The following week, Centene will present on Thursday, November 19th at 3:05 p.m. Eastern Time at Citi's 6th Annual Small/Mid Cap Conference, to be held November 19-20, at the Citigroup Global Markets Offices in New York City. Anyone interested in accessing a live, audio webcast of Centene's presentation may do so via the following website: http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/citigroup/smid09/28111122.cfm.

A webcast replay can be accessed shortly after each presentation via the Company's website at www.centene.com under the Investors section.

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation is a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise that provides programs and related services to individuals receiving benefits under Medicaid, including the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care, Long-Term Care and Medicare (Special Needs Plans). The Company operates local health plans and offers a wide range of health insurance solutions to individuals and the rising number of uninsured Americans. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, life and health management, managed vision, telehealth services, pharmacy benefits management and medication adherence. Information regarding Centene is available via the Internet at www.centene.com.

SOURCE Centene Corporation

http://www.centene.com

"We are committed to ensuring everyone has the information they need this flu season and knows what vaccinations are recommended for them and their family to help avoid illness," said Mary Mason, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.

Women who are pregnant are in higher-risk groups for both seasonal and H1N1 influenza, according to the CDC. In addition to educating members in this group, the Company is offering a $10 Wal-Mart gift card as an incentive for them to receive both vaccines.

"The best way to protect oneself from the flu is by getting vaccinated and with the introduction of the H1N1 influenza, some people may need to get multiple vaccinations this year," said Dr. Mason. "Our flu prevention campaign is aimed at providing information on staying well and encouraging members to get recommended vaccines, with an emphasis on who should get the H1N1 vaccine since it is new to most individuals."

The Company is also taking steps to help prevent the influenza virus and spread of the virus with its employees through a similar Fluvention program. Centene provides employees with flu education, awareness and annual flu shot vaccination schedules through a dedicated Intranet site created specifically for this purpose. Hand sanitizers have also been installed in all of the Company's office locations.

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation is a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise that provides programs and related services to individuals receiving benefits under Medicaid, including the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care, Long-Term Care and Medicare (Special Needs Plans). The Company operates local health plans and offers a wide range of health insurance solutions to individuals and the rising number of uninsured Americans. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, life and health management, managed vision, telehealth services, pharmacy benefits management and medication adherence. Information regarding Centene is available via the Internet at www.centene.com.

SOURCE: Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation 
Edmund E. Kroll, Jr., 212-759-0382 
Senior Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations 
or 
Deanne Lane, 314-725-4477 
Senior Director, Media Affairs

Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) today announced its net earnings from continuing operations for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 were $22.7 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, compared to $18.1 million, or $0.41 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2008. The results of operations for our New Jersey health plan, University Health Plans, are classified as discontinued operations. The discussions below, with the exception of cash flow information, are in the context of continuing operations and all financial ratios are calculated using revenues excluding premium taxes and investment income.

Third Quarter Highlights

-- Quarter-end managed care at-risk membership of 1,386,400, an increase of 215,300 lives year over year.

-- Premium and Service revenues of $987.3 million, representing 18.1% year over year growth.

-- Health Benefits Ratio (HBR) of 83.7%.

-- General and Administrative (G&A) expense ratio of 13.2%.

-- Cash flow from operations of $114.9 million.

-- Days in claims payable of 47.1.

-- Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.51, compared to $0.41 in the third quarter of 2008. Earnings per diluted share in 2008 included a $0.06 loss on investments from the Primary Reserve fund.

Other Events

-- On August 31, 2009, Centene announced that the State of Massachusetts had accepted its proposal to manage healthcare services for the Commonwealth Bridge Program through its subsidiary, CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts, effective October 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010.

-- Effective September 1, 2009, Centene converted 62,100 members in Florida from Access Health Solutions to at-risk under our Sunshine State Health Plan.

-- On October 24, 2009, Centene announced a settlement agreement with Amerigroup Corporation associated with the sale of our New Jersey health plan. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, the parties will move forward with the transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval and expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2010.

