<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-15</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000766704</issuerCik><issuerName>HEALTH CARE REIT INC /DE/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>HCN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001242821</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>IBELE ERIN C</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>ONE SEAGATE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1500</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>TOLEDO</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>43604</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP &amp; Corporate Secretary</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-15</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>794.0000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>36.6800</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>41295.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Erin C. Ibele</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

