<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-11-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001108109</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CYH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001677229</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Chen Tian Qiao</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>303 TWIN DOLPHIN DRIVE, #6054</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>REDWOOD CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94065</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001622346</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHANDA ASSET MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS Ltd</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>391B ORCHARD ROAD #16-05</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>NGEE ANN CITY TOWER B</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SINGAPORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>U0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>238874</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>SINGAPORE</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001758913</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Shanda Global Investment Ltd</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>303 TWIN DOLPHIN DRIVE, #6054</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>REDWOOD CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94065</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001731231</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Shanda Group USA Ltd</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>303 TWIN DOLPHIN DRIVE, #6054</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>REDWOOD CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94065</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001633667</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Shanda Technology Overseas Capital Co.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>391B ORCHARD ROAD #16-05</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>NGEE ANN CITY TOWER B</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SINGAPORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>U0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>238874</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>SINGAPORE</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001318400</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Shanda Media LTD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NO. 1 OFFICE BUILDING, NO. 690</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PUDONG, NEW AREA</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SHANGHAI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>F4</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>201203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>CHINA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-11-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>88032</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.0755</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22396441</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-11-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4500000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.6601</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17896441</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The common stock disclosed in this Table I is directly held by Shanda Asset Management Holdings Limited. Mr. Tianqiao Chen is the sole shareholder of Shanda Media Limited. Shanda Media Limited owns 70% of all outstanding and issued shares of Shanda Global Investment Limited, which is the sole shareholder of Shanda Technology Overseas Capital Company Limited. Shanda Technology Overseas Capital Company Limited is the sole shareholder of Shanda Group USA Limited. Shanda Group USA Limited is the sole shareholder of Shanda Asset Management Holdings Limited. Therefore each of Mr. Tianqiao Chen, Shanda Media Limited, Shanda Global Investment Limited, Shanda Technology Overseas Capital Company Limited, Shanda Group USA Limited and Shanda Asset Management Holdings Limited may be deemed to be the beneficial owners of such common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Tianqiao Chen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-11-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Tianqiao Chen, Director of Shanda Asset Management Holdings Limited</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-11-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Tianqiao Chen, Director of Shanda Global Investment Limited</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-11-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Tianqiao Chen, Director of Shanda Group USA Limited</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-11-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Tianqiao Chen, Director of Shanda Technology Overseas Capital Company Limited</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-11-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Tianqiao Chen, Director of Shanda Media Limited</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-11-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
