<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-21</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001179743</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HENSIL EMIL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-21</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>7000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>7.75</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>128020</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-21</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value>E</value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>7000</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>128020</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-21</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value>E</value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>7000</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>128020</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>by wife</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-22</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value>E</value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>5035</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>128020</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>by wife</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-22</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value>E</value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>5035</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>128020</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>by children</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>7.75</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-21</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>7000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>7.75</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2001-06-16</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2009-12-16</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>7000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>411155</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On May 21, 2003, Mr. Hensel transferred 7,000 shares to his wife.  On May 22, 2003, Mr. Hensel's wife transferred 1,635 shares to each of Mr. Hensel's two sons and 1,765 to Mr. Hensel's daughter.  5,455 shares are held by Mr. Hensel directly, 91,365 are held by his wife, 10,337 are held by each of his two sons and 10,526 are held by his daughter.  Mr. Hensel's two sons are adult and as a result, he disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">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 300,617 shares. The option will be exercisable as to 351,885 shares as of June 16, 2003 and 403,155 shares as of December 16, 2003.  After this transaction, the option will be immediately exercisable as to 293,617 shares and will be exercisable as to 344,885 shares as of June 16, 2003 and 396,115 shares as of December 16, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Cross Country, Inc. 1999 Equity Participation Plan, the first tranche of 66,396 shares will be exercisable at $7.75 per share, the second tranche of 138,157 shares will be exercisable at $11.62 per share, the third tranche of 138,157 shares will be exercisable at $15.50 per share, the fourth tranche of 30,222 shares will be exercisable at $19.37 per share and the remaining tranche of 30,223 shares will be exercisable at $23.25 per share.  After this transaction the first tranche will be reduced by 7,000 shares to 59,396 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="F4">On April 11, 2003 an option was granted for 15,000 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/ Emil Hensel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