-- In August 2009, Jason Harrold, president and CEO of OptiCare Managed Vision, Inc. was appointed to Senior Vice President of Centene's Specialty Business Unit. Mr. Harrold assumed the leadership role over the specialty companies previously held by William Scheffel.

-- On October 26, 2009 our Board of Directors approved an extension of our stock repurchase program.

Michael F. Neidorff, Centene's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are pleased with the ability of our team to deliver solid results across Centene's products and markets in a challenging economic environment."

The following table depicts membership in Centene's managed care organizations, by state, at September 30, 2009 and 2008:

                                September 30,
                                2009         2008
Arizona                         17,400       --
Florida                         84,400       --
Georgia                         303,400      283,900
Indiana                         200,700      172,400
Massachusetts                   500          --
Ohio                            151,200      132,500
South Carolina                  46,100       26,600
Texas                           450,200      433,200
Wisconsin                       132,500      122,500
Total at-risk membership        1,386,400    1,171,100
Non-risk membership             63,200*      3,700
Total                           1,449,600    1,174,800
______________________________
* Increase mainly due to consolidation of our Access Health
Solutions LLC investment, effective January 1, 2009.

The following table depicts membership in Centene's managed care organizations, by member category, at September 30, 2009 and 2008:

                          September 30,
                          2009       2008
Medicaid                  1,040,500  850,500
CHIP & Foster Care        263,400    261,800
ABD & Medicare            82,500     58,800
Total at-risk membership  1,386,400  1,171,100
Non-risk membership       63,200     3,700
Total                     1,449,600  1,174,800

Statement of Operations

-- For the third quarter of 2009, Premium and Service Revenues increased 18.1% to $987.3 million from $835.7 million in the third quarter of 2008. The increase was primarily driven by premium rate increases and membership growth in all states, including the commencement of our Arizona acute care contract in October 2008, the consolidation of Access and conversion of members to our at-risk plan in Florida.

-- The consolidated HBR, which reflects medical costs as a percent of premium revenues, was 83.7%. A reconciliation of the change in HBR from the prior year same period and from the immediately preceding quarter is presented below:

 Q3:2009 vs. Q3:2008                                     Q3:2009 vs. Q2:2009
 Third Quarter 2008                            82.2   %  Second Quarter 2009                           83.1   %
 Decrease in Texas CHIP/Perinate rates         1.0       New markets reserved at higher rates          0.1
 Impact of additional costs related to the flu 0.5       Impact of additional costs related to the flu 0.3
 Pass-through payments                         0.1       Pass-through payments                         0.1
 Net change in other markets                   (0.1   )  Net change in other markets                   0.1
 Third Quarter 2009                            83.7   %  Third Quarter 2009                            83.7   %

The increase in the third quarter of 2009 over the comparable period in 2008 was due to the March 1, 2009 rate decrease for our CHIP/Perinate product in Texas which brought the HBR more in line with our normal range and the impact of additional costs related to the flu. We also experienced improvements in our ABD product, particularly in Ohio, which was mostly offset by the impact of changes in rates and benefit structures in other markets. Sequentially, the increase in the HBR reflects the impact of additional costs related to the flu along with the effect of reserving at higher rates for new markets and receiving pass-through payments which increase the HBR ratio.

-- Consolidated G&A expense as a percent of premium and service revenues was 13.2% in the third quarter of 2009, a decrease from 14.2% in the third quarter of 2008. The reduction in the G&A ratio between years reflects improved leveraging of our costs over a higher revenue base and the impact of additional revenue from new business (Arizona Acute Care, Florida and South Carolina).

-- Earnings per diluted share from continuing operations were $0.51, compared to $0.41 in the third quarter of 2008. Earnings per diluted share in 2008 included a $0.06 loss on investments from the Primary Reserve fund.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

At September 30, 2009, the Company had cash and investments of $939.0 million, including $911.4 million held by its regulated entities and $27.6 million held by its unregulated entities. Medical claims liabilities totaled $411.0 million, representing 47.1 days in claims payable, a decrease of 0.4 days from June 30, 2009. Total debt was $277.3 million and debt to capitalization was 31.9%. Year to date cash flow from operations was $177.0 million.

