Centene (CNC) 10-Q 2018 Q3 Quarterly report

Exhibit 12.1

Centene Corporation

Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges

($ in millions)

	Nine Months Ended		Year Ended December 31,
	9/30/18		2017		2016		2015			2014
Earnings:
Pre-tax earnings from continuing operations	$	1,011	$	1,134	$	1,157	$	697		$	457
Addback:
Fixed charges	296		311		262		65			50
Add (Subtract):
Noncontrolling interest	6		20		1		(2		)	7
Total earnings	$	1,313	$	1,465	$	1,420	$	760		$	514
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense	$	245	$	255	$	217	$	43		$	35
Interest component of rental payments (1)	51		56		45		22			15
Total fixed charges	$	296	$	311	$	262	$	65		$	50
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges	4.4		4.7		5.4		11.7			10.3
(1)  Estimated at 33% of rental expense as a reasonable approximation of the interest factor.