<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
  <Version>2.4.0.8</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>141</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>264</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>42</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>7</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0001000 - Document - Document And Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document And Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001000 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001501 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements Of Operations</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002001 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Operations Consolidated Statements of Operations (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfOperationsConsolidatedStatementsOfOperationsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements Of Operations Consolidated Statements of Operations (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1003000 - Statement - Consolidated Statement Of Comprehensive Earnings</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementOfComprehensiveEarnings</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statement Of Comprehensive Earnings</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1004000 - Statement - Consolidated Statement Of Stockholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementOfStockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statement Of Stockholders' Equity</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1004501 - Statement - Consolidated Statement Of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementOfStockholdersEquityParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statement Of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1005000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2101100 - Disclosure - Basis Of Presentation</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/BasisOfPresentation</Role>
      <ShortName>Basis Of Presentation</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2102100 - Disclosure - Acquisition Acquisition (Notes)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/AcquisitionAcquisitionNotes</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisition Acquisition (Notes)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2103100 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations (Notes)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/DiscontinuedOperationsNotes</Role>
      <ShortName>Discontinued Operations (Notes)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2104100 - Disclosure - Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/ShortTermAndLongTermInvestmentsAndRestrictedDeposits</Role>
      <ShortName>Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2106100 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/FairValueMeasurements</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2110100 - Disclosure - Debt</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/Debt</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2111100 - Disclosure - Interest Rate Swap (Notes)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/InterestRateSwapNotes</Role>
      <ShortName>Interest Rate Swap (Notes)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2112100 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Notes)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/StockholdersEquityNotes</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity (Notes)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2113100 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Notes)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/IncomeTaxesNotes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Notes)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2114100 - Disclosure - Earnings (Loss) Per Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/EarningsLossPerShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings (Loss) Per Share</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2115100 - Disclosure - Segment Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/SegmentInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2116100 - Disclosure - Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/Contingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Contingencies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2302301 - Disclosure - Acquisition Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/AcquisitionRedeemableNoncontrollingInterestTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisition Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2303301 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/DiscontinuedOperationsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Discontinued Operations (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2304301 - Disclosure - Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/ShortTermAndLongTermInvestmentsAndRestrictedDepositsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2306301 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2310301 - Disclosure - Debt (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/DebtTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2314301 - Disclosure - Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/EarningsLossPerShareTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2315301 - Disclosure - Segment Information (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/SegmentInformationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2402402 - Disclosure - Acquisition Acquisition (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/AcquisitionAcquisitionDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisition Acquisition (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2402403 - Disclosure - Acquisition Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/AcquisitionRedeemableNoncontrollingInterestDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisition Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2403402 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations Discontinued Operations (Operating Results) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/DiscontinuedOperationsDiscontinuedOperationsOperatingResultsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Discontinued Operations Discontinued Operations (Operating Results) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2403403 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations Discontinued Operations (Assets &amp; Liabilities) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/DiscontinuedOperationsDiscontinuedOperationsAssetsLiabilitiesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Discontinued Operations Discontinued Operations (Assets &amp; Liabilities) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2404402 - Disclosure - Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/ShortTermAndLongTermInvestmentsAndRestrictedDepositsNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2404403 - Disclosure - Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits (Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits By Investment Type) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/ShortTermAndLongTermInvestmentsAndRestrictedDepositsShortTermAndLongTermInvestmentsAndRestrictedDepositsByInvestmentTypeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits (Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits By Investment Type) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2404404 - Disclosure - Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits (Fair Value Of Available-For-Sale Investments With Gross Unrealized Losses By Investment Type And Length Of Time) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/ShortTermAndLongTermInvestmentsAndRestrictedDepositsFairValueOfAvailableForSaleInvestmentsWithGrossUnrealizedLossesByInvestmentTypeAndLengthOfTimeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits (Fair Value Of Available-For-Sale Investments With Gross Unrealized Losses By Investment Type And Length Of Time) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2404405 - Disclosure - Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits (Contractual Maturities Of Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/ShortTermAndLongTermInvestmentsAndRestrictedDepositsContractualMaturitiesOfShortTermAndLongTermInvestmentsAndRestrictedDepositsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits (Contractual Maturities Of Short-Term And Long-Term Investments And Restricted Deposits) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406402 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Fair Value Measurements By Level For Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsFairValueMeasurementsByLevelForAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredAtFairValueOnRecurringBasisDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements (Fair Value Measurements By Level For Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406403 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2410402 - Disclosure - Debt (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/DebtNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2410403 - Disclosure - Debt (Schedule Of Debt) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/DebtScheduleOfDebtDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt (Schedule Of Debt) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411402 - Disclosure - Interest Rate Swap (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/InterestRateSwapDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Interest Rate Swap (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412401 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/StockholdersEquityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2413402 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/IncomeTaxesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2414402 - Disclosure - Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/EarningsLossPerShareDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R45.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2415402 - Disclosure - Segment Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/SegmentInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R46.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2416401 - Disclosure - Contingencies (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.centene.com/role/ContingenciesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Contingencies (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage had a mix of decimals attribute values: 2 4.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1001000 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1001501 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1002000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Operations</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1002001 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Operations Consolidated Statements of Operations (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1003000 - Statement - Consolidated Statement Of Comprehensive Earnings</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1004501 - Statement - Consolidated Statement Of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1005000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>cnc-20140930.xml</File>
    <File>cnc-20140930.xsd</File>
    <File>cnc-20140930_cal.xml</File>
    <File>cnc-20140930_def.xml</File>
    <File>cnc-20140930_lab.xml</File>
    <File>cnc-20140930_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
