-----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,
 HFPnAZSB6G6wt6IgSu5RewSNCG6GROX4kQ07POfTFN34NyqZ5xdvbbeW5fGu861R
 lNTy0MBbJ7t714LPqzyFWQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-035340.txt : 20031216
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-035340.hdr.sgml : 20031216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031216153458
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-035340
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031216

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:		031057393

	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>2003-12-15</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>2003-12-15</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1288.0000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>34.7500</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>42089.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks><
/remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Erin C. Ibele</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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