ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 2004--Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) announced today that it will present at the Lehman Brothers Seventh Annual Global Healthcare Conference. The conference will be held at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Miami, FL.

Michael F. Neidorff, Centene's President and Chief Executive Officer, will present on Thursday, March 4, 2004 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The presentation will be available as a live audio web cast at the conference website www.lehman.com/conferences/200403Healthcare and at customer.nvglb.com/LEHM002/030304a_by/default.asp?entity=Centene then archived for on-demand listening until March 18, 2004.

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation provides managed care programs and related services to individuals receiving benefits under Medicaid, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The Company operates health plans in Texas, Wisconsin, Indiana, New Jersey and Ohio. In addition, the Company contracts with other healthcare organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, nurse triage and pharmacy compliance. Information regarding Centene is available via the Internet at www.centene.com.

CONTACT: Centene Corporation, St. Louis

Michael F. Neidorff, 314-725-4477 or Investor Relations: Lisa M. Wilson, 212-759-3929