Exhibit 32.1

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

         In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Centene
Corporation (the "Company") for the period ended September 30, 2003 as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"),
the undersigned, Michael F. Neidorff, President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

         (1)      The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section
                  13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

         (2)      The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                  all material respects, the financial condition and results of
                  operations of the Company.

Date: October 27, 2003              /s/ Michael F. Neidorff
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Michael F. Neidorff
                                    President and Chief Executive Officer
                                    (principal executive officer)