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

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-07</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000792985</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HMA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001240226</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VUMBACCO JOSEPH V</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>President and CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-07</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20176</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>364150</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19725</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>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>365000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>365000</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>2003-05-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-05-27</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>500000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>500000</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><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-05-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>250000</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>250000</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></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>16.60</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-05-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>750000</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>750000</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></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>19.95</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F5"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-05-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>100000</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>100000</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></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>18.56</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F6"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>100000</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>100000</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Contingent Stock Award</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-07</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20176</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><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>20176</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><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>20505</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20505</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></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>36404</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>36404</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></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>2006-12-04</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-12-04</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>39788</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>39788</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></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>2007-12-03</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-12-03</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30905</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30905</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Certain of these shares are held by First Union National Bank of Florida for the account of Mr. Vumbacco.  The account is a self-directed IRA in which Mr. Vumbacco has the sole power to dispose of the shares.</footnote><footnote id="F2">This employee stock option was previously reported by Mr. Vumbacco. </footnote><footnote id="F3">This employee stock option was previously reported by Mr. Vumbacco.  Mr. Vumbacco can exercise this option as follows:  125,000 shares on 5/26/01 (exercised on 5/12/03), 125,000 shares on 5/26/02 (exercised on 5/12/03), 125,000 shares on 5/26/03, and 125,000 shares on 5/26/04. </footnote><footnote id="F4">This employee stock option was previously reported by Mr. Vumbacco.  Mr. Vumbacco can exercise this option as follows:  187,500 shares on 5/15/02, 187,500 shares on 5/15/03, 187,500 shares on 5/15/04, and 187,500 shares on 5/15/05.</footnote><footnote id="F5">This employee stock option was previously reported by Mr. Vumbacco.  Mr. Vumbacco can exercise this option as follows:  25,000 shares on 5/21/03, 25,000 shares on 5/21/04, 25,000 shares on 5/21/05, and 25,000 shares on 5/21/06.</footnote><footnote id="F6">This employee stock option was previously reported by Mr. Vumbacco.  Mr. Vumbacco can exercise this option as follows:  25,000 shares on 5/20/04, 25,000 shares on 5/20/05, 25,000 shares on 5/20/06, and 25,000 shares on 5/20/07.</footnote><footnote id="F7">This contingent stock incentive award under the Issuer's 1996 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan was previously reported by Mr. Vumbacco.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Joseph V. Vumbacco</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

