PATRICIA T. CLAREY AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.1

PATRICIA T. CLAREY

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of May 23, 2008 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Health Net, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with its principal place of business located at 21650 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, California 91367, and Patricia T. Clarey (“Executive”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive are party to an Employment Letter Agreement, dated March 23, 2006, (the “Prior Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to amend and restate the Prior Agreement to reflect Executive’s new role with the Company as Senior Vice President and Chief Regulatory and External Relations Officer and to make certain changes to the Prior Agreement as a result of Executive’s new role; and

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive are entering into this Agreement to establish the terms and conditions of the employment relationship.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the following covenants, conditions and promises contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:

1. Duties and Salary.

A. Duties. Executive’s title will be Senior Vice President and Chief Regulatory and External Relations Officer, but may be changed at the discretion of the Company to a title that reflects a similarly situated senior executive position. Executive shall report directly to Jay Gellert, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, but Executive’s reporting relationship may be changed from time to time at the discretion of the Company. Executive’s duties and responsibilities include (i) responsibility for policy and execution of the Company’s regulatory, public, communications and legislative activities including Medicare and Medicaid to insure consistency of message, approach, execution and compliance and (ii) provision of staff support to President and Chief Executive Officer in all legislative, congressional, industry group, community activities and strategic Company initiatives, as assigned, but the Company reserves the right to assign Executive other duties as needed and to change Executive’s duties from time to time on reasonable notice, based on Executive’s skills and the needs of the Company.

B. Salary. Executive will be paid a base salary at the annual rate of $397,254, which salary will be paid on a pro-rated bi-weekly basis, less applicable withholdings (“Base Salary”), covering all hours worked. Generally, Executive’s Base Salary will be

 

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reviewed annually, but the Company reserves the right to change Executive’s compensation from time-to-time. Pursuant to the charter of the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Committee”), any adjustment to Executive’s compensation must be made with the approval of the Committee and, in the event that Executive constitutes one of the top two (2) highest paid executive officers of the Company, with the ratification of the Company’s Board of Directors.

C. Disclosure of Personal Compensation Information. As an “executive officer” of the Company (as such term is defined in the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)), information regarding Executive’s employment arrangements with the Company, including, among other things, the terms of this Agreement and any stock option agreement, restricted stock agreement, restricted stock unit agreement, performance share agreement and/or severance agreement Executive enters into with the Company from time to time (collectively, “Personal Compensation Information”), may be disclosed in filings with the SEC, the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and/or other regulatory organizations upon the occurrence of certain triggering events. Such triggering events include, but are not limited to, the execution of this Agreement and any amendments thereto, changes in Executive’s Base Salary, any annual incentive payment (whether in the form of cash or equity) awarded to Executive (in the past or after the date hereof), and the establishment of performance goals under the Company’s incentive plans. Executive’s execution of this Agreement will serve as Executive’s acknowledgement that Executive’s Personal Compensation Information may be publicly disclosed from time to time in filings with the SEC, NYSE or otherwise as required by applicable law.

2. Adjustments and Changes in Employment Status. Executive understands that the Company reserves the right to make personnel decisions regarding Executive’s employment, including, but not limited to, decisions regarding any promotion, salary adjustment, transfer or disciplinary action, up to and including Termination (as defined below), consistent with the needs of the business of the Company.

For purposes of this Agreement, the capitalized terms “Termination” and “Terminate,” shall mean Executive’s Separation from Service (as defined below) from the Company. A “Separation from Service” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), from time to time and other publications of the Internal Revenue Service published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin from time to time.

3. Protection of Proprietary and Confidential Information. Executive agrees that Executive’s employment creates a relationship of confidence and trust with the Company with respect to Proprietary and Confidential Information (as defined below) of the Company learned by Executive during Executive’s employment.

A. Executive agrees not to directly or indirectly use or disclose any of the Proprietary and Confidential Information of the Company or any of its affiliates at any time except in connection with the services Executive provides to such entities. “Proprietary and Confidential Information” shall mean trade secrets, confidential knowledge, data or any other proprietary or confidential information of the Company or any of its affiliates, or of any customers, members, employees or directors of any of such entities, but

 

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shall not include any information that (i) was publicly known and made generally available in the public domain prior to the time of disclosure to Executive by the Company or (ii) becomes publicly known and made generally available after disclosure to Executive by the Company other than as a result of a disclosure by Executive in violation of this Agreement. By way of illustration but not limitation, “Proprietary and Confidential Information” includes: (i) trade secrets, documents, memoranda, reports, files, correspondence, lists and other written and graphic records affecting or relating to any such entity’s business; (ii) confidential marketing information including without limitation marketing strategies, customer and client names and requirements, services, prices, margins and costs; (iii) confidential financial information; (iv) personnel information (including without limitation employee compensation); and (v) other confidential business information.

