<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000916085 <NAME> FOUNDATION HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 615,574 <SECURITIES> 564,365 <RECEIVABLES> 514,752<F1> <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,072,084 <PP&E> 334,134<F2> <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,711,422 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,638,687 <BONDS> 1,193,679<F3> <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 125 <OTHER-SE> 784,871<F4> <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,711,422 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,275,990 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,803,576 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 371,697 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 21,938 <INCOME-PRETAX> 78,779 <INCOME-TAX> 31,441 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 47,338 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 5,417 <NET-INCOME> 41,921 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.34 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.34 <FN> <F1>NET OF ALLOWANCES FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS. <F2>NET OF ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION. <F3>INCLUDES BORROWINGS UNDER REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY, MISCELLANEOUS NOTES PAYABLE AND CAPITAL LEASES. <F4>NET OF TREASURY STOCK. </FN>