<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001110750</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001071739</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>CENTENE CORP</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-31826</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>7700 FORSYTH BLVD.</com:street1>
        <com:city>ST LOUIS</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>MO</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>63105</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>3147254477</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>COUGHLIN CHRISTOPHER J</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Charles Schwab Corporation</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3000 Schwab Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Westlake</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>76262</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>878</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>67382.11</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>533656</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>05/14/2024</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/07/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open Market</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>262</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/07/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/09/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open Market</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>5</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/09/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/12/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open Market</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>46</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/12/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>06/08/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open Market</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>49</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>06/08/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>12/06/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open Market</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>48</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>12/06/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>12/15/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open Market</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>29</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>12/15/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/07/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open Market</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>264</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/07/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/12/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open Market</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>50</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/12/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>06/08/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open Market</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>49</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>06/08/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>12/06/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open Market</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>47</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>12/06/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>12/15/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open Market</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>29</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>12/15/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <remarks>Late 144 filing for sale transactions executed 5/14/2024:
Christopher Coughlin TTEE DIANE M. COUGHLIN ESTATE REDUCTION TRUST FBO ERIN M. DUNSTON &amp; Christopher Coughlin TTEE Diane M Coughlin Estate Reduction Trust FBO Timothy J Coughlin</remarks>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>05/24/2024</noticeDate>
      <signature>Christopher Coughlin</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
[{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 8348}]
144
0001110750
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0001071739
CENTENE CORP
001-31826
7700 FORSYTH BLVD.
ST LOUIS
MO
63105
3147254477
COUGHLIN CHRISTOPHER J
Director
Common Class A
Charles Schwab Corporation
3000 Schwab Way
Westlake
TX
76262
878
67382.11
533656
05/14/2024
NYSE
Common Class A
05/07/2021
Open Market Purchase
Open Market
N
262
05/07/2021
Cash
Common Class A
05/09/2021
Open Market Purchase
Open Market
N
5
05/09/2021
Cash
Common Class A
05/12/2021
Open Market Purchase
Open Market
N
46
05/12/2021
Cash
Common Class A
06/08/2021
Open Market Purchase
Open Market
N
49
06/08/2021
Cash
Common Class A
12/06/2021
Open Market Purchase
Open Market
N
48
12/06/2021
Cash
Common Class A
12/15/2021
Open Market Purchase
Open Market
N
29
12/15/2021
Cash
Common Class A
05/07/2021
Open Market Purchase
Open Market
N
264
05/07/2021
Cash
Common Class A
05/12/2021
Open Market Purchase
Open Market
N
50
05/12/2021
Cash
Common Class A
06/08/2021
Open Market Purchase
Open Market
N
49
06/08/2021
Cash
Common Class A
12/06/2021
Open Market Purchase
Open Market
N
47
12/06/2021
Cash
Common Class A
12/15/2021
Open Market Purchase
Open Market
N
29
12/15/2021
Cash
Y
Late 144 filing for sale transactions executed 5/14/2024:
Christopher Coughlin TTEE DIANE M. COUGHLIN ESTATE REDUCTION TRUST FBO ERIN M. DUNSTON & Christopher Coughlin TTEE Diane M Coughlin Estate Reduction Trust FBO Timothy J Coughlin
05/24/2024
Christopher Coughlin