A reconciliation of the Company's change in days in claims payable from the immediately preceding quarter-end is presented below:

Days in claims payable, June 30, 2009       47.5
Payment of annual provider bonuses          (0.7)
Impact of Florida expansion                 0.3
Days in claims payable, September 30, 2009  47.1

Outlook

The table below depicts the Company's annual guidance from continuing operations for 2009:

                                            Full Year 2009
                                            Low       High
Premium and Service revenues (in millions)  $  3,850  $  3,900
Earnings per diluted share                  $  1.91   $  1.97

Stock Repurchase Authorization

On October 26, 2009, the Company's Board of Directors extended the Company's stock repurchase program. The program authorizes the repurchase of up to 4,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock from time to time on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. No duration has been placed on the repurchase program and we reserve the right to discontinue the repurchase program at any time.

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will host a conference call Tuesday, October 27, 2009, at 8:30 A.M. (Eastern Time) to review the financial results for the second quarter ended September 30, 2009, and to discuss its business outlook. Michael F. Neidorff and William N. Scheffel will host the conference call. Investors and other interested parties are invited to listen to the conference call by dialing 800-273-1254 in the U.S. and Canada, 973-638-3440 from abroad, or via a live Internet broadcast on the Company's website at www.centene.com, under the Investor Relations section. A replay will be available for on-demand listening shortly after the completion of the call until 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, November 10, 2009, at the aforementioned URL, or by dialing 800-642-1687 in the U.S. and Canada, or 706-645-9291 from abroad, and entering access code 30957978.

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation is a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise that provides programs and related services to individuals receiving benefits under Medicaid, including the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care, Long-Term Care and Medicare (Special Needs Plans). The Company operates local health plans and offers a wide range of health insurance solutions to individuals and the rising number of uninsured Americans. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, life and health management, managed vision, telehealth services, pharmacy benefits management and medication adherence. Information regarding Centene is available via the Internet at www.centene.com.

The information provided in this press release contains forward-looking statements that relate to future events and future financial performance of Centene. Subsequent events and developments may cause the Company's estimates to change. The Company disclaims any obligation to update this forward-looking financial information in the future. Readers are cautioned that matters subject to forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including economic, regulatory, competitive and other factors that may cause Centene's or its industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ from projections or estimates due to a variety of important factors, including Centene's ability to accurately predict and effectively manage health benefits and other operating expenses, competition, changes in healthcare practices, changes in federal or state laws or regulations, inflation, provider contract changes, new technologies, reduction in provider payments by governmental payors, major epidemics, disasters and numerous other factors affecting the delivery and cost of healthcare. The expiration, cancellation or suspension of Centene's Medicaid Managed Care contracts by state governments would also negatively affect Centene.

[Tables Follow]

CENTENE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
                                                                      September 30,             December 31,
                                                                      2009                      2008
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations                    $    389,135         $    370,999
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations                       4,847                8,100
Total cash and cash equivalents                                            393,982              379,099
Premium and related receivables, net of allowance for uncollectible        104,798              92,531
accounts of $19 and $595, respectively
Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost $45,332 and          45,692               109,393
$108,469, respectively)
Other current assets                                                       61,294               75,333
Current assets of discontinued operations other than cash                  8,292                9,987
Total current assets                                                       614,058              666,343
Long-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost $475,078 and          486,889              332,411
$329,330, respectively)
Restricted deposits, at fair value (amortized cost $17,177 and             17,286               9,254
$9,124, respectively)
Property, software and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of       209,920              175,858
$96,314 and $74,194, respectively
Goodwill                                                                   219,100              163,380
Intangible assets, net                                                     23,454               17,575
Other long-term assets                                                     37,100               59,083
Long-term assets of discontinued operations                                27,207               27,248
Total assets                                                          $    1,635,014       $    1,451,152
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Medical claims liability                                              $    410,997         $    373,037
Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                      204,411              219,566
Unearned revenue                                                           68,024               17,107
Current portion of long-term debt                                          645                  255
Current liabilities of discontinued operations                             23,846               31,013
Total current liabilities                                                  707,923              640,978
Long-term debt                                                             276,687              264,637
Other long-term liabilities                                                55,992               43,539
Long-term liabilities of discontinued operations                           1,155                726
Total liabilities                                                          1,041,757            949,880
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $.001 par value; authorized 100,000,000 shares; issued       45                   45
and outstanding 45,402,369 and 45,071,179 shares, respectively
Additional paid-in capital                                                 277,709              263,835
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
Unrealized gain on investments, net of tax                                 7,812                3,152
Retained earnings                                                          335,192              275,236
Treasury stock, at cost (2,373,893 and 2,083,415 shares,                   (46,497   )          (40,996   )
respectively)
Total Centene stockholders' equity                                         574,261              501,272
Noncontrolling interest                                                    18,996               --
Total stockholders' equity                                                 593,257              501,272
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                            $    1,635,014       $    1,451,152

