<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-05</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001051717</issuerCik><issuerName>AMERUS GROUP CO/IA</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001069773</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>DALEY VICTOR N</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>699 WALNUT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2000</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>DES MOINES</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>IA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>50309</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>EVP Chief Admin and HR Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-05</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-12-05</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3000.0000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>35.2983</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8515.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2552.4000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By 401 (K) Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1568.3500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Jeananne M. Celander, attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

