<?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>0001498992</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>Burdick Kenneth A</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Former Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>900 Salem Street</com:street1>
          <com:city>Smithfield</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>RI</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>02917</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>100000</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>6815181.65</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>493995000</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>08/05/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/23/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Vesting</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>477</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/23/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>07/23/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Vesting</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>70879</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>07/23/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/07/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Vesting</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>28644</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/07/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Kenneth Burdick</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>7700 Forsyth Boulevard</com:street1>
          <com:city>St. Louis</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>MO</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>63105</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>06/10/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>80000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>5164227.15</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>08/05/2026</noticeDate>
      <signature>/s/ Jared Cook, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Kenneth Burdick</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