CENTENE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
                                                                    Three Months Ended                     Nine Months Ended
                                                                    September 30,                          September 30,
                                                                    2009                2008               2009              2008
Revenues:
Premium                                                             $   960,009         $   817,740        $  2,754,713      $  2,338,550
Service                                                                 27,300              17,962            72,740            56,958
Premium and service revenues                                            987,309             835,702           2,827,453         2,395,508
Premium tax                                                             50,925              22,897            182,685           66,249
Total revenues                                                          1,038,234           858,599           3,010,138         2,461,757
Expenses:
Medical costs                                                           803,062             671,920           2,298,108         1,932,172
Cost of services                                                        15,843              12,854            46,364            43,467
General and administrative expenses                                     130,024             118,628           381,524           323,391
Premium tax                                                             51,295              23,284            183,785           66,636
Total operating expenses                                                1,000,224           826,686           2,909,781         2,365,666
Earnings from operations                                                38,010              31,913            100,357           96,091
Other income (expense):
Investment and other income                                             3,750               2,708             11,781            15,724
Interest expense                                                        (4,064     )        (4,377     )      (12,210    )      (12,436    )
Earnings from continuing operations, before income tax expense          37,696              30,244            99,928            99,379
Income tax expense                                                      12,426              12,145            35,060            38,464
Earnings from continuing operations, net of income tax expense          25,270              18,099            64,868            60,915
Discontinued operations, net of income tax (benefit) expense of         (1,460     )        149               (2,394     )      1,159
$(792), $242, $(1,148) and $390, respectively
Net earnings                                                            23,810              18,248            62,474            62,074
Noncontrolling interest                                                 2,542               --                2,518             --
Net earnings attributable to Centene Corporation                    $   21,268          $   18,248         $  59,956         $  62,074
Amounts attributable to Centene Corporation common shareholders:
Earnings from continuing operations, net of income tax expense      $   22,728          $   18,099         $  62,350         $  60,915
Discontinued operations, net of income tax (benefit) expense            (1,460     )        149               (2,394     )      1,159
Net earnings                                                        $   21,268          $   18,248         $  59,956         $  62,074
Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to Centene Corporation:
Basic:
Continuing operations                                               $   0.53            $   0.42           $  1.45           $  1.40
Discontinued operations                                                 (0.04      )        --                (0.06      )      0.03
Earnings per common share                                           $   0.49            $   0.42           $  1.39           $  1.43
Diluted:
Continuing operations                                               $   0.51            $   0.41           $  1.41           $  1.37
Discontinued operations                                                 (0.03      )        --                (0.05      )      0.02
Earnings per common share                                           $   0.48            $   0.41           $  1.36           $  1.39
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic                                                                   43,001,870          43,232,941        43,023,431        43,381,819
Diluted                                                                 44,291,604          44,530,347        44,247,153        44,541,424

