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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001236135-07-000001.txt : 20070104
<SEC-HEADER>0001236135-07-000001.hdr.sgml : 20070104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070104134357
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001236135-07-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070104

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:		07508317

	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>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-01-01</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>825 WASHINGOTN ST 3RD FL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OAKLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94607</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Restricted</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2247</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>69606</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person elected to receive 2,247 shares of restricted common stock on January 1, 2007, in accordance with the terms of the 2007 Board of Directors Compensation Program for Non-Employee Directors.  The shares vest quarterly in equal increments over a one-year period.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes the following:  Table I-Non-Derivative Securities comprised of 43,834 shares of common stock held directly and 21,822 shares of restricted common stock held directly and vesting over three year periods; Table II-Derivative Securities comprised of 3,950 shares of restricted stock units vesting quarterly in equal increments over one year periods and held through Coventry's Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John H. Austin, M.D.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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