-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CQoaOkMZ+u1SaDV4y9Z0kcctrYwV+1rJCh1g4BU9vO34BUP80tHrZrU9AYq4eqXg
 G0iCN7O/+Oz5BEw+xX8Mxw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-034940.txt : 20040706
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-034940.hdr.sgml : 20040705
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040706172544
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-034940
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040701
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040706

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CERES GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000215403
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LIFE INSURANCE [6311]
		IRS NUMBER:				341017531
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		17800 ROYALTON RD
		CITY:			STRONGSVILLE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44136
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2165722400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		17800 ROYALTON RD
		CITY:			STRONGSVILLE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44136

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CENTRAL RESERVE LIFE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RITCHIE JAMES JOSEPH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181389
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			D0
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08483
		FILM NUMBER:		04903025

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CERES GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		17800 ROYALTONROAD
		CITY:			STRONGSVILLE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44136
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4405722400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CERES GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		17800 ROYALTON ROAD
		CITY:			STRONGSVILLE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44136
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bcl07497_bcl1jjr.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000215403</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CERES GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CERG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181389</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RITCHIE JAMES JOSEPH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>17800 ROYALTON ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STRONGSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44136</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1425</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.14</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2663</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This stock grant represents 50% of such director's quarterly retainer fee.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kathleen L. Mesel as attorney-in-fact for James J. Ritchie</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----