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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.06

                                  AMENDMENT TO
                         EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


        This Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22,
1999 (the "Amendment"), to the Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of
__________________ (the "Agreement"), between PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, and __________________, an individual ("Executive"),
hereby amends the Agreement as follows:

        1. The Agreement is amended by adding a new Section 4A.1 as follows:

        "4A.1     MINIMUM COMPENSATION UNDER 1997 PREMIUM PRICED STOCK OPTION
                  PLAN AS A RESULT OF A CHANGE OF CONTROL

                  "4A.1 Executive's Rights. In the event that, during the term
        of this Agreement, the Company undergoes a "change of ownership or
        control," as defined in Section 4.3, then Executive shall be entitled to
        the following cash compensation for each affected unexercised stock
        option ("Premium Priced Option") granted to Executive under the
        Company's Amended 1997 Premium Priced Stock Option Plan (the "Premium
        Priced Plan"):

                  "a. The right to exercise any and all granted and unexercised
        Premium Priced Options in accordance with their terms (whether or not
        such Premium Priced Options are actually vested), as if all such
        unexercised stock options were fully vested, within one year of the
        effective date of such "change of ownership or control;"

                  "b. If the "Adjusted Change of Control Consideration" (as
        defined in Section 4A.1(c)) is equal to, or in excess of the exercise
        price of any of the Premium Priced Options, an amount in cash equal to
        the excess of the Adjusted Change of Control Consideration, over the
        exercise price of each Premium Priced Option, adjusted to reflect any
        excise taxation incurred by Executive resulting from such payment. No
        additional compensation will be paid to Executive if the per share
        consideration for a Change of Control transaction is equal to or greater
        than $115.00.

                  "c. As used in this Section 4A.1, the term "Adjusted Change of
        Control Consideration" means and refers to the per share consideration
        to be received by each holder of the Company's Class B Common Stock upon
        consummation of a transaction effecting a "change of ownership or
        control" times one hundred and ten percent (110%)."



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        2. LIMITATION OF AMENDMENTS. Except as expressly provided herein, no
terms or provisions of any agreement or instrument are modified or changed by
this Amendment and the terms and provisions of the Agreement, as amended by this
Amendment, shall continue in full force and effect.

        3. GOVERNING LAW. This Amendment shall be construed, interpreted and
enforced in accordance with, and governed by California law.

        4. CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have
the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.

        5. DUPLICATE ORIGINALS; EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS. This Amendment may be
executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all
of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

        6. WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS. Neither this Amendment nor any term hereof
may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, or by any action or
inaction, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which
enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.

        7. SECTION HEADINGS. The titles of the sections hereof appear as a
matter of convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Amendment and shall
not affect the construction hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as
of the date first written above.



                                            PACIFICARE HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.,
                                            a Delaware corporation


                                            ____________________________________
                                            By:     Alan R. Hoops
                                            Title:  Chairman and
                                                    Chief Executive Officer


                                            ____________________________________



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