<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-03-035811
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031216
<FILING-DATE>20031218
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>GOLDMAN CAROL
<CIK>0001208713
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-31826
<FILM-NUMBER>031062914
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O CENTENE CORP
<STREET2>7711 CARONDELET AVE STE 800
<CITY>ST LOUIS
<STATE>MO
<ZIP>63105
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bsl81667_01cg.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-16</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001071739</issuerCik><issuerName>CENTENE CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001208713</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>GOLDMAN CAROL</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>Sr VP Chief Admin Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>27.95</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-16</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-12-16</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>27.95</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-12-16</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-16</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The options vests in 5 equal annual installments on the anniversary of the grant date beginning on December 16, 2004.  </footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ CAROL GOLDMAN</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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