B. Executive further agrees that at all times during Executive’s employment and thereafter, Executive will keep in confidence and trust all Proprietary and Confidential Information, and that Executive will not use or disclose any Proprietary and Confidential Information or anything related to such information without the written consent of the Company, except as may be necessary in the ordinary course of performing Executive’s duties to the Company.

C. All Company property, including, but not limited to, Proprietary and Confidential Information, documents, data, records, apparatus, equipment and other physical property, whether or not pertaining to Proprietary and Confidential Information, provided to Executive by the Company or any of its affiliates or produced by Executive or others in connection with Executive’s providing services to the Company or any of its affiliates shall be and remain the sole property of the Company or its affiliates (as the case may be) and shall be returned promptly to such appropriate entity as and when requested by such entity. Executive shall return and deliver all such property upon termination of Executive’s employment, and Executive may not take any such property or any reproduction of such property upon such termination.

D. Executive recognizes that the Company and its affiliates have received and in the future will receive information from third parties which is private, proprietary or confidential information subject to a duty on such entity’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. Executive agrees that during Executive’s employment, and thereafter, Executive owes such entities and such third parties a duty to hold all such private, proprietary or confidential information received from third parties in the strictest confidence and not to disclose it, except as necessary in carrying out Executive’s work for such entities consistent with such entities’ agreements with such third parties, and not to use it for the benefit of anyone other than for such entities or such third parties consistent with such entities’ agreements with such third parties.

E. Executive’s obligations under this Section 3 shall continue after the Termination of Executive’s employment and any breach of this Section 3 shall be a material breach of this Agreement.

4. Physical Exam. Executive shall be required, on an annual basis, to undergo a physical examination and to send evidence that Executive has undergone such exam (but in no case the results of such exam) to the Senior Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness. The Company shall reimburse Executive for any out-of-pocket expenses relating to the physical examination that are not otherwise covered by Executive’s health insurance plan.

 

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5. Representations and Warranties of Executive.

A. No Violation; No Conflicts. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that the entering into of this Agreement and Executive’s performance of Executive’s duties hereunder, will not violate any agreements with, or trade secrets of, any other person or entity. Executive further represents and warrants that Executive does not have any relationship or commitment to any other person or entity that might be in conflict with Executive’s obligations to the Company under this Agreement, including but not limited to outside employment, sales broker relationships, investments or business activities. Executive understands and agrees that while employed by the Company Executive is expected to refrain from engaging in any outside activities that might be in conflict with the business interests of the Company. In addition, Executive represents and warrants to the Company that Executive has not shared with or disclosed to, and will not share with or disclose to, the Company any proprietary or confidential information of Executive’s previous employers or any other third party.

B. Legal Proceedings. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that Executive has not been arrested, indicted, convicted or otherwise involved in any criminal or civil action or legal matter that could affect Executive’s ability to perform Executive’s duties hereunder or that may have a negative impact on the Company, its reputation or its operations. Executive agrees, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to notify the Company’s Senior Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness immediately in the event that Executive becomes party to any criminal or civil action or other legal matter in the future that could have an affect on the foregoing representation.

6. Executive Benefits.

A. Employee Benefit Programs. Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s various employee benefit programs and plans in place from time to time as long as Executive remains employed by the Company and Executive meets the applicable participation requirements. These benefit programs and plans include paid time off (“PTO”), holidays, group medical, dental, vision, term life, and short and long term disability insurance and participation in the Company’s 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement plan and deferred compensation plan. The Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates may modify, terminate or amend any benefit or plan in its discretion, retroactively or prospectively, subject only to applicable law.

B. Required Insurance. Executive will be covered by workers’ compensation insurance and state disability insurance, as required by state law.

C. Financial Counseling Allowance. Executive will be entitled to be reimbursed up to the amount of $5,000 per year for documented costs incurred for personal financial counseling services provided to Executive, including tax preparation, as long as Executive remains employed by the Company.

