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

OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Expires: January 31, 2005 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * SCHEFFEL WILLIAM N   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CENTENE CORP [CNC] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Exec VP, CFO & Treasurer (Last) (First) (Middle) 7700 FORSYTH BOULEVARD 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 10/31/2011 (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 10/31/2011   M   3 A $ 26.07 126,911 (1) D   Common Stock 10/31/2011   M   10,000 A $ 25.4 136,911 (1) D   Common Stock 10/31/2011   M   8,000 A $ 25.21 144,911 (1) D   Common Stock 10/31/2011   F   15,019 (2) D $ 35.56 129,892 (1) D

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
	Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.		SEC 1474 (9-02)

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

Common Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 26.07

10/31/2011

M

3

12/08/2009

12/08/2014

Common Stock

3

$ 26.07

0

D

Common Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 25.4

10/31/2011

M

10,000

12/13/2010

12/13/2015

Comon Stock

10,000

$ 25.4

0

D

Common Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 25.21

10/31/2011

M

8,000

12/12/2010

12/12/2016

Common Stock

8,000

$ 25.21

2,000

D

Common Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 32.06

07/26/2010

07/26/2015

Common Stock

25,000

25,000

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
SCHEFFEL WILLIAM N 7700 FORSYTH BOULEVARD ST. LOUIS, MO 63105			Exec VP, CFO & Treasurer

Signatures

/s/ William N. Scheffel		11/02/2011
**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)	Mr. Scheffel's ownership includes previous awards of 56,334 restricted stock units subject to vesting requirements.
(2)	Shares withheld for payment of exercise price and tax liability of previously reported stock grant.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.