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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QP1LdxJMUE5VCH3tMsRuPx2A8ge5SWUYQXLhY8WHT5diI3KjdxPm68AomHVL73P0
 6TIHo0dmmL5FB/SE+Ap/WQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000709878-04-000001.txt : 20040102
<SEC-HEADER>0000709878-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040101
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040102101434
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000709878-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031230
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040102

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WEHNER WILLIAM E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001179662

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08506
		FILM NUMBER:		04500241

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SIX INTERNATIONAL DR
		STREET 2:		STE 190
		CITY:			RYE BROOK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10573-1068

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNIVERSAL AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000709878
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LIFE INSURANCE [6311]
		IRS NUMBER:				112580136
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SIX INTERNATIONAL DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 190
		CITY:			RYE BROOK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10573-1068
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9149345200X253

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SIX INTERNATIONAL DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 190
		CITY:			RYE BROOK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10573-1068

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNIVERSAL HOLDING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001179662d20040102f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-30</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000709878</issuerCik><issuerName>UNIVERSAL AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>UHCO</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001179662</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>WEHNER WILLIAM E</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>6 INTERNATIONAL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>RYE BROOK</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>10573</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President of Subsidiary</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship><
/reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-30</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>10.06</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>428892</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership>
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)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.12</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1996-06-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-06-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.15</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2006-08-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-08-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><unde
rlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>187500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>187500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.88</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2008-02-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-02-28</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>37500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>375
00</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.09</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2007-04-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-04-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></deriv
ativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.57</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2006-04-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-04-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.45</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-03-28</value></exerciseDate><e
xpirationDate><value>2012-03-28</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Security disposed of pursuant to Rule 10b5-1</footnote><footnote id="F2">Represents shares from The Wehner Family Ltd Partnership.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>William E Wehner</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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