D. Incentive Bonus. Executive will be eligible to participate in the Health Net, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan (“EIP”) in accordance with the terms of the EIP, which provides Executive with a target opportunity to earn each plan year up to 70% of

 

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Executive’s Base Salary as additional compensation according to the terms of the EIP. The bonus payment will range from 0% to 200% of target depending upon the actual results achieved, and specific, individually tailored measures will be established by the Company that must be achieved by Executive in order for Executive to be eligible to receive bonus payments for a given plan year. It is understood that the Committee and the Company will award bonus amounts, if any, as it deems appropriate consistent with the EIP.

E. Expenses. Subject to and in accordance with the Company’s written policies for business and travel expenses, Executive will receive reimbursement for all business travel and other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties pursuant to this Agreement.

7. Equity Grants.

A. Initial Equity Grant. As of the Effective Date, Executive will be granted 10,000 performance shares (the “Performance Shares”) which will vest and become non-forfeitable in accordance with the terms of the performance share agreement executed in connection with such grant. The Performance Shares granted to Executive will be granted under one of the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plans in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in such plan and the agreement executed in connection with such grant.

B. Future Equity Grants. Any future equity grants made to Executive will be granted under one of the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plans, and will be subject to the terms of such plan and of the agreement executed in connection with such grant. Any future equity grants to Executive will be made at the discretion of the Committee.

C. Company Stock Ownership Requirement. In accordance with the Executive Officer Stock Ownership Policy adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Executive Stock Ownership Policy”), Executive is required to own shares of Common Stock of the Company having a value of one times (1x) Executive’s Base Salary in effect from time to time pursuant to this Agreement (the “Stock Ownership Requirement”). The number of shares of Common Stock Executive is required to own will be calculated based on the average NYSE closing price per share of the Company’s Common Stock (as adjusted for stock splits and similar changes to the Common Stock) for the most recently completed fiscal year of the Company.

Using Executive’s current salary of $397,254 and a stock price of $52.69, which is the average closing price per share of the Company’s Common Stock as of December 31, 2007, Executive’s current stock ownership requirement is 7,539 (“Target Amount”). The Target Amount is subject to change from time to time based on (1) changes in the average closing sales price of the Company’s Common Stock on an annual basis and (2) any changes in Executive’s Base Salary made pursuant to and in accordance with Section 1B of this Agreement. Any shares of Company Common Stock that Executive owns, and any restricted stock units, shares of restricted stock or performance shares of the Company that Executive owns and have vested count toward the Target Amount. Stock options, unvested restricted stock units, unvested shares of restricted stock, unvested performance shares and shares of Common Stock gifted to others do not count toward the Target Amount. Under the Executive Stock Ownership Policy, Executive will have until four years from the Effective Date to comply with the Stock Ownership Requirement.

 

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The Committee expects that Executive will make reasonable progress toward Executive’s Stock Ownership Requirement. Executive will be notified on an annual basis of any changes in Executive’s Target Amount.

8. Term of Employment. Executive’s employment with the Company is at the mutual consent of Executive and the Company. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to guarantee Executive’s continuing employment with the Company or employment for any specific length of time. Accordingly, either Executive or the Company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without advance notice and with or without “Cause” (as defined below). Upon Termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, in addition to any other payments that may be payable to Executive hereunder, Executive (or Executive’s beneficiaries or estate) shall be paid (in each case to the extent not theretofore paid) within thirty (30) days following Executive’s date of Termination (or such shorter period that may be required by applicable law): (a) Executive’s annual Base Salary through such date, (b) accrued but unused PTO, (c) reimbursable expenses incurred by Executive prior to the Termination date and (d) amounts under any other compensatory plan, arrangement or program payment to which Executive may then be entitled. This Agreement constitutes a final and fully binding integrated agreement with respect to the at-will nature of the employment relationship.

