-----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,
 EB812UqRaO+f5QpC3VYF1818gHkz7O6gTvgNwF8eR5oaRQ/rAeAf2wtVn/OZBD5Z
 +jPGffCgK7WwQPePUPh/vw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001198272-07-000139.txt : 20070919
<SEC-HEADER>0001198272-07-000139.hdr.sgml : 20070919
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070919120050
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001198272-07-000139
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070917
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070919
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070919

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PUTNAM TAX FREE HEALTH CARE FUND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000887398
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				043153831
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0531

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172921000

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Drucker Myra R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001304322

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-06659
		FILM NUMBER:		071123978

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		617-292-1000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PUTNAM INVESTMENTS
		STREET 2:		ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-09-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887398</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PUTNAM TAX FREE HEALTH CARE FUND</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>pmh</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001304322</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Drucker Myra R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PUTNAM INVESTMENTS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-09-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>107.758</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.07</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Effective date of merger of issuer PMH into Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund, an open-end investment company</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Issuer (PMH) merged into Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund, an open-end investment company, on September 17, 2007. All outstanding PMH shares were exchanged for class A shares (at net asset value) of Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund based on the funds' respective per-share net asset values calculated as of September 14, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Per-share net asset value of PMH shares as of September 14, 2007. Reflects rounding.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Myra R. Drucker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-09-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----