-----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,
 HwSP+Q4H6VwvS8mPXVDAua8YkERNjU3MqETQw4FSXI1pGTxKzl7p/CUTZqSap3JI
 cn2oQHkp6D8Jv8Jd/EqHkQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-018925.txt : 20030815
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-018925.hdr.sgml : 20030815
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030815203511
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-018925
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030814
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030815

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PENN TREATY AMERICAN CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000814181
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ACCIDENT & HEALTH INSURANCE [6321]
		IRS NUMBER:				231664166
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3440 LEHIGH ST
		CITY:			ALLENTOWN
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			18103
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6109652222

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3440 LEHIGH ST
		CITY:			ALLENTOWN
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			18103

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WAITE CAMERON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001252466
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ACCIDENT & HEALTH INSURANCE [6321]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14681
		FILM NUMBER:		03851709

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3440 LEHIGH ST
		CITY:			ALLENTOWN
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			18103
		BUSINESS PHONE:		215 679 8976

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2055 MILLER
		CITY:			PENNSBURG
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			18073
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-08-14</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000814181</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PENN TREATY AMERICAN CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PTA</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001252466</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WAITE CAMERON</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2055 MILLER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PENNSBURG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>18073</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
      <officerTitle>Exec V.P. &amp; C.F.O.</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-08-14</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>2200</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>2.29</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>18200</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-08-15</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>4000</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>2.26</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>22200</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>Linda G. Carraghan, by power of attorney </signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-08-15</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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