Centene (CNC) 10-Q 2012 Q1 Quarterly report

Exhibit 12.1

Centene Corporation
Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
($ in thousands)
	For The Three Months Ended		Year Ended December 31,
	3/31/2012		2011		2010			2009			2008		2007
Earnings:
Pre-tax earnings from continuing operations	$	34,690	$	174,885	$	154,282		$	137,508		$	136,616	$	64,071
Addback:
Fixed charges		6,953		27,822		26,141			23,104			23,128		20,612
Subtract:
Non-controlling interest		1,375		2,855		(3,435	)		(2,574	)		-		-
Interest capitalized		-		-		(1,089	)		(116	)		-		-
Total earnings	$	43,018	$	205,562	$	175,899		$	157,922		$	159,744	$	84,683
Fixed Charges:
Interest expensed and capitalized	$	4,799	$	20,320	$	19,081		$	16,434		$	16,673	$	15,626
Interest component of rental payments (1)		2,154		7,502		7,060			6,670			6,455		4,986
Total fixed charges	$	6,953	$	27,822	$	26,141		$	23,104		$	23,128	$	20,612
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges		6.19		7.39		6.73			6.84			6.91		4.11
(1) Estimated at 33% of rental expense as a reasonable approximation of the interest factor.