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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 At8L0JHcC7/lWPf0l16TuVE3+eBklqkmvWFKtLSfYTT6Jpq2Oypn0ELD7a/nG8jZ
 Z8EoYIiDJQxurcHdNuiZNw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-033142.txt : 20031202
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-033142.hdr.sgml : 20031202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031202170416
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-033142
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WITTY KAREY L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208714

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31826
		FILM NUMBER:		031033242

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CENTONO CORP
		STREET 2:		77111 CARONDELET AVE STE 800
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63105

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTENE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001071739
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOSPITAL & MEDICAL SERVICE PLANS [6324]
		IRS NUMBER:				041406317

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7711 CARONDELET AVE
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63105
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3147254477

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7711 CARONDELET AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63105
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bsl81370_bsl1klw.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-01</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001071739</issuerCik><issuerName>CENTENE CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001208714</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>WITTY KAREY L</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CENTENE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>7711 CARONDELET, SUITE 800</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>ST. LOUIS</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>63105</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice President and CFO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelatio
nship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>.89</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-01</value></transactionDate><transacti
onCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2500</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>28.90</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>.89</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFo
rmType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>.89</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2001-10-20</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-10-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>26000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Sale pursuant to a trading plan established under
 10b5-1 Plan dated September 15, 2003.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ KAREY L WITTY</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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