-----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,
 WB8917OyQiX4/ko9XJwUrdb8PwzF8t9HEhqyRDXNPuNG2bIT4x1f/6cAm1YVm47l
 HPqv+D/97OyXJ5m8IRGxRg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001236135-03-000001.txt : 20030606
<SEC-HEADER>0001236135-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030606
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030606152700
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001236135-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030605
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030606

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COVENTRY HEALTH CARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001054833
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOSPITAL & MEDICAL SERVICE PLANS [6324]
		IRS NUMBER:				522073000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6705 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 900
		CITY:			BETHESDA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20817
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3015810600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6705 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 900
		CITY:			BETHESDA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20817

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AUSTIN JOHN H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236135

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16477
		FILM NUMBER:		03735885

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		825 WASHINGTON ST 3RD FL
		CITY:			OAKLAND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94607
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5107646305

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		825 WASHINGOTN ST 3RD FL
		CITY:			OAKLAND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94607
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-05</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236135</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AUSTIN JOHN H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-qualified stock option (right to buy)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>44.8</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-05</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>6000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-12-05</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-06-05</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>6000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>150259</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Dr. Austin's address is Arcadian Management Services, 825 Washington Street, 3rd Floor, Oakland, CA 94607.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Fully vests after six months.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes (i) the following non-derivative securities from Table I:  80,859 shares held outright and 3,700 shares of restricted stock (unvested) held outright, and (ii) the following derivative securities from Table II:  65,700 non-qualified stock options (12 separate grants) held directly.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">See Footnote 3 for direct and indirect holdings.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John H. Austin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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