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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IRcbwf8ybV6SAG4jCPh/Aq7Tnl8FNuOs5JV0zp9PmUq0EgOazGAgMDskMzl4L5hC
 X4Kdeui+qtTzX8EK/o0fRw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-008683.txt : 20030522
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-008683.hdr.sgml : 20030522
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030522134751
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-008683
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030520
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030522

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GABOS PAUL G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001216803

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19946
		FILM NUMBER:		03715992

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		19387 US 19 N
		CITY:			CLEARWATER
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33764

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LINCARE HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000882235
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MISC HEALTH & ALLIED SERVICES, NEC [8090]
		IRS NUMBER:				510331330
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		19387 US 19 N STE 500
		CITY:			CLEARWATER
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33764
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8135307700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		19387 US 19 NORTH STE 500
		CITY:			CLEARWATER
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33764
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd9498.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-05-20</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000882235</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LINCARE HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LNCR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216803</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GABOS PAUL G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Options to Buy</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>30.13</value></conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-05-20</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>75000</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0.00</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2004-01-31</value></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2010-01-31</value></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>75000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>75000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Options to Buy</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>30.13</value></conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-05-20</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>75000</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0.00</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2005-01-31</value></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2010-01-31</value></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>75000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>75000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Options to purchase 150,000 shares of common stock were granted on 5/20/2003 and are shown separately for purposes of reporting dates exercisable.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Options to purchase 150,000 shares of common stock were granted on 5/20/2003 and are shown separately for purposes of reporting dates exercisable.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>P.G. Gabos</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-05-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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