Exhibit 10.66

     STOCK  OPTION  AGREEMENT  made as of the  20th day of  July,  2000  between
NATIONAL  MEDICAL  HEALTH  CARD  SYSTEMS,  INC.,  a New  York  corporation  (the
"Company"), and Tery Baskin (the "Optionee").

     WHEREAS,  the  Optionee  is an  employee  of the  Company  or a  subsidiary
thereof;

     WHEREAS,  the  Company  desires to provide to the  Optionee  an  additional
incentive to promote the success of the Company;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  foregoing,  the Company hereby
grants to the Optionee  (the  "Grant")  the right and option to purchase  Common
Shares of the Company under and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the 1999
Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") and upon and subject to the  following  terms and
conditions:

     1. GRANT OF OPTION. The Company hereby grants to the Optionee the right and
option (the "Option") to purchase up to Forty Thousand (40,000) Common Shares of
the Company (the "Option Shares") during the following periods:

     (a) All or any part of Eight Thousand  (8,000) Common Shares ("Option Share
Portion (a)") may be purchased  during the period  commencing  July 20, 2001 and
terminating at 5:00 P.M. on July 20, 2006 (the "Expiration Date").

     (b) All or any part of Eight Thousand  (8,000) Common Shares ("Option Share
Portion (b)") may be purchased during the period commencing on July 20, 2002 and
terminating at 5:00 P.M. on the Expiration Date.

     (c) All or any part of Eight Thousand  (8,000) Common Shares ("Option Share
Portion (c)") may be purchased during the period commencing on July 20, 2003 and
terminating at 5:00 P.M. on the Expiration Date.

     (d) All or any part of Eight Thousand  (8,000) Common Shares ("Option Share
Portion (d)") may be purchased during the period commencing on July 20, 2004 and
terminating at 5:00 P.M. on the Expiration Date.

     (e) All or any part of Eight Thousand  (8,000) Common Shares ("Option Share
Portion (e)") may be purchased during the period commencing on July 20, 2005 and
terminating at 5:00 P.M. on the Expiration Date.

     2.  NATURE OF OPTION.  Such  Options  to  purchase  the  Option  Shares are
intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, relating to "incentive stock options".

     3. EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price of each of the Option Shares shall be
Four Dollars and no cents  ($4.00) (the "Option  Price").  The Company shall pay
all original issue or transfer taxes on the exercise of the Option.

     4. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.  The Option shall be exercised in  accordance  with
the provisions of the Plan. As soon as  practicable  after the receipt of notice
of exercise (in the form annexed  hereto as Exhibit A) and payment of the Option
Price as provided  for in the Plan,  the Company  shall  tender to the  Optionee
certificates  issued in the  Optionee's  name  evidencing  the  number of Option
Shares covered thereby.

     5. CAPITAL ADJUSTMENT.

     (a) If the Company is separated or  reorganized,  or merged or consolidated
with another  corporation,  there shall be substituted  for the Shares  issuable
upon exercise of the outstanding Options an appropriate number of shares of each
class  of  stock,   other  securities  or  other  assets  of  the  separated  or
reorganized, or merged or consolidated corporation which were distributed to the
shareholders of the Company in respect of such Shares;  provided,  however, that
the Option may be exercised in full by the Optionee as of the effective  date of
any such  separation,  reorganization,  merger,  or consolidation of the Company
without  regard to the  installment  exercise  provisions of Paragraph 1, by the
Optionee  giving  notice  in  writing  to the  Company  of his  intention  to so
exercise.

     (b) If the Company is liquidated or dissolved then all outstanding portions
of the Option may be exercised in full by the Optionee as of the effective  date
of any such  liquidation  or  dissolution  of the Company  without regard to the
installment exercise provisions of Paragraph 1, by the Optionee giving notice in
writing to the Company of his intention to so exercise.

     (c) If the outstanding  Shares of Common Stock shall at any time be changed
or exchanged by declaration  of a stock  dividend,  stock split,  combination or
exchange of shares, recapitalization, extraordinary dividend payable in stock of
a  corporation  other than the Company,  or otherwise in cash, or any other like
event by or of the  Company,  and as often as the  same  shall  occur,  then the
number,  class and kind of Shares  subject to this Option and the Purchase Price
for such Shares shall be appropriately and equitably  adjusted so as to maintain
the  proportionate  number of Shares  without  changing the  aggregate  Purchase
Price;  provided,  however,  no  adjustment  shall  be  made  by  reason  of the
distribution or subscription rights on outstanding stock.

     6. TRANSFERABILITY. The Option shall not be transferable other than by will
or the laws of descent and  distribution  and,  during the Optionee's  lifetime,
shall not be exercisable by any person other than the Optionee.

     7.  INCORPORATION  BY REFERENCE.  The terms and  conditions of the Plan are
hereby incorporated by reference and made a part hereof.

     8. NOTICES.  Any notice or other  communication  given  hereunder  shall be
deemed  sufficient  if in writing and hand  delivered or sent by  registered  or
certified mail, return receipt  requested,  addressed to the Company,  26 Harbor
Park Drive,  Port Washington,  New York 11050,  Attention:  Secretary and to the
Optionee at the address  indicated  below.  Notices shall be deemed to have been
given on the date of hand  delivery  or  mailing,  except  notices  of change of
address, which shall be deemed to have been given when received.

     9. BINDING  EFFECT.  This Agreement  shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit  of the  parties  hereto  and their  respective  legal  representatives,
successors and assigns.

     10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement,  together with the Plan, contains the
entire  understanding  of the parties  hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and may be modified only by an instrument executed by the party sought to
be charged.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day
and year first above written.

                                          NATIONAL MEDICAL HEALTH CARD
                                          SYSTEMS, INC.



                                          By:
                                          -------------------------------




                                         --------------------------------
                                         Signature of Optionee

                                         Tery Baskin
                                         ------------------------------------
                                         Name of Optionee


                                         -----------------------------------
                                         Address of Optionee



<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT A

                   NATIONAL MEDICAL HEALTH CARD SYSTEMS, INC.

                              OPTION EXERCISE FORM


     The  undersigned  hereby  irrevocably  elects to exercise the within Option
dated ____________,  2000 to the extent of purchasing _________ Common Shares of
National  Medical  Health Card  Systems,  Inc.  The  undersigned  hereby makes a
payment of $_________ in payment therefor.

                                                      Tery Baskin
                                                      ----------------------
                                                      Name of Optionee


                                                      -----------------------
                                                      Signature of Optionee


                                                      -----------------------
                                                      Address of Holder


                                                      -----------------------
                                                      Date