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Condensed Financial Information Of Registrant (Condensed Statements Of Operations) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified |
3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Sep. 30, 2012
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Jun. 30, 2012
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Mar. 31, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Sep. 30, 2011
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Jun. 30, 2011
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Mar. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2010
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| General and administrative expenses | $ 704,604 | $ 587,004 | $ 477,765 | ||||||||
| Investment and other income | 35,957 | 13,369 | 15,205 | ||||||||
| Interest Expense | (20,460) | (20,320) | (17,992) | ||||||||
| Earnings (loss) before income taxes | (11,624) | 174,885 | 154,282 | ||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | (329) | 66,522 | 59,900 | ||||||||
| Net earnings (loss) before equity in subsidiaries | (11,295) | 108,363 | 98,271 | ||||||||
| Net earnings attributable to Centene Corporation | 1,859 | 111,218 | 94,836 | ||||||||
| Basic earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share) | $ 0.17 | $ 0.07 | $ (0.68) | $ 0.47 | $ 0.60 | $ 0.58 | $ 0.57 | $ 0.48 | $ 0.04 | $ 2.22 | $ 1.95 |
| Diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share) | $ 0.17 | $ 0.07 | $ (0.68) | $ 0.45 | $ 0.57 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.03 | $ 2.12 | $ 1.88 |
| Basic | 51,509,366 | 50,198,954 | 48,754,947 | ||||||||
| Diluted | 53,714,375 | 52,474,238 | 50,447,888 | ||||||||
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Parent Company [Member]
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| General and administrative expenses | 4,090 | 4,488 | 3,502 | ||||||||
| Investment and other income | 19,921 | (8,790) | (4,700) | ||||||||
| Interest Expense | (15,757) | (15,494) | (14,844) | ||||||||
| Earnings (loss) before income taxes | 74 | (28,772) | (23,046) | ||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | (9,668) | (12,825) | (8,576) | ||||||||
| Net earnings (loss) before equity in subsidiaries | 9,742 | (15,947) | (14,470) | ||||||||
| Equity in earnings from subsidiaries | (7,883) | 127,165 | 109,306 | ||||||||
| Net earnings attributable to Centene Corporation | $ 1,859 | $ 111,218 | $ 94,836 | ||||||||
| Basic earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share) | $ 0.04 | $ 2.22 | $ 1.87 | ||||||||
| Diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share) | $ 0.03 | $ 2.12 | $ 1.80 | ||||||||
| Basic | 51,509,366 | 50,198,954 | 48,754,947 | ||||||||
| Diluted | 53,714,375 | 52,474,238 | 50,447,888 | ||||||||
| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The aggregate total of expenses of managing and administering the affairs of an entity, including affiliates of the reporting entity, which are not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The sum of the current income tax expense or benefit and the deferred income tax expense or benefit pertaining to continuing operations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest that was charged against earnings during the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The aggregate amount of income from investments (for example, dividends) not considered a component of the entity's core operations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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