<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-06-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001054833</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COVENTRY HEALTH CARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CVH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001320086</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Davis Patrisha L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6705 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>#900</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BETHESDA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20817</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP and Chief HR Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.07</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-06-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-06-22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-06-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>258925</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest annually in equal increments over a three-year period.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes the following:  Table I-Non-Derivative Securities comprised of 13,000 shares of common stock held directly, 2,325 shares of common stock held indirectly by managed account (401(k) Plan), and 32,313 shares of restricted common stock with restrictions lapsed or lapsing over four-year periods, held directly; and Table II-Derivative Securities consisting of non-qualified stock options for 207,875 shares of common stock vesting in equal annual increments over four-year periods, held directly and 3,412 shares of phantom common stock allocated to reporting person's account in Coventry's 401(k) Restoration and Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">See Footnote 2 for shares held directly and indirectly.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Patrisha L. Davis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-06-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
