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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 SK1gMFTeXD1NTOiNdwLWbg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-019854.txt : 20030903
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-019854.hdr.sgml : 20030903
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030903113739
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-019854
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030902
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030903

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEALTH CARE REIT INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000766704
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				341096634
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE SEAGATE STE 1500
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 1475
		CITY:			TOLEDO
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43604
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4192472800

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IBELE ERIN C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001242821

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08923
		FILM NUMBER:		03877923

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.
		STREET 2:		ONE SEAGATE, SUITE 1500
		CITY:			TOLEDO
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43604
		BUSINESS PHONE:		419-247-2800
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000766704</issuerCik><issuerName>HEALTH CARE REIT INC /DE/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>HCN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001242821</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>IBELE ERIN C</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>ONE SEAGATE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1500</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>TOLEDO</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>43604</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP &amp; Corporate Secretary</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwn
er><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.5</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>45377</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value
></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>29.9</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>43377</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conver
sionOrExercisePrice><value>23.5</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2002-12-15</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-11-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8000</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransaction
Amounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The sale transaction was pursuant to Ms. Ibele's 10b5-1 trading plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Options for the purchase of 25,000 shares of common stock at $23.50 per share were granted to Ms. Ibele on November 19, 1998, which grant has previously been reported.  The partial exercise of these options for the purchase of 17,000 shares has previously been reported.  Of the remaining options, options for the purchase of 3,000 shares vested on December 15, 2002 and options for the purchase of 5,000 shares will vest on December 15, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The options were granted under the Health Care REIT, Inc. 1995 Stock Incentive Plan and had no acquisition price.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><o
wnerSignature><signatureName>Erin C. Ibele</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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