<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-03-033157
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031201
<FILING-DATE>20031202
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CENTENE CORP
<CIK>0001071739
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6324
<IRS-NUMBER>041406317
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>7711 CARONDELET AVE
<CITY>ST LOUIS
<STATE>MO
<ZIP>63105
<PHONE>3147254477
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>7711 CARONDELET AVE
<STREET2>SUITE 800
<CITY>ST LOUIS
<STATE>MO
<ZIP>63105
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>JOHNSON CLAIRE W
<CIK>0001211116
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-31826
<FILM-NUMBER>031033273
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>397 24 3/4 AVE, LAKEVIEW TERRACE
<CITY>CUMBERLAND
<STATE>WI
<ZIP>54829
<PHONE>7158228244
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>397 24 3/4 AVE, LAKEVIEW TERRACE
<CITY>CUMBERLAND
<STATE>WI
<ZIP>54829
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bsl81370_bsl1cj.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>0001211116</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>JOHNSON CLAIRE W</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>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>25000</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>29.41</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>364584</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Sale pursuant to a trading plan established under 10b5-1 Plan dated August 27, 2003.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ CLAIRE JOHNSON</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
