8-K

                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 20, 2002







                           OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


     Delaware                    001-16437                06-1118515
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission     IRS Employer Identification No.)
of  incorporation)               File Number)


48 Monroe Turnpike, Trumbull, Connecticut                           06611
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)


                                 (203) 459-6000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)












Item 5.  Other Events.

     The Company's Press Release dated December 20, 2002 is attached as an
Exhibit hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (c)  Exhibits

          99  Press Release dated December 20 , 2002








                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                                OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.


Date: December 20, 2002                         By: /s/ MARC M. KOLE
                                                -------------------------
                                                        Marc M. Kole
                                               Senior Vice President and
                                               Chief Accounting Officer




                   OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                 Exhibit Index



 Exhibit                                                                 Page
 Number               Description of Document                            Number
 ------               -----------------------                            ------

  99           Press Release dated December 20, 2002                        5

EX-99

                                   EXHIBIT 99

CONTACT:
For Media:  Maria Gordon Shydlo
            (203) 459-7674/mshydlo@oxfordhealth.com

For Investors:  Gary Frazier/Deborah Abraham
                (203) 459-7331/(914) 467-3030
                gfrazier@oxfordhealth.com/dabraham@oxfordhealth.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- ---------------------

                  TRIAL DATE SET IN OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.
                    1997 SECURITIES CLASS ACTION LITIGATION

       -Company Expects to Add $20 Million to Litigation Reserves in the
                            Fourth Quarter of 2002-

TRUMBULL, CONN. (December 20, 2002) - Oxford Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: OHP)
announced today that the United States District Court for the Southern District
of New York has scheduled trial to commence on March 10, 2003 in the securities
class action lawsuits brought in 1997 following the October 27, 1997 decline in
the price of the Company's common stock.  In anticipation of additional legal
fees and other expenses related to trial, the Company expects to add $20 million
to its litigation reserves for these lawsuits, which will result in a $20
million non-cash pretax charge against income for the quarter ending December
31, 2002.

As previously reported, in view of the inherent risks and uncertainties of
litigation and in anticipation of a settlement conference held in November 2002,
the Company communicated to the plaintiffs and the Company's excess insurance
carriers its willingness to pay $161.3 million.  This offer reflected the full
amount of the current retention under the excess insurance carriers'
interpretation of the $200 million Excess Insurance policies that the Company
purchased in 1999.  Although settlement discussions may continue, the Company,
its excess insurance carriers and the plaintiffs have been unable to reach a
settlement of these lawsuits.

If a settlement is not reached, or if the Court does not approve any such
settlement, the securities class actions would proceed to trial.  The Company,
in the opinion of management with the advice of external counsel, has
substantial defenses to plaintiffs' claims and may ultimately prevail at trial.
There can be no assurance as to the ultimate result in this litigation.

Founded in 1984, Oxford Health Plans, Inc. provides health plans to employers
and individuals primarily in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, through its
direct sales force, independent insurance agents and brokers.  Oxford's services
include traditional health maintenance organizations, point-of-service plans,
third party administration of employer-funded benefits plans and Medicare plans.

           Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release, including statements concerning the
expected amounts of an addition to the Company's securities class action
litigation reserves and a pretax charge against income and other statements
contained herein regarding matters that are not historical facts, are
forward-looking statements as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;
and because such statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results may
differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
include, but are not limited to, future developments in the securities class
action litigation or related settlement discussions, and those factors discussed
under the caption "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in
Part I, Item 1, of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2001 and Part I, Item 2, of the Company's Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2002, June 30, 2002 and September
30, 2002.