<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-07</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000766704</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEALTH CARE REIT INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HCN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001250386</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BORRA PIER C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE SEAGATE, SUITE 1500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TOLEDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>43604</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-07</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>C</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>660.0000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>32.6600</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>42660.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Series E Preferred Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>32.6600</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-07</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>C</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>863.0000</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-09-29</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>660.0000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">These shares of 6% Series E Cumulative Convertible and Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Series E") were issued by the Company in connection with an asset acquisition by the Company from a third party.  The third party recipient of the Series E transferred 863 shares of the Series E to Mr. Borra in connection with the redemption of his equity interest in this third party, valued at $21,575 for purposes of the transaction, or $25 of value for each share of Series E received by him.  The Series E is convertible to Common Stock of the Company, determined by multiplying the number of shares of the Series E to be converted by the liquidation preference of $25 per share and dividing the product by the conversion price of $32.66 per share of Common Stock to be received.  </footnote><footnote id="F2">Expiration Date is not applicable.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>By:  Erin C. Ibele
Attorney-in-Fact
For: Pier C. Borra</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

