Exhibit 10.1


        FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT


         


        THIS RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the ____________ by and between COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”) and ______________________ (“Holder”).


         


        1.      Restricted Stock Award. The Company hereby awards Holder ____________ shares (the “Restricted Stock,” which shall include any additional shares or other securities received in respect of the Restricted Stock through stock splits or stock dividends pursuant to
        Section 3 below or under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2004 Incentive Plan) of the Company’s Common Stock (the “Common Stock”), subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of the Amended and Restated 2004 Incentive Plan. If the terms of this Agreement conflict with or are inconsistent with the terms of the Amended and Restated 2004 Incentive Plan, the Amended and Restated 2004 Incentive Plan shall
        control.


         


        2.        Restrictions, Performance Goals and Conditions: (a)(i) Restrictions.Commencing with the date hereof, the Holder agrees that Holder has no right to, and shall not, sell, transfer, pledge or assign, in whole or in part, the Restricted
        Stock until (x) all performance goals set forth herein have been attained and (y) the required time period with respect to each increment of Restricted Stock shall have lapsed. 


         


        (ii) Performance Goals. This award of Restricted Stock is performance-based and all or a portion of the Restricted Stock is subject to forfeiture upon the Company’s failure to attain one of the performance goals (to be determined by the Compensation Committee and consistent with the terms of the Amended and Restated 2004
        Incentive Plan) set forth below for the year ending _______________.


         


        (iii)  Lapse of Restrictions. In the event that the performance goal(s) set forth in Subsection 2(a)(ii) above shall have been met, then the restrictions set forth in Section 2(a)(i)(x) above shall begin to lapse and be no longer in force and effect, and the required time period referenced in Section 2(a)(i)(y) above shall
        lapse in annual cumulative increments of __________ the number of shares of Restricted Stock awarded herein, with the first annual increment beginning on ____________. From and after each annual date, the shares as to which the above restrictions have lapsed shall be owned by Holder free and clear of all restrictions or limitations of this Agreement. As soon as reasonably practicable after each date the restrictions shall lapse, the Company shall deliver the unrestricted shares to
        Holder by transferring the unrestricted shares electronically to an E*Trade Securities brokerage account established by the Company for the benefit of the Holder.


         


        (b)       Except as provided in this Agreement to the contrary, the Holder shall have, with respect to the Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including the right to vote the shares and the right to receive any cash dividends. Pursuant to Section 3 below, shares of stock or other security dividends or stock splits
        issued with respect to Restricted Stock shall be treated as additional shares of Restricted Stock that are subject to the same restrictions and other terms and conditions that apply to the original shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which such dividends or splits are issued.


         


        (c)       Upon termination of Holder’s service as an employee of the Company for any reason during the term of this Agreement, all shares still subject to restriction will be forfeited, unless such termination is the result of Holder’s death or Disability, in which case the Restricted Stock subject to restriction will immediately
        vest.


         


        (d)       In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, Restricted Stock as to which restrictions have not lapsed will vest as of the date the Change in Control, as applicable, is deemed to have occurred.


         


        3.        Adjustments. In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, extraordinary cash dividend, stock dividend, stock split or other change in corporate structure affecting the Common Stock, such substitution or adjustment shall be made in the maximum number of
        shares of Restricted Stock as may be determined to be appropriate by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, provided that the number of shares subject to any award shall always be a whole number.


         


        4.        Restricted Account. Holder acknowledges that the Company will issue the Restricted Stock covered by this Agreement in the name of Holder; provided, however, such Restricted Stock shall be held in an uncertificated restricted account in the custody of the Company and shall be subject to
        the terms of this Agreement.


         


        Holder further acknowledges that the Restricted Stock shall be held in the Company’s custody until the restrictions lapse. Holder’s acceptance of this Agreement constitutes an irrevocable endorsement of a stock power to the Company in the event any or all of the Restricted Stock is forfeited. In the event of forfeiture, the forfeited shares of Restricted Stock shall be
        returned to the Company. 


         


        5.        Non transferability.      The Holder’s rights hereunder shall not be transferable otherwise than as provided in the Amended and Restated 2004 Incentive Plan, and the terms thereof shall be binding on the executors, administrators, heirs and successors
        of Holder. 


         


        
        


        6.        Defined Terms. Defined terms used herein and not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Amended and Restated 2004 Incentive Plan.


         


        7.        Amendment: Choice of Law. This Agreement may be amended as provided in the Amended and Restated 2004 Incentive Plan. This Agreement shall be governed by Maryland law.


         


         


        
            	
                        COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC.

                    	
                        HOLDER:

                    


        


         


        


        


        	  By:    ___________________________	          ____________________________



         


        
            	
                         

                    	
                        Title:

                    	
                        

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