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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Q6Tx/L+VwuXPKSWFEewMRQBjrd42RnHJmTI9gnL1gN+tXtbaofK/y5TKlI67s23S
 sC5oAnBmXA0VkmxF6Mqhzg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-009967.txt : 20030702
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-009967.hdr.sgml : 20030702
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030702140018
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-009967
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030702
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030702

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			REED DAVID A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000082709

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31700
		FILM NUMBER:		03771051

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		30931 VIA ULTIMO
		CITY:			SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92675
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9494964259

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		30931 VIA ULTIMO
		CITY:			SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92675
</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>2003-07-02</periodOfReport><issuer><issuerCik>0001027974</issuerCik><issuerName>PACIFICARE HEALTH SYSTEMS INC /DE/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>phs</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0000082709</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>REED DAVID A</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversion
OrExercisePrice><value>25.85</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2002-07-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-06-30</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-07-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>13095</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></p
ostTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non_qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>49.33</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-06-30</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurity
Title><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Represents an annual formula grant of an Option (right to buy) under the Amended and Restated 1996 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan of PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc., (the "Director Plan") in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3. The Option is fully vested and exercisable on the date of grant (6/30/03); however, the underlying shares of PacifiCare common stock acquired upon exercise of the Option may not be sold or transferred within the first six months of the date of grant.  With respect to the 2002 annual formula grant under the Director Plan, a Form 4 covering the 
Option granted was inadvertently not filed at the time of grant, but such Option is being reported on this Form 4.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>s/David A Reed</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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