UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                    UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                               (AMENDMENT NO. 5)*

                        PENN TREATY AMERICAN CORPORATION
                                (Name of Issuer)

                          COMMON STOCK, $.10 PAR VALUE
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    707874103
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                               Michael J. Gibbons
                             Chief Financial Officer
                                WL Ross & Co. LLC
                        101 East 52nd Street, 19th Floor
                               New York, NY 10022
                                 (212) 826-2042

                  (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
                Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                                December 26, 2003
                      (Date of Event which Requires Filing
                               of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box
[X].

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties
to whom copies are to be sent.

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).


                                      -1-

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

CUSIP NO. 707874103                                            PAGE 2 OF 8 PAGES

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1       NAME OF REPORTING PERSON                  WL Ross & Co. LLC

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*             (a)  [ ]
                                                                      (b)  [ ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3       SEC USE ONLY

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4       SOURCE OF FUNDS*                          OO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5       CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
        TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)                                               [ ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION      Delaware

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  NUMBER OF         7      SOLE VOTING POWER         0

   SHARES          -------------------------------------------------------------

BENEFICIALLY        8      SHARED VOTING POWER       0

  OWNED BY         -------------------------------------------------------------

    EACH            9      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER    0

  REPORTING        -------------------------------------------------------------

 PERSON WITH       10      SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  0

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                                       0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
        CERTAIN SHARES*                                                    [ ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)     0.0%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*                              OO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                      -2-

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

CUSIP NO. 707874103                                            PAGE 3 OF 8 PAGES

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1       NAME OF REPORTING PERSON                  WLR Recovery Fund II, L.P.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*             (a)  [ ]
                                                                      (b)  [ ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3       SEC USE ONLY

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4       SOURCE OF FUNDS*                          WC

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5       CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
        TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)                                               [ ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION      Delaware

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  NUMBER OF         7      SOLE VOTING POWER         0

   SHARES          -------------------------------------------------------------

BENEFICIALLY        8      SHARED VOTING POWER       0

  OWNED BY         -------------------------------------------------------------

    EACH            9      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER    0

  REPORTING        -------------------------------------------------------------

 PERSON WITH       10      SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  0

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                                       0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
        CERTAIN SHARES*                                                    [ ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)     0.0%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*                              PN

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                      -3-

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

CUSIP NO. 707874103                                            PAGE 4 OF 8 PAGES

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1       NAME OF REPORTING PERSON                 WLR Recovery Associates II LLC

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*             (a)  [ ]
                                                                      (b)  [ ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3       SEC USE ONLY

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4       SOURCE OF FUNDS*                          OO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5       CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
        TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)                                               [ ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION      Delaware

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  NUMBER OF         7      SOLE VOTING POWER         0

   SHARES          -------------------------------------------------------------

BENEFICIALLY        8      SHARED VOTING POWER       0

  OWNED BY         -------------------------------------------------------------

    EACH            9      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER    0

  REPORTING        -------------------------------------------------------------

 PERSON WITH       10      SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  0

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                                       0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
        CERTAIN SHARES*                                                    [ ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)     0.0%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*                              OO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                      -4-

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

CUSIP NO. 707874103                                            PAGE 5 OF 8 PAGES

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1       NAME OF REPORTING PERSON                Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*             (a)  [ ]
                                                                      (b)  [ ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3       SEC USE ONLY

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4       SOURCE OF FUNDS*                          OO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5       CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
        TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)                                               [ ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION      United States

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  NUMBER OF         7      SOLE VOTING POWER         0

   SHARES          -------------------------------------------------------------

BENEFICIALLY        8      SHARED VOTING POWER       0

  OWNED BY         -------------------------------------------------------------

    EACH            9      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER    0

  REPORTING        -------------------------------------------------------------

 PERSON WITH       10      SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  0

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                                       0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
        CERTAIN SHARES*                                                    [ ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)     0.0%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*                              IN

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                      -5-

This Amendment No. 5 (the "Amendment") is filed jointly on behalf of W.L. Ross &
Co. LLC, WLR Recovery Fund II, L.P., WLR Recovery Associates II LLC and Wilbur
L. Ross, Jr. (the "Reporting Persons"). This Amendment amends and supplements
the Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Persons on April 7, 2003 (the "Schedule
13D") and amended by Amendment Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 to the Schedule 13D dated
September 29, 2003, October 7, 2003, October 21, 2003 and December 9, 2003,
respectively. Except as provided herein, this Amendment does not modify any of
the information previously reported on the Schedule 13D.

The Schedule 13D is hereby amended as follows:

ITEM 5.  INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

(a)-(b) The Reporting Persons beneficially own no shares of the Issuer's Common
Stock.

(c) On December 26, 2003 and December 29, 2003, WLR Recovery Fund II, L.P. sold
$500,000.00 and $9,700,000.00, respectively, in aggregate principal amounts of
the convertible subordinated notes for $509,350.00 and $9,845,450.00,
respectively, in private sales.

(d) Not applicable.

(e) The Reporting Persons ceased to beneficially own any of the Issuer's Common
Stock on December 29, 2003.


                                      -6-

                                    SIGNATURE

      After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.

January 8, 2004

                                   WLR RECOVERY FUND II, L.P.

                                          By:   WLR Recovery Associates II LLC,
                                                its General Partner

                                                By:  /s/ Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
                                                     -----------------------
                                                     Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
                                                     Its Managing Member

                                   WLR RECOVERY ASSOCIATES II, LLC

                                          By:/s/ Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
                                             -----------------------
                                                Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
                                                Its Managing Member

                                   WL ROSS & CO. LLC

                                          By:  /s/ Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
                                               -----------------------
                                                Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
                                                Its Managing Member

                                   /s/ Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
                                   -----------------------
                                   Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.


                                      -7-