-----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,
 BuUlAkyzxAbWHbmF8DMDL+GnoBMrABL39a/T/xbALIp+xVfyk9erFL6c7iExBzcP
 MNAqzBSd9d3SP/2OgeA2HA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000049071-04-000011.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0000049071-04-000011.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106134319
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000049071-04-000011
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:			HILZINGER KURT J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001191504

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05975
		FILM NUMBER:		04509184

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1300 MORRIS DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			CHESTERBROOK
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19087
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6107277000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1300 MORRIS DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			CHESTERBROOK
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19087
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<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>0001191504</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HILZINGER KURT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1300 MORRIS DRIVE, SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHESTERBROOK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19087</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Humana Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3802</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.05</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3802</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><v
alue/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>16.455</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-07-10</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-07-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Humana Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrEx
ercisePrice><value>23.05</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>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><directOrI
ndirectOwnership><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 Humana Inc.'s 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 Humana'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 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Award of stock pursuant to Humana Inc's 2003 Stock Incentive Plan  in lieu of director fees exempt under 16(b)-3(d)(1).</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Kurt J. Hilzinger</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDoc
ument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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