3: Initial statement of beneficial ownership of securities

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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3235-0104

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person ^*

WILSON LISA M

2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
05/04/2004

3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CENTENE CORP [CNC]

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

7711 CARONDELET AVENUE, SUITE 800

4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

_____ Director	_____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below)	_____ Other (specify below)
VP Investor Relations

5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)

(Street)

ST. LOUIS, MO 63105

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 Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock	1,050	D
Common Stock	150	I	Custodial broker account ⁽³⁾

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.			SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security		6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock Option (right to buy)	08/26/2004⁽¹⁾	08/26/2013	Common Stock	15,000	$ 27.16	D
Common Stock Option (right to buy)	02/27/2005⁽²⁾	02/27/2014	Common Stock	15,000	$ 29.4	D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
WILSON LISA M 7711 CARONDELET AVENUE SUITE 800 ST. LOUIS, MO 63105			VP Investor Relations

Signatures

/s/ Lisa M. Wilson		05/10/2004
^**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(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)	The options vest in five equal annual installments on the anniversary of the grant date beginning August 26, 2004.
(2)	The options vest in five equal annual installments on the anniversary of the grant date beginning February 27, 2005.
(3)	Shares held in a broker account in the name of Ms. Wilson's child. Ms. Wilson controls all investment decisions in the account.

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.