Sec Form 4 Filing - Thomas John T @ HEALTH CARE REIT INC /DE/ - 2012-07-25

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Thomas John T 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol HEALTH CARE REIT INC /DE/ [ HCN] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP- Medical Facilities (Last) (First) (Middle) 4500 DORR STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 07/25/2012 (Street) TOLEDO, OH43615 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 07/25/2012 F 3,574 D $ 60.87 38,575 D Common Stock 07/25/2012 D 23,439 ( 1 ) D $ 0 15,136 ( 1 ) D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Option (Right to Buy) $ 43.29 07/25/2012 D 9,510 01/15/2011( 2 ) 01/28/2020 Common 23,776 ( 2 ) $ 0 ( 3 ) 14,266 ( 2 ) D Option (Right to Buy) $ 49.17 07/25/2012 D 11,835 01/15/2012( 4 ) 01/27/2021 Common 19,726 ( 4 ) $ 0 ( 3 ) 7,891 ( 4 ) D Option (Right to Buy) $ 57.33 07/25/2012 D 17,824 01/15/2013( 5 ) 01/26/2022 Common 22,280 ( 5 ) $ 0 ( 3 ) 4,456 ( 5 ) D Deferred Stock Units $ 0 ( 6 ) 07/25/2012 D 13,082 01/31/2015( 6 ) 01/31/2017 Common 13,082 ( 6 ) $ 0 ( 6 ) 0 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Thomas John T 4500 DORR STREET TOLEDO, OH43615 EVP- Medical Facilities Signatures By: Erin C. IbeleAttorney-in-FactFor: John T. Thomas 07/27/2012 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Forfeiture of 23,439 shares of common stock in connection with Mr. Thomas' termination of employment on July 25, 2012. 2,712 performance shares also were forfeited in connection with Mr. Thomas' termination of employment on July 25, 2012. The performance shares are neither equity securities nor derivative securities as defined by the Commission for purposes of this form and, accordingly, are not reported separately herein. ( 2 )Options for the purchase of 23,776 shares of common stock at $43.29 per share were granted to Mr. Thomas on January 28, 2010. 4,755 options vested on July 25, 2012, 9,511 options previously vested and the remaining 9,510 options were forfeited in connection with Mr. Thomas' termination of employment on July 25, 2012. The vested options are exercisable by Mr. Thomas until July 25, 2013. ( 3 )The options were granted under the Amended and Restated Health Care REIT, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan and had no acquisition price. ( 4 )Options for the purchase of 19,726 shares of common stock at $49.17 per share were granted to Mr. Thomas on January 27, 2011. 3,945 options vested on July 25, 2012, 3,946 options previously vested and the remaining 11,835 options were forfeited in connection with Mr. Thomas' termination of employment on July 25, 2012. The vested options are exercisable by Mr. Thomas until July 25, 2013. ( 5 )Options for the purchase of 22,280 shares of common stock at $57.33 per share were granted to Mr. Thomas on January 26, 2012. 4,456 options vested on July 25, 2012 and the remaining 17,824 options were forfeited in connection with Mr. Thomas' termination of employment on July 25, 2012. The vested options are exercisable by Mr. Thomas until July 25, 2013. ( 6 )17,443 deferred stock units were granted without cash consideration on January 26, 2012 under the Amended and Restated Health Care REIT, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan. 4,361 of the units vested on January 31, 2012. The remaining 13,082 units were forfeited in connection with Mr. Thomas' termination of employment on July 25, 2012.

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