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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EsAzxQB/XsV/xmy9wvg19g8JTEabyymYUfm+9zJkoDztLjKnjwMqeG9GPwnJoZxC
 t0nkvAX06SBUbztYKwkjkw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000049071-04-000005.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0000049071-04-000005.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106124905
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000049071-04-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HUMANA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000049071
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOSPITAL & MEDICAL SERVICE PLANS [6324]
		IRS NUMBER:				610647538
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 W MAIN ST
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5025801000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EXTENDICARE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19740404

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HERITAGE HOUSE OF AMERICA INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19671129

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HALL JOHN R /KY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001023589

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05975
		FILM NUMBER:		04508868

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 391
		CITY:			ASHLAND
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41114
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6063294784

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ASHLAND INC
		STREET 2:		1000 ASHLAND DRIVE PO BOX 391
		CITY:			RUSSELL
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41169
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000049071</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HUMANA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HUM</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001023589</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HALL JOHN R /KY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ASHLAND INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>500 DIEDERICH BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RUSSELL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>41169</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Humana Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>22423</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Options</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>22.4375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1996-01-03</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-01-03</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Humana Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurit
yTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Options</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>26.9375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-01-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-01-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Humana Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTran
sactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Options</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>18.9375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-01-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-01-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Humana Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitl
e><value>Options</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>21.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-01-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-01-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Humana Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Options</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>18.7813</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-01-04</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-01
- -04</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Humana Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Options</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.875</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-01-03</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-01-03</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Humana Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></
underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Options</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>14.7813</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-01-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-01-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Humana Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></dire
ctOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Options</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>11.55</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-01-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-01-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Humana Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Options</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExerciseP
rice><value>10.19</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-01-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-01-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Humana Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Options</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>23.05</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equit
ySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.05</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2005-01-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2014-01-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Humana Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Unit</value><footnoteId 
id="F5"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F5"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3802</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F5"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F5"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F5"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Humana Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3802</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3802</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionA
mounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Each share of Common Stock contains a Right adopted on March 5, 1987, pursuant to the Company Rights Agreement, as amended and restated on February 14, 1996, and amended as of May 27, 1998 and March 1, 1999, which entitles holders of the Company's Common Stock, in the  event certain specified events occur, to acquire 1/100 of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock at a price of $145 per fractional share.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Right to buy pursuant to Humana Inc.'s 1989 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Right to buy pursuant to Humana Inc.'s 1996 Incentive Stock Option Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Right to buy  pursuant to Humana Inc.'s 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F5">The units of stock have been de
ferred at the election of the reporting person until his termination of services as a director at which time they will be payable in Humana Inc. common stock on a 1-for-1 basis, exempt pursuant to Rule 16(b)-6(b).</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>John R. Hall</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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