-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 I1Cgx/ePDSjZN1qgHLslQailDuhLdHt46kXi596RPZGGRwZAU63M20OkKA7cR1UA
 JuIQ8yKkjm8ZvBwYECw1uQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-09-008564.txt : 20090527
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-09-008564.hdr.sgml : 20090527
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090527152814
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-09-008564
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090522
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090527
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090527

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WILLISON BRUCE G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213942

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12718
		FILM NUMBER:		09854412

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21650 OXNARD STREET, 22ND FLOOR
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEALTH NET INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000916085
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOSPITAL & MEDICAL SERVICE PLANS [6324]
		IRS NUMBER:				954288333
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21650 OXNARD ST
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8186766000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 N MAIN ST
		CITY:			PUEBLO
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			81003

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FOUNDATION HEALTH SYSTEMS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970513

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HEALTH SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940207

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HN MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS INC/DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931213
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-05-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000916085</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEALTH NET INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HNT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213942</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WILLISON BRUCE G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HEALTH NET, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>21650 OXNARD STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WOODLAND HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91367</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-05-22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>22100</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22100</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Annual grant of a nonqualified stock option to the Reporting Person made pursuant to the Issuer's 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The stock option becomes exercisable in 33 1/3% increments on each of the first, second and third anniversary dates of the May 22, 2009 option grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents total number of stock options granted to the Reporting Person on May 22, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Bruce G. Willison</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-05-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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