-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VaEI0tKNs+lJ5lLcgseHO62bQYmr2vZ4iAx7R5bZaoqGPtOse/liAtU5bM7f1HY/
 PD1EAKDOL/nomgIgvf9TkA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001129787-04-000001.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001129787-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105160600
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001129787-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LIFELINE SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000720195
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663]
		IRS NUMBER:				042537528
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 LAWRENCE ST
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02139
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6176791000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 LAWRENCE ST
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02139

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VA PARTNERS LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001129787
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13617
		FILM NUMBER:		04505005

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MARITIME PLAZA
		STREET 2:		STE 1400
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4153623700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MARITIME PLAZA
		STREET 2:		STE 1400
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000720195</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LIFELINE SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LIFE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001129787</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VA PARTNERS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MARITIME PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 1400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></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>2003-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2520200</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">As General Partner and Investment Manager of ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P.,
ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P., and ValueAct Capital International, Ltd.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These securities are also beneficially owned by Jeffrey W. Ubben, George F. Hamel, Jr., and Peter H. Kamin as Managing Members, Principal Owners and Controlling Persons of VA Partners, LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Adjusted for 2-for-1 stock split effective December 18, 2003.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Joint Filer Information

Name: ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P.
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: VA Partners, L.L.C.
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Lifeline Systems, Inc. (LIFE)
Statement for Month/Day/Year: December 31, 2003

Name: ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P.
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: VA Partners, L.L.C.
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Lifeline Systems, Inc. (LIFE)
Statement for Month/Day/Year: December 31, 2003

Name: ValueAct Capital International, Ltd.
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: VA Partners, L.L.C.
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Lifeline Systems, Inc. (LIFE)
Statement for Month/Day/Year: December 31, 2003

Name: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: VA Partners, L.L.C.
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Lifeline Systems, Inc. (LIFE)
Statement for Month/Day/Year: December 31, 2003

Name: George F. Hamel, Jr.
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: VA Partners, L.L.C.
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Lifeline Systems, Inc. (LIFE)
Statement for Month/Day/Year: December 31, 2003

Name: Peter H. Kamin
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: VA Partners, L.L.C.
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Lifeline Systems, Inc. (LIFE)
Statement for Month/Day/Year: December 31, 2003</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VA PARTNERS, L.L.C. By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr. Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P., BY VA PARTNERS, L.L.C., ITS GENERAL PARTNER  By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr. Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P., BY VA PARTNERS, L.L.C., ITS GENERAL PARTNER By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr. Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL, LTD., BY VA PARTNERS, L.L.C., ITS INVESTMENT MANAGER By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr. Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Jeffrey W. Ubben</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Peter H. Kamin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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