9. Termination of Employment/Severance Pay.

A. Termination Without Cause Not Following Change in Control. If Executive’s employment is Terminated by the Company without “Cause” (as defined in Section 10(D) below) at any time that is not within two (2) years after a “Change in Control” (as defined below) of Health Net, Inc., Executive will be entitled to receive, within thirty (30) days following the Termination of Executive’s employment, provided that Executive signs, prior to the expiration of such (30) day period, a Separation Agreement, Waiver and Release of Claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, which is incorporated into this Agreement by reference, (i) a lump sum cash payment equal to twenty-four (24) months of Executive’s Base Salary in effect immediately prior to the date of Executive’s Termination, and (ii) the continuation of Executive’s medical, dental and vision benefits (as maintained for Executive’s benefit immediately prior to the date of Executive’s Termination) (the “Benefits”) for Executive and Executive’s dependents for a period of six (6) months following the effective date of Executive’s Termination, and (iii) the continuation, under COBRA, of Executive’s Benefits for Executive and Executive’s dependents for a period of eighteen (18) months, with premium payments paid by the Company on Executive’s behalf, provided, that Executive properly elects to continue those benefits under COBRA.

For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” is defined as any of the following which occurs subsequent to the effective date of Executive’s employment:

(i) Any person (as such term is defined under Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), corporation or other entity (other than Health Net, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan sponsored by Health Net, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as such term is defined in Rule

 

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13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of Health Net, Inc. representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of Health Net, Inc. which ordinarily (and apart from rights accruing under special circumstances) have the right to vote in the election of directors (calculated as provided in paragraph (d) of such Rule 13d-3 in the case of rights to acquire Health Net, Inc.’s securities) (the “Securities”);

(ii) As a result of a tender offer, merger, sale of assets or other major transaction, the persons who are directors of Health Net, Inc. immediately prior to such transaction cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of Health Net, Inc. (or any successor corporations) immediately after such transaction;

(iii) Health Net, Inc. is merged or consolidated with any other person, firm, corporation or other entity and, as a result, the shareholders of Health Net, Inc., as determined immediately before such transaction, own less than eighty percent (80%) of the outstanding Securities of the surviving or resulting entity immediately after such transaction:

(iv) A tender offer or exchange offer is made and consummated for the ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding Securities of Health Net, Inc.;

(v) Health Net, Inc. transfers substantially all of its assets to another person, firm, corporation or other entity that is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of Health Net, Inc.; or

(vi) Health Net, Inc. enters into a management agreement with another person, firm, corporation or other entity that is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of Health Net, Inc. and such management agreement extends hiring and firing authority over Executive to an individual or organization other than Health Net, Inc.

B. Termination Without Cause or For Good Reason Following Change in Control. If at any time within two (2) years after a Change in Control of Health Net, Inc. Executive’s employment is Terminated by the Company without Cause or Executive Terminates Executive’s employment for “Good Reason” (as defined below) (by giving the Company at least fourteen (14) days prior written notice of the effective date of Termination), then Executive will be entitled to receive, within thirty (30) days following the Termination of Executive’s employment, provided that Executive signs, prior to the expiration of such thirty (30) day period, a Separation Agreement, Waiver and Release of Claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, which is incorporated into this Agreement by reference, (i) a lump sum payment equal to thirty-six (36) months of Executive’s Base Salary in effect immediately prior to the date of Executive’s Termination, and (ii) the continuation of Executive’s Benefits for eighteen (18) months following Executive’s date of Termination, and (iii) and after expiration of such eighteen (18) month Benefits continuation period, the continuation, under COBRA, of Benefits for Executive and Executive’s dependents for a period of eighteen (18) months following the effective date of Executive’s Termination with premium payments made by the Company on Executive’s behalf, provided, that Executive properly elects to continue those benefits under COBRA, and provided, further, that in the event the Company requests, in writing, prior to such voluntary Termination by Executive for Good Reason that Executive continue in the employ of the Company

 

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for a period of time up to 90 days following such Change in Control, then Executive shall forfeit such severance allowance if Executive voluntarily leaves the employ of the Company prior to the expiration of such period of time.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Good Reason” means any of the following which occurs, without Executive’s consent, subsequent to the effective date of a Change in Control as defined above:

(i) A demotion or a substantial reduction in the scope of Executive’s position, duties, responsibilities or status with the Company, or any removal of Executive from or any failure to reelect Executive to any of the positions (or functional equivalent of such positions) referred to in the introductory paragraphs hereof, except in connection with the Termination of Executive’s employment for Disability (as defined below), normal retirement or Cause or by Executive voluntarily other than for Good Reason;

(ii) A reduction by the Company in Executive’s Base Salary or a material reduction in the benefits or perquisites available to Executive as in effect immediately prior to any such reduction;

(iii) A relocation of Executive to a work location more than fifty (50) miles from Executive’s work location immediately prior to such proposed relocation; provided that such proposed relocation results in a materially greater commute for Executive based on Executive’s residence immediately prior to such relocation; or

(iv) The failure of the Company to obtain an assumption agreement from any successor contemplated under Section 13 of this Agreement.

