Centene (CNC) 10-Q 2012 Q3 Quarterly report

Exhibit 12.1

Centene Corporation

Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges

($ in thousands)

	Nine Months Ended			Year Ended December 31,
	9/30/2012			2011		2010			2009			2008		2007
Earnings:
Pre-tax earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$	(22,002	)	$	174,885	$	154,282		$	137,508		$	136,616	$	64,071
Addback:
Fixed charges	21,172			27,822		26,141			23,104			23,128		20,612
Subtract:
Non-controlling interest	8,732			2,855		(3,435		)	(2,574		)	—		—
Interest capitalized	—			—		(1,089		)	(116		)	—		—
Total earnings	$	7,902		$	205,562	$	175,899		$	157,922		$	159,744	$	84,683
Fixed Charges:
Interest expensed and capitalized	$	14,393		$	20,320	$	19,081		$	16,434		$	16,673	$	15,626
Interest component of rental payments (1)	6,779			7,502		7,060			6,670			6,455		4,986
Total fixed charges	$	21,172		$	27,822	$	26,141		$	23,104		$	23,128	$	20,612
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges	0.37			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.