<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>