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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001027974</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PACIFICARE HEALTH SYSTEMS INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PHS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001069411</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PHANSTIEL HOWARD G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5995 PLAZA DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CYPRESS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90630</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman of the Board &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>247767</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>311617.956</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>63850.956</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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            </ownershipNature>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
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                </transactionShares>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>63850.956</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>123850.956</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>26580</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>90.866</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>97270.956</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k) plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-12-20</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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            <ownershipNature>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each Common Stock Unit accrued under the Issuer's Stock Unit Deferred Compensation Plan is the economic equivalent of one share of Issuer common stock.  The Common Stock Units were settled for an equal number of shares of Issuer common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the exchange, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger between UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (&quot;United&quot;), Point Acquisition LLC and the Issuer, of the number of shares of Issuer common stock equal to the number of Common Stock Units settled (net of shares withheld by the Issuer to satisfy any applicable tax withholding obligations) for 1.1 shares of United common stock (with a value of $63.06 based on the closing price of United common stock on the date of the disposition) and $21.50 in cash.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each Restricted Stock Unit accrued under the Issuer's Stock Unit Deferred Compensation Plan is the economic equivalent of one share of Issuer common stock.  The Restricted Stock Units were settled for an equal number of shares of Issuer common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents the exchange, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger between UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (&quot;United&quot;), Point Acquisition LLC and the Issuer, of the number of shares of Issuer common stock equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units settled (net of shares withheld by the Issuer to satisfy any applicable tax withholding obligations) for 1.1 shares of United common stock (with a value of $63.06 based on the closing price of United common stock on the date of the disposition) and $21.50 in cash.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Disposed of pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger between UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (&quot;United&quot;), Point Acquisition LLC and the Issuer (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;), pursuant to which each share of the Issuer's common stock (net of any shares withheld by the Issuer to satisfy any applicable tax withholding obligations) was exchanged for 1.1 shares of United common stock (with a value of $63.06 based on the closing price of United common stock on the date of the disposition) and $21.50 in cash.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Represents the deferral of a portion of the reporting person's base salary into Common Stock Units under the PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.  Upon distribution, the reporting person receives shares of PacifiCare Common Stock equal to the number of vested Common Stock Units held.  The Common Stock Units will be distributed on the earlier of (i) the date, after 12/31/07, specified in the election made by the reporting person or (ii) the reporting person's termination of employment, death, disability or change of control of the Company.  The Common Stock Units will be distributed in a lump sum or equal installments over 3 to 5 years as specified in the election made by the reporting person, except for distributions upon a change of control which will be made in one lump sum.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">This option (the &quot;Original Option&quot;) was assumed by United under the Agreement and Plan of Merger between UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (&quot;United&quot;), Point Acquisition LLC and the Issuer and replaced with an option to purchase shares of United common stock (&quot;Substitute Option&quot;).  Under the Substitute Option: the number of option shares will equal the number of option shares under the Original Option, times the Option Exchange Ratio; and the exercise price will equal the exercise price under the Original Option, divided by the Option Exchange Ratio.  The Option Exchange Ratio is 1.10 plus $21.50 divided by $63.06 (which is the closing price of United common stock on the last trading day prior to the merger).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Ellen K. Erickson  For: Howard G. Phanstiel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