C. Voluntary Termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, whether express or implied, Executive may at any time Terminate Executive’s employment for any reason by giving the Company fourteen (14) days prior written notice of the effective date of Termination. In the event that Executive voluntarily Terminates employment with the Company (except for Good Reason within two (2) years after a Change in Control of Health Net, Inc.), then Executive shall not be eligible to receive any payments or continuation of Benefits set forth in this Section 10).

D. Termination by the Company for Cause. The Company may Terminate Executive’s employment for Cause at any time with or without advance notice. In the event of such Termination, Executive will not be eligible to receive any of the payments set forth in Section 10(A) or 10(B) above. For purposes of this Agreement, a Termination for “Cause” is defined as: (i) an act of dishonesty causing harm to the Company or any of its affiliates, (ii) the material breach of either the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code of Conduct”) or any policy or procedure developed and published by the Company regarding compliance or ethics related to the Code of Conduct, (iii) habitual drunkenness or narcotic drug addiction, (iv) conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, (v) willful refusal to perform or gross neglect of the duties assigned to Executive, (vi) the willful breach of any law that, directly or indirectly, affects the Company or any of its affiliates, (vii) a material breach by Executive following a Change in Control of those duties and responsibilities of Executive that do not differ in any material respect

 

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from Executive’s duties and responsibilities during the 90-day period immediately prior to such Change in Control (other than as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness) which is demonstrably willful and deliberate on Executive’s part, which is committed in bad faith or without reasonable belief that such breach is in the best interests of the Company or any of its affiliates and which is not remedied in a reasonable period of time after receipt of written notice from the Company specifying such breach, or (viii) breach of Executive’s obligations hereunder (or under any Company policy) to protect the proprietary and confidential information of the Company or any of its affiliates.

E. Termination Due to Death or Disability. In the event that Executive’s employment is Terminated at any time due to Executive’s death or “Disability” (as defined below), Executive (or Executive’s beneficiaries or estate) shall be entitled to receive, provided Executive (or Executive’s beneficiaries or estate, as applicable) signs a Separation Agreement, Waiver and Release of Claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, which is incorporated into this Agreement by reference, (i) continuation of Executive’s Benefits for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of Termination and (ii) a lump sum payment equal to one times (1x) Executive’s Base Salary in effect immediately prior to the date of Executive’s Termination, to be paid within thirty (30) days following Executive’s Termination of employment. For purposes of this Agreement, a Termination for “Disability” shall mean a Termination of Executive’s employment due to Executive’s absence from Executive’s duties with the Company on a full-time basis for at least 180 consecutive days as a result of Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness.

10. Withholding. All payments required to be made by the Company hereunder to Executive or Executive’s estate or beneficiaries shall be subject to the withholding of such amounts relating to taxes as the Company may reasonably determine should be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

 

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11. Restrictive Covenants.

A. Non-Competition. Executive hereby agrees that, during (i) the six (6)-month period following a Termination of Executive’s employment with the Company that entitles Executive to receive severance benefits under this Agreement or a written agreement with or policy of the Company or (ii) the twelve (12)-month period following a Termination of Executive’s employment with the Company that does not entitle Executive to receive such severance benefits (the period referred to in either clause (i) or (ii), the “Restricted Period”), Executive shall not undertake any employment or activity (including, but not limited to, consulting services) with a Competitor (as defined below) in any geographic area in which the Company or any of its affiliates operate (the “Market Area”), where the loyal and complete fulfillment of the duties of the competitive employment or activity would call upon Executive to reveal, to make judgments on or otherwise use or disclose any confidential business information or trade secrets of the business of the Company or any of its affiliates to which Executive had access during Executive’s employment with the Company. For purposes of this Section, “Competitor” shall refer to any health maintenance organization or insurance company that provides managed health care or related services similar to those provided by the Company or any of its affiliates.

B. Non-Solicitation. In addition, Executive agrees that, during the applicable Restricted Period following Termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, interfere with, hire, offer to hire or induce any person, who is or was an employee of the Company or any of its affiliates at the time of such solicitation, interference, hiring, offering to hire or inducement, to discontinue his/her relationship with the Company or any of its affiliates or to accept employment by, or enter into a business