-----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,
 UFnB1C8lg+Uadxnx0HnHzFLS4EMNBUDpcsNNptasx9ebohZHbSSaCt5ypiYOFFWr
 q9s7Cz0NQg/rDOa96VMIww==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000049071-08-000077.txt : 20081223
<SEC-HEADER>0000049071-08-000077.hdr.sgml : 20081223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081223091326
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000049071-08-000077
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081222
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081223
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Dunbar Webster Roy
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001305807

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05975
		FILM NUMBER:		081265683

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		972-605-5472

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5400 LEGACY DRIVE
		CITY:			PLANO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75024

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-22</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001305807</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Dunbar Webster Roy</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>13861 SUNRISE VALLEY DRIVE, SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HERNDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20171</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>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.7956</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9687</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Unit</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Humana Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5659</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5659</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Unit</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Humana Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1555</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1555</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Annual Director's fee payable in stock units, 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>
        <footnote id="F2">Director's cash fee elected to be converted into stock units, 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>W. Roy Dunbar</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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