<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-22</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001141103</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ccrn</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001162523</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ANENBERG VICKIE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, Cross Country Staff</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-22</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>6500</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>7.75</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>37695</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>7.75</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-22</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>22000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>7.75</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2001-06-16</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2009-12-16</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>6500</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>212578</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Option is subject to the vesting schedule set forth in the Amended and Restated Cross Country, Inc. 1999 Equity Participation Plan.  The option is immediately exercisable as to 153,809 shares.  The option will be exercisable as to 179,443 shares as of June 16, 2003 and 205,078 shares as of December 16, 2003.  After this transaction, the option will be immediately exercisable as to 147,309 shares and will be exercisable as to 172,943 shares as of June 16, 2003 and 198,578 shares as of December 16, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Cross Country, Inc. 1999 Equity Participation Plan, the first tranche of 36,698 shares will be exercisable at $7.75 per share, the second tranche of 69,079 shares will be exercisable at $11.62 per share, the third tranche of 69,079 shares will be exercisable at $15.50 per share, the fourth tranche of 15,111 shares will be exercisable at $19.37 per share and the remaining tranche of 15,111 shares will be exercisable at $23.25 per share.  After this transaction the first tranche will be reduced by 6,500 shares to 30,198 shares, which shares will be exercisable at $7.75 per share and the remainder of the tranches will be exercisable in the amounts and at the prices described above.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On April 11, 2003 an option was granted for 14,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Amended and Restated Cross Country 1999 Stock Option Plan.  The exercise price for such options is $10.38 and expires on April 11, 2013.  The option vests in four equal installments beginning on April 11, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Vickie Anenberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

