-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 O2Nk9gFl6iiQhZDjPoGZfTfeP9C4BgX6u6lWw2khfGAJXETNgld32PnC5CTkERN2
 em4YCKd54cqXFqrrIDlEWg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001230224-05-000001.txt : 20050103
<SEC-HEADER>0001230224-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20041231
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050103120431
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001230224-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041221
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050103
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050103

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KONIGSBERG PAUL J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001230224

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26749
		FILM NUMBER:		05501028

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NATIONAL MEDICAL HEALTH CARD SYS INC
		STREET 2:		26 HARBOR PARK DR
		CITY:			PORT WASHINGTON
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11050
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5166056708

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATIONAL MEDICAL HEALTH CARD SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000813562
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INSURANCE AGENTS BROKERS & SERVICES [6411]
		IRS NUMBER:				112581812
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26 HARBOR PARK DR
		CITY:			PORT WASHINGTON
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11050
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5166260007

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26 HARBOR PARK DRIVE
		CITY:			PORT WASHINGTON
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11050
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-21</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-12-23</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000813562</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATIONAL MEDICAL HEALTH CARD SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NMHC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001230224</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KONIGSBERG PAUL J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Purchase</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>23.82</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1634</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.82</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-12-21</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-12-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1634</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38634</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">326 shares vest on 12/22/2005, and 327 shares vest on the anniversary date of each of the next four years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Paul J. Konigsberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----