FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF 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 *   HELWIG DAVID S 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year) 11/30/2004 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol WELLPOINT INC [WLP] (Last) (First) (Middle) 120 MONUMENT CIRCLE 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) (Street) INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46204 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 Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 4) 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4) 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5) Common Stock 342 I Held by Son Common Stock 227 I Held by daughter Common Stock 3,729 I 401(k) Common Stock 77,335 I Hewig Family Trust Common Stock 17,851 D Â

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.			SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Deferred Comp Stock Units	  (1)	  (1)	Common Stock	17,077	$ 0	D	Â
Deferred Comp Stock Units	  (2)	  (2)	Common Stock	1,990	$ 0	D	Â
Deferred Comp Stock Units	  (3)	  (3)	Commn Stock	10,600	$ 0	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	02/10/2010	Common Stock	7,252	$ 27.57	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	06/03/2011	Common Stock	16,534	$ 34.92	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	03/26/2011	Common Stock	2,733	$ 36.58	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (5)	02/06/2012	Common Stock	41,334	$ 51.21	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (6)	02/04/2013	Common Stock	95,066	$ 55.1	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	03/27/2011	Common Stock	3,282	$ 59.81	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	02/11/2010	Common Stock	9,746	$ 59.81	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	02/10/2007	Common Stock	7,015	$ 59.81	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	02/10/2007	Common Stock	6,217	$ 59.81	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	02/01/2011	Common Stock	15,930	$ 59.81	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	02/11/2009	Common Stock	11,403	$ 59.81	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	02/10/2007	Common Stock	10,175	$ 68.82	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	01/31/2011	Common Stock	15,072	$ 68.82	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	02/10/2010	Common Stock	9,129	$ 68.82	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	02/12/2008	Common Stock	9,801	$ 68.82	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	02/11/2009	Common Stock	3,853	$ 68.82	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	02/09/2007	Common Stock	3,993	$ 68.82	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	02/11/2010	Common Stock	6,067	$ 68.82	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (3)(4)	02/06/2012	Common Stock	8,356	$ 68.82	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	03/26/2011	Common Stock	8,784	$ 68.82	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	02/06/2012	Common Stock	41,328	$ 75.4	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	02/11/2009	Common Stock	1,397	$ 75.4	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	02/09/2007	Common Stock	6,449	$ 75.4	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	05/20/2006	Common Stock	15,161	$ 75.4	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	06/03/2011	Common Stock	10,831	$ 75.4	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (7)	01/25/2014	Common Stock	104,160	$ 82.06	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	03/26/2011	Common Stock	5,982	$ 89.95	D	Â

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
HELWIG DAVID S 120 MONUMENT CIRCLE INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46204	Â	Â	  EVP	Â

Signatures

Nancy Purcell, Attorney-in-fact		12/02/2004
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(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 deferred stock unit represents the right to receive, on a deferred basis under the Issuer's Comprehensive Executive non-qualified Retirement Plan, one share of the Issuer's common stock to be issued under the Issuer's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan upon the expiration of the deferral period. Each of the deferred stock units is currently vested.
(2)	Each deferred stock unit represents the right to receive, on a deferred basis under the Issuer's Comprehensive Executive non-qualified Retirement Plan, one share of the Issuer's common stock to be issued under the Issuer's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan upon the expiration of the deferral period. Each of the deferred stock units will vest on March 15, 2005, subject to acceleration in the event the reporting person should terminate employment with the Issuer under certain prescribed circumstances.
(3)	Each deferred stock unit represents the right to receive, on a deferred basis under the Issuer's Comprehensive Executive non-qualified Retirement Plan, one share of the Issuer's common stock to be issued under the Issuer's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan upon the expiration of the deferral period. Each of the deferred stock units will vest in three successive equal annual installments, beginning January 26, 2005, subject to acceleration in the event the reporting person should terminate employment with the Issuer under certain prescribed circumstances.
(4)	These options are fully vested.
(5)	The options are vested with respect to 20,666 shares will vest as to the remaining 20,668 shares on February 7, 2005.
(6)	The options are vested with respect to 23,767 shares will vest as to the remaining 71,299 shares in three equal installments on February 5, 2005, August 5, 2005 and February 5, 2006.
(7)	The options are vested with respect to 17,360 shares will vest as to the remaining 86,800 shares in five equal installments on January 26, 2005, July 26 2005, January 26, 2006, July 26, 2006 and January 26, 2007.
  Remarks: Form 1 of 2 being filed for the reporting person on the same day.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

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