Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
MURRAY JAMES E
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
HUMANA INC [HUM] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
COO-Mkt & Bus. Segment Ops
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
HUMANA INC., 500 WEST MAIN STREET		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/17/2004
(Street)

LOUISVILLE, KY 40202		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Humana Common (1) 12/17/2004   G   856 D $ 0 225,126 D  
Humana Common (1)               7,361 I See Footnote (2)
Humana Common (1)               19,041 I See Footnote (3)

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Options (4) $ 15.5938             09/17/1999 01/12/2005 Humana Common (1) 34,400   34,400 D  
Options (4) $ 15.5938             01/09/2000(5) 01/09/2007 Humana Common (1) 59,605   59,605 D  
Options (4) $ 15.5938             01/15/2001(6) 01/15/2008 Humana Common (1) 34,800   34,800 D  
Options (4) $ 19.25             01/15/2002(7) 01/15/2009 Humana Common (1) 30,000   30,000 D  
Options (4) $ 7.4688             11/18/2002(8) 11/18/2009 Humana Common (1) 100,000   100,000 D  
Options (4) $ 12.995             03/13/2005(9) 03/13/2012 Humana Common (1) 20,000   20,000 D  
Options (4) $ 9.26             03/13/2006(10) 03/13/2013 Humana Common (1) 50,000   50,000 D  
Options (11) $ 21.275               (12) 02/24/2014 Humana Common (1) 85,000   85,000 D  
Phantom Stock Units (13)               (13)   (13) Humana Common (1) 9,564   9,564 I See Footnote (13)

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
MURRAY JAMES E
HUMANA INC.
500 WEST MAIN STREET
LOUISVILLE, KY 40202		       COO-Mkt & Bus. Segment Ops  

Signatures

 James E. Murray   12/17/2004
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) 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.
(2) Shares held by reporting person's spouse.
(3) Stock units held for the benefit of reporting person as of November 30, 2004 under the Humana Retirement & Savings Plan, including a routine disposition of shares to fund an administrative fee assessment under a Tax-Conditioned Plan, both exempt under Rule 16b-3(c).
(4) Right to buy pursuant to Company's 1996 Stock Incentive Plan for Employees.
(5) Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Options were granted to reporting person on 9/17/98 vesting in two increments, 9/17/99 and 1/9/00.
(6) Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Options were granted to reporting person on 9/17/98 vesting in three increments each from 9/17/99 to 1/15/01.
(7) Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Options were granted to reporting person on 1/15/99 vesting in three increments each from 1/15/00 to 1/15/02.
(8) Non-Qualified Stock Options were granted to reporting person on 11/18/99 vesting in three increments from 11/18/00 to 11/18/02.
(9) Incentive Stock Options were granted to reporting person on 3/13/02 vesting in thirds from 3/13/03 to 3/13/05.
(10) Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Options were granted to reporting person on 3/13/03 vesting in three increments each from 3/13/04 to 3/13/06.
(11) Right to buy pursuant to Company's 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.
(12) Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Options were granted to reporting person on 2/24/04 vesting in three increments from 2/24/05 to 2/24/07, and ISO's vesting on 02/24/07.
(13) Phantom Stock Units held for the benefit of reporting person as of November 30, 2004, based on the value of Humana common stock on a 1-for-1 basis, under the Humana Excess Plan exempt under Rule 16b-3(c and d).

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