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

    <documentType>5</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-30</periodOfReport>
    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000792985</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HMA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001032798</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHOEN WILLIAM J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5811 PELICAN BAY BOULEVARD, SUITE 500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NAPLES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>34108</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2002-11-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>100000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6035209</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Footnote</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7354</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>401(k) Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.16</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-05-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-05-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2025000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2025000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.33</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-05-21</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-05-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>675000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>675000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.72</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-05-12</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-05-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4500000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4500000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>13.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-01-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-05-27</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1000000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.125</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-01-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-05-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1000000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Contingent Stock Award</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-12-07</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-12-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>31803</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>31803</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Contingent Stock Award</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-12-05</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-12-05</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>32808</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>32808</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Contingent Stock Award</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2005-12-04</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-12-04</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>9817</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9817</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Call Option (Obligation to Sell)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>33.423</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-01-31</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-01-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2250000</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2250000</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Footnote</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Put Option (Right to Sell)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>17.905</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-01-31</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-01-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2250000</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2250000</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Footnote</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares owned by various trusts over which Mr. Schoen is Trustee, Settlor, and/or Beneficiary.</footnote><footnote id="F2">This employee stock option was previously reported by Mr. Schoen.</footnote><footnote id="F3">This contingent stock incentive award under the Issuer's 1996 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan was previously reported by Mr. Schoen. </footnote><footnote id="F4">These options were previously reported by Mr. Schoen.  These two options represent a &quot;zero-cost collar&quot; arrangement of Karen A. Sutton, Trustee u/a/d 12/1/96 of the William J. Schoen Charitable Remainder Unitrust.  Only one of the options can be &quot;in the money&quot; on the expiration date, at which time the in-the-money option will be exercised and the other option will expire.  If neither option is in the money on the expiration date, both options will expire.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>William J. Schoen</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