CENTENE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
                                                                      Nine Months Ended September 30,
                                                                      2009              2008
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings                                                          $     62,474      $     62,074
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by
operating activities
Depreciation and amortization                                               30,800            26,018
Stock compensation expense                                                  11,428            11,576
Loss on sale of investments, net                                            261               4,923
Deferred income taxes                                                       4,516             13,987
Changes in assets and liabilities --
Premium and related receivables                                             (381     )        (50,797  )
Other current assets                                                        (2,595   )        (6,422   )
Other assets                                                                (593     )        (713     )
Medical claims liabilities                                                  31,612            28,109
Unearned revenue                                                            54,725            (37,931  )
Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                       (17,656  )        74,723
Other operating activities                                                  2,386             967
Net cash provided by operating activities                                   176,977           126,514
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures                                                        (42,696  )        (52,588  )
Purchases of investments                                                    (647,086 )        (372,221 )
Sales and maturities of investments                                         546,640           356,367
Investments in acquisitions, net of cash acquired, and investment in        (31,533  )        (83,509  )
equity method investee
Net cash used in investing activities                                       (174,675 )        (151,951 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options                                     1,717             4,770
Proceeds from borrowings                                                    468,500           152,005
Payment of long-term debt                                                   (456,059 )        (109,410 )
Distributions to noncontrolling interest                                    (3,171   )        --
Contribution from noncontrolling interest                                   7,495             --
Excess tax benefits from stock compensation                                 43                3,016
Common stock repurchases                                                    (5,539   )        (18,244  )
Debt issue costs                                                            (405     )        --
Net cash provided by financing activities                                   12,581            32,137
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                                   14,883            6,700
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period                              379,099           268,584
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period                              $     393,982     $     275,284
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid                                                         $     8,556       $     8,467
Income taxes paid                                                     $     43,308      $     28,370
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing
activities:
Contribution from noncontrolling interest                             $     5,491       $     --

CENTENE CORPORATION
CONTINUING OPERATIONS SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA
                                Q3                      Q2                 Q1                 Q4               Q3
                                2009                    2009               2009               2008             2008
MEMBERSHIP
Managed Care:
Arizona                         17,400                  16,200             15,500             14,900           --
Florida                         84,400                  22,300             29,100             --               --
Georgia                         303,400                 292,800            289,300            288,300          283,900
Indiana                         200,700                 196,100            179,100            175,300          172,400
Massachusetts                   500                     --                 --                 --               --
Ohio                            151,200                 141,200            137,000            133,400          132,500
South Carolina                  46,100                  46,000             48,500             31,300           26,600
Texas                           450,200                 443,200            421,100            428,000          433,200
Wisconsin                       132,500                 131,200            127,700            124,800          122,500
Total at-risk membership        1,386,400               1,289,000          1,247,300          1,196,000        1,171,100
Non-risk membership             63,200                  114,000            96,000             3,700            3,700
TOTAL                           1,449,600               1,403,000          1,343,300          1,199,700        1,174,800
Medicaid                        1,040,500               958,600            921,100            877,400          850,500
CHIP & Foster Care              263,400                 261,400            256,900            257,300          261,800
ABD & Medicare                  82,500                  69,000             69,300             61,300           58,800
Total at-risk membership        1,386,400               1,289,000          1,247,300          1,196,000        1,171,100
Non-risk membership             63,200                  114,000            96,000             3,700            3,700
TOTAL                           1,449,600               1,403,000          1,343,300          1,199,700        1,174,800
Specialty Services(a):
Cenpatico Behavioral Health
Arizona                         117,300                 110,500            104,700            105,000          102,400
Kansas                          41,000                  41,100             40,600             41,100           40,100
Bridgeway Health Solutions
Long-term Care                  2,500                   2,400              2,300              2,100            1,900
TOTAL                           160,800                 154,000            147,600            148,200          144,400
(a) Includes external membership only.
REVENUE PER MEMBER(b)           $             222.77    $       219.75     $       220.29     $       218.52   $       213.28
CLAIMS(b)
Period-end inventory            414,900                 362,200            325,000            269,300          323,200
Average inventory               227,100                 234,500            267,600            288,600          298,400
Period-end inventory per member 0.30                    0.28               0.26               0.23             0.28
(b) Revenue per member and claims information are
presented for the Managed Care at-risk members.
                                Q3                      Q2                 Q1                 Q4               Q3
                                2009                    2009               2009               2008             2008
DAYS IN CLAIMS PAYABLE (c)      47.1                    47.5               45.3               48.5             47.9
(c) Days in Claims Payable is a calculation of Medical
Claims Liabilities at the end of the period divided by average
claims expense per calendar day for such period.
CASH AND INVESTMENTS (in millions)
Regulated                       $      911.4            $   825.8          $   816.8          $   798.0        $   692.6
Unregulated                            27.6                 27.0               28.9               24.1             26.8
TOTAL                           $      939.0            $   852.8          $   845.7          $   822.1        $   719.4
DEBT TO CAPITALIZATION (d)      31.9                 %  33.0           %   34.6           %   34.6%            34.4           %
(d) Debt to Capitalization is calculated as follows:
total debt divided by (total debt + total equity).

