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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EmTx6WHml6AOu7QZKPphfHb5MsdeYP4mrlMJjp2JY3mNPEij/FiVcpS6JAsahXq1
 LVDasZEWb1s+iaIXzpkf1w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-010420.txt : 20030703
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-010420.hdr.sgml : 20030703
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030702215639
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-010420
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030702
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROSS LLOYD E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183991

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31700
		FILM NUMBER:		03773642

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 2380
		CITY:			BIGFORK
		STATE:			MT
		ZIP:			59911

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>2003-07-02</periodOfReport><issuer><issuerCik>0001027974</issuerCik><issuerName>PACIFICARE HEALTH SYSTEMS INC /DE/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>phs</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001183991</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>ROSS LLOYD E</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>Common Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>
0</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>1084</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2002-07-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2002-07-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1084</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2333</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownersh
ipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><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>5000</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2002-07-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-07-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</val
ue></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><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>5000</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredD
isposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-06-30</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The Common Stock Units were received in lieu of annual director fees as provided for under the Director Plan. Under the Director Plan,non-employee directors may elect to defer all or a portion of their annual retainer fees(on a pre-tax basis)into Common Stock Units held in an account maintained for the director under the Director Plan. The numb
er of Common Stock Units a director receives is based on the closing price of Issuer's common stock on the day the annual retainer fee would have been paid but for the deferral. When a director terminates his or her service as a director,a distribution from the director's Common Stock Unit account under the Director Plan is made in a single payment of shares of Issuer's common stock. With respect to the 2002 Common Stock Units,a Form4 covering the Units deferred was inadvertently not filed at the time of deferral,but such Common Stock Units are being reported on this Form 4.</footnote><footnote id="F2">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/Lloyd E Ross</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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