Quarterly Selected Financial Information (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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| Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract] | |||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ 12,806 | $ 11,898 | $ 11,954 | $ 11,724 | $ 11,911 | $ 10,846 | $ 10,897 | $ 6,953 | $ 48,382 | $ 40,607 | $ 22,760 |
| Earnings (loss) attributable to Centene Corporation: | |||||||||||
| Earnings from continuing operations, net of income tax expense | 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
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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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- 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 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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- References No definition available.
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- Definition Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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