-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KnX1ryzqkz2fbvmoC7Ae2ewAYIvvIb2IhkWRTrZo/EFDJMrmo6N1D8aPpNh29Rv2
 5kmkXpbABoBalwQI28I3+w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001317212-05-000015.txt : 20050303
<SEC-HEADER>0001317212-05-000015.hdr.sgml : 20050303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050303182144
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001317212-05-000015
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050303
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050303

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:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5995 PLAZA DRIVE
		CITY:			CYPRESS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90630-5028
		BUSINESS PHONE:		714-952-1121

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5995 PLAZA DRIVE
		CITY:			CYPRESS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90630-5028

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	N T HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19961204

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KOSECOFF JACQUELINE B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209524

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31700
		FILM NUMBER:		05659184

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5995 PLAZA DR
		CITY:			CYPRESS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90630
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001027974</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PACIFICARE HEALTH SYSTEMS INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PHS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209524</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KOSECOFF JACQUELINE B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5995 PLAZA DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CYPRESS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90630</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Pharmaceutical Services</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>64.26</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-03-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>11000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>54333</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Granted under the 1996 Stock Option Plan for Officers and Key Employees of PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc., as amended, which is a Rule 16b-3 plan.  The grant vests in 3 cumulative installments over a 4 year period as follows: 1/3 vests on each of the 2nd and 3rd anniversaries of the grant date; and the remaining 1/3 vests on the 4th anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted stock granted under the 1996 Stock Option Plan for Officers and Key Employees.  The restricted stock vests in three cumulative installments over a 4 year period as follows: (i) 1/3rd vests on each of the second and third anniversaries of the grant date; and (ii) the remaining 1/3rd vests on the fourth anniversary of the grant date.  The grant is subject to a mandatory deferral into restricted stock units as follows: (i) 50 percent of the shares must be deferred until the earlier of retirement or termination; and (ii) the remaining 50 percent of the shares must be deferred into restricted stock units for a period of at least 4 years from the grant date, or such later date as specified in an election made by the reporting person.  The restricted stock will be distributed on the earlier of the date specified in such election, or on the reporting person's termination date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jacqueline B Kosecoff</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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