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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 O9UINi8TBdtl6W1ubtBRfSWxrkrBtG32FJtq4m3qov3Kss1KHVbyGDwItaWLoz6P
 jk4y2Jvi+gsj0qcl67nOMg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000049071-07-000003.txt : 20070105
<SEC-HEADER>0000049071-07-000003.hdr.sgml : 20070105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070105103153
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000049071-07-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070105

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 W. MAIN ST
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40202

	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:			OBRIEN JAMES J /KY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001023582

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05975
		FILM NUMBER:		07512152

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 14000
		CITY:			LEXINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40512
		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>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000049071</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HUMANA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HUM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001023582</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OBRIEN JAMES J /KY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ASHLAND INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COVINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>41012</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>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Unit</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2231</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>56.04</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Humana Common</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2231</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11424</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></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">Annual Director's fee payable in stock units which have been deferred at the election of the reporting person until his resignation of services as a director at which time the stock units will be payable in Humana Inc. common stock on a 1-for-1 basis, exempt pursuant to Rule 16(b)-3(d)(1).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James J. O'Brien</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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