Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
NEIDORFF MICHAEL F
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CENTENE CORP [CNC] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Chairman and CEO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
7711 CARONDELET AVENUE, SUITE 800		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/29/2006
(Street)

ST. LOUIS, MO 63105		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock               1,471,837 (1) D  

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom Stock $ 0 (2) 12/29/2006   A   89.227 (3)   12/29/2006 12/29/2006(4) Common Stock 89.227 $ 24.57 20,389.281 D  
Common Stock Option (right to buy) $ 7.57             07/24/2007 07/24/2012 Common Stock 50,009   50,009 D  
Common Stock Option (right to buy) $ 13.58             08/26/2008 08/26/2013 Common Stock 254,036   254,036 D  
Common Stock Option (right to buy) $ 13.98             12/16/2006 12/16/2013 Common Stock 200,000   200,000 D  
Common Stock Option (right to buy) $ 17.85             07/27/2007 07/27/2014 Common Stock 180,000   180,000 D  
Common Stock Option (right to buy) $ 25.4             12/13/2008 12/13/2015 Common Stock 200,000   200,000 D  
Common Stock Option (right to buy) $ 25.21             12/12/2009 12/12/2016 Common Stock 100,000   100,000 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
NEIDORFF MICHAEL F
7711 CARONDELET AVENUE
SUITE 800
ST. LOUIS, MO 63105		   X     Chairman and CEO  

Signatures

 /s/ J. Per Brodin (executed by attorney-in-fact)   01/03/2007
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Includes 1,000,000 Restricted Stock Units, 600,000 of which vest in full on November 8, 2009 and 80,000 each on November 8, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
(2) Each share of phantom stock represents the right to receive the fair market value of one share of Centene common stock.
(3) The phantom stock was acquired by Mr. Neidorff through regular scheduled payroll contributions to the Company's deferred compensation plan.
(4) The phantom stock has no formal expiration date. The phantom stock will be settled in cash upon Mr. Neidorff's termination with the Company or on such other date Mr. Neidorff may elect.

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