OPERATING RATIOS:
                                        Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                        September 30,        September 30,
                                        2009       2008      2009      2008
Health Benefits Ratios:
Medicaid and CHIP                       84.7 %     81.3 %    84.4 %    80.7 %
ABD and Medicare                        81.1       88.1      81.7      91.4
Specialty Services                      80.5       79.9      79.6      82.9
Total                                   83.7       82.2      83.4      82.6
General & Administrative Expense Ratio  13.2 %     14.2 %    13.5 %    13.5 %

MEDICAL CLAIMS LIABILITY (In thousands)
Four rolling
quarters of the changes in medical claims liability are summarized
as follows:
Balance, September 30, 2008  $ 349,502
Acquisitions                   --
Incurred related to:
Current period                 3,051,905
Prior period                   (45,634       )
Total incurred                 3,006,271
Paid related to:
Current period                 2,654,707
Prior period                   290,069
Total paid                     2,944,776
Balance, September 30, 2009  $ 410,997

Centene's claims reserving process utilizes a consistent actuarial methodology to estimate Centene's ultimate liability. Any reduction in the "Incurred related to: Prior period" amount may be offset as Centene actuarially determines "Incurred related to: Current period." As such, only in the absence of a consistent reserving methodology would favorable development of prior period claims liability estimates reduce medical costs. Centene believes it has consistently applied its claims reserving methodology in each of the periods presented.

The amount of the "Incurred related to: Prior period" above includes the effects of reserving under moderately adverse conditions, new markets where we use a conservative approach in setting reserves during the initial periods of operations, increased receipts from other third party payors related to coordination of benefits and lower medical utilization and cost trends for dates of service prior to September 30, 2008.

SOURCE: Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation 
Investor Relations Inquiries 
Edmund E. Kroll, Jr., 212-759-0382 
Senior Vice President, Finance & Investor Relations 
or 
Media Inquiries 
Deanne Lane, 314-725-4477 
Senior Director, Media Affairs

"Dr. Lavely has been critical to OptiCare's success in administering quality managed and underwritten vision benefits across the country," declared Mr. Harrold. "In his new role, he will continue to provide leadership and expertise to help the company continue to deliver quality healthcare for our members."

Dr. Lavely received his bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University, Doctor of Optometry from Pennsylvania College of Optometry, and Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

He is an active member of several organizations including the North Carolina Insurance Underwriters Association and the National Association of Health Underwriters.

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation is a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise that provides programs and related services to individuals receiving benefits under Medicaid, including the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care, Long-Term Care and Medicare (Special Needs Plans). The Company operates local health plans and offers a wide range of health insurance solutions to individuals and the rising number of uninsured Americans. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, life and health management, managed vision, telehealth services, pharmacy benefits management and medication adherence. Information regarding Centene is available via the Internet at www.centene.com.

SOURCE: Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation 
Edmund E. Kroll, Jr., 212-759-0382 
Senior Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations 
or 
Deanne Lane, 314-725-4477 
Senior Director, Corporate Media Affairs