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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 If8lypuTgXW4U3bZCwJXqKHbssx2AW9+sB5ABRVj3YFCe1Dj8JvVbTFKaBu+y/Rp
 8PawRDQbTSvas65NK5fqng==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-007799.txt : 20030617
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-007799.hdr.sgml : 20030617
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030617131941
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-007799
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030613
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030617

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCOTT GREGORY W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209547

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31700
		FILM NUMBER:		03747004

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5995 PLAZA DR
		CITY:			CYPRESS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90630

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PACIFICARE HEALTH SYSTEMS INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001027974
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOSPITAL & MEDICAL SERVICE PLANS [6324]
		IRS NUMBER:				954591529
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3120 LAKE CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			SANTA ANA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92704
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7148255200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3120 LAKE CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			SANTA ANA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92704

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	N T HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19961204
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-13</periodOfReport><issuer><issuerCik>0001027974</issuerCik><issuerName>PACIFICARE HEALTH SYSTEMS INC /DE/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>phs</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001209547</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>SCOTT GREGORY W</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>EVP, Chief Financial Off.</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transact
ionDate><value>2003-06-13</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>900</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>48</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16425.478</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-13</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S
</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>200</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>48.02</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16225.478</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-03-13</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><val
ue></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>300</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>48.05</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15925.478</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">On May 28, 2003 a total of 3,333 shares of common stock that were part of a restricted share grant previously made to the reporting person under the Issuer's 1996 Stock Option Plan vested and became non-forfeitable.  As a result of this vesting, the Reported Person became obligated to pay to the Issuer withholding taxes in the amount of approximately $49,021.04.  The Reporting Person sold the 1,400 shares of common stock reported on this Form 4 to
 cover this tax withholding obligation.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>S/Gregory W Scott</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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