Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions |
3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2017 |
Sep. 30, 2017 |
Jun. 30, 2017 |
Mar. 31, 2017 |
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Sep. 30, 2016 |
Jun. 30, 2016 |
Mar. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2017 |
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
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| Earnings (loss) attributable to Centene Corporation: | |||||||||||
| Earnings from continuing operations, net of tax | $ 230 | $ 205 | $ 254 | $ 139 | $ 255 | $ 148 | $ 171 | $ (15) | $ 828 | $ 559 | $ 356 |
| Discontinued operations, net of tax | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | (1) | (1) | (1) | 0 | 3 | (1) |
| Net earnings | $ 230 | $ 205 | $ 254 | $ 139 | $ 261 | $ 147 | $ 170 | $ (16) | $ 828 | $ 562 | $ 355 |
| Shares used in computing per share amounts: | |||||||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in shares) | 172,427,000 | 159,568,000 | 119,101,000 | ||||||||
| Common stock equivalents (as determined by applying the treasury stock method) (in shares) | 4,275,000 | 4,407,000 | 3,965,000 | ||||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares and potential dilutive common shares outstanding (in shares) | 176,702,000 | 163,975,000 | 123,066,000 | ||||||||
| Basic: | |||||||||||
| Continuing operations (in usd per share) | $ 1.33 | $ 1.19 | $ 1.47 | $ 0.81 | $ 1.49 | $ 0.87 | $ 1.00 | $ (0.12) | $ 4.80 | $ 3.50 | $ 2.99 |
| Discontinued operations (in usd per share) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.04 | (0.01) | 0.00 | (0.01) | 0.00 | 0.02 | (0.01) |
| Basic earnings per common share (in usd per share) | 1.33 | 1.19 | 1.47 | 0.81 | 1.53 | 0.86 | 1.00 | (0.13) | 4.80 | 3.52 | 2.98 |
| Diluted: | |||||||||||
| Continuing operations (in usd per share) | 1.30 | 1.16 | 1.44 | 0.79 | 1.45 | 0.84 | 0.98 | (0.12) | 4.69 | 3.41 | 2.89 |
| Discontinued operations (in usd per share) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.04 | 0.00 | (0.01) | (0.01) | 0.00 | 0.02 | (0.01) |
| Diluted earnings per common share (in usd per share) | $ 1.30 | $ 1.16 | $ 1.44 | $ 0.79 | $ 1.49 | $ 0.84 | $ 0.97 | $ (0.13) | $ 4.69 | $ 3.43 | $ 2.88 |
| Anti-dilutive stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share (in shares) | 53,000 | 126,000 | 7,000 | ||||||||
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- Definition Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- References No definition available.
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- References No definition available.
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- Definition The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- References No definition available.
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- Definition Amount after tax of income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the parent. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The amount of net income (loss) from continuing operations per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The amount of net income (loss) derived from continuing operations during the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount after tax of income (loss) from a discontinued operation attributable to the parent. Includes, but is not limited to, the income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, gain (loss) for reversal of write-down (write-down) to fair value, less cost to sell, and adjustments to a prior period gain (loss) on disposal. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Per basic share amount, after tax, of income (loss) from the day-to-day business activities of the discontinued operation and gain (loss) from the disposal of the discontinued operation. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Per diluted share amount, after tax, of income (loss) from the day-to-day business activities of the discontinued operation and gain (loss) from the disposal of the discontinued operation. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of share based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- References No definition available.
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- Definition The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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