VNWsNqee1Dw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000909518-04-000100.txt : 20040206
<SEC-HEADER>0000909518-04-000100.hdr.sgml : 20040206
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040206163727
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000909518-04-000100
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040204
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040206

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAGELLAN HEALTH SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000019411
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HOSPITALS [8060]
		IRS NUMBER:				581076937
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6950 COLUMBIA GATEWAY
		STREET 2:		STE 400
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21046
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4109531000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CHARTER MEDICAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WEST JEFFREY N
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001244921

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06639
		FILM NUMBER:		04574763

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6950 COLUMBIA GATEWAY DR STE 400
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21046
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4109531000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6950 COLUMBIA GATEWAY DR STE 400
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21046
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>west2-5_form4ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000019411</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MAGELLAN HEALTH SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MGLN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001244921</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEST JEFFREY N</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>14100 MAGELLAN PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MARYLAND HEIGHTS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63043</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Controller</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>23.52</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13336</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Ordinary Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>13336</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13336</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">25% on January 5, 2005, 25% on January 5, 2006, 25% on January 5, 2007, 25% on January 5, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The zero (&quot;0&quot;) in this column is a &quot;dummy&quot; amount, solely for the purpose of permitting the use of the following explanation: No price was applicable to the acquisition of this security.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeffrey N. West</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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