EXHIBIT 99.1

NEWS RELEASE [CENTENE CORPORATION LOGO]

Contact: Centene Corporation
Karey L. Witty
Chief Financial Officer
(314) 725-4477

Lisa M. Wilson
Investor Relations Department
(212) 759-3929

CENTENE CORPORATION REPORTS SIXTEENTH CONSECUTIVE QUARTER OF INCREASED
PROFITABILITY

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI (July 28, 2003) -- Centene Corporation (Nasdaq: CNTE) today
announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2003.

SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

- - Revenues of $186.2 million, a 73% increase over the second quarter
of 2002.

- - Earnings from operations of $10.3 million, a 34% increase over the second
quarter of 2002 reflecting the integration of new business which provides
a basis for sustainable margin expansion.

- - Three-for-two split of Centene stock in the form of a 50% stock dividend.

- - Earnings per diluted share of $0.43, or $0.65 on a pre-split basis.

- - Organic membership growth of 30% over second quarter of 2002.

- - Days in claims payable of 52, in the Company's target range of 50-55.

- - Health benefits ratio of 83.3%, within the Company's target range of 82%
to 83.5%; at forecasted levels for New Jersey and at 82.4% for the
Medicaid component.

- - Agreement by Centene's Texas subsidiary Superior HealthPlan to acquire the
Medicaid-related contract rights of HMO Blue Texas in the San Antonio
market.

Michael F. Neidorff, Centene's president and chief executive officer, said, "We
are pleased to announce our sixteenth quarter of consecutive profitability and
growth, and are proud to again deliver predictable and sustainable operating
results which are fully in-line with our expectations. These results reflect our
ongoing success in working within the states in which we operate to provide
optimal care for our recipients while helping them to manage their healthcare
cost objectives."

"Our margin protection programs, which combine policy changes and rate
increases, continue to yield strong and consistent results. We recently received
notification that our rates in Texas, which are subject to Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS) approval, would reflect a 6.3% composite Medicaid
rate increase effective September 1, 2003. Importantly, we received positive
rate adjustments in each of our Texas service areas. We are currently in
negotiations with the state of Texas regarding our SCHIP premium rates and
expect the state to "buy-down" the rates with changes in benefits. Concurrently,
Texas is planning to reduce the physician fee schedule by up to 5%, which in
turn lowers our cost. New Jersey has approved a 6.2% increase, effective July 1,
2003; and we are awaiting CMS approval to expand our footprint throughout the
entire state and be operating in all 21 counties. We are still in negotiations
with New Jersey regarding our SSI rates. We remain confident that our approach
to working with the states is positive and effective," concluded Neidorff.

The following table depicts membership in Centene's managed care organizations
by state at June 30, 2003 and 2002:

2003 2002
---- ----

Wisconsin 145,600 123,900
Texas 131,400 61,900
Indiana 109,000 92,800
New Jersey 52,700 --
------- -------
TOTAL 438,700 278,600
======= =======

The following table depicts membership in Centene's managed care organizations
by member category at June 30, 2003 and 2002:

2003 2002
---- ----

Medicaid 361,700 250,800
SCHIP 68,800 25,200
SSI 8,200 (a) 2,600
------- -------
TOTAL 438,700 278,600
======= =======

(a) 4,300 at-risk; 3,900 ASO

STATEMENT OF EARNINGS HIGHLIGHTS

- For the second quarter of 2003, revenues increased 73% to $186.2
million from $107.6 million in the second quarter of 2002.

- The health benefits ratio, which reflects medical costs as a percent
of premium revenues, was 83.3% for the second quarter of 2003, with
the Medicaid component steady at 82.4% and compared to 82.0% for the
same period in 2002. Both ratios were within the Company's targeted
range of 82.0% to 83.5%. The Company experienced a slight increase
in this ratio due to the addition of SSI risk members in New Jersey
in December 2002. As previously reported, the health benefits ratio
for SSI is affected by a low membership base; the Company expects
this ratio to be more volatile until the Company has achieved a
critical mass in this population base.

- General and administrative expenses as a percent of revenues on the
Company's Medicaid business has consistently decreased, and was
10.3% for the second quarter of 2003 as compared to 10.9% in the
second quarter of 2002 and 10.5% in the first quarter of 2003.
Including the effects of the Company's specialty business, which the
Company entered into during the first quarter of 2003 and which has
a higher level of general and administrative expenses, the combined
general and administrative expense ratio was 11.2%.

- Earnings from operations increased to $10.3 million in the second
quarter of 2003 from $7.7 million in the comparable period of 2002.
Net earnings improved to $7.7 million, or

$0.43 per diluted share, compared to $5.2 million, or $0.30 per
diluted share, for the second quarter of 2002.

- For the six months ended June 30, 2003, revenues increased 78.8% to
$363.7 million from $203.4 million for the same period in the prior
year. The health benefits ratio was 83.3%, with the Medicaid
component steady at 82.4%, and compares to 82.2% for the same period
in 2002. General and administrative expenses as a percent of
revenues for the Medicaid segment decreased to 10.4% from 11.0%, and
was slightly higher on a combined basis, reflecting the addition of
the Company's specialty segment. Earnings from operations increased
46.5% to $20.5 million from $14.0 million in 2002. Net earnings
improved to $14.9 million, or $0.83 per diluted share.

BALANCE SHEET HIGHLIGHTS

At June 30, 2003, the Company had cash and investments of $169.4 million, a
portion of which is restricted due to state regulatory requirements. Medical
claims liabilities totaled $87.1 million, representing 52 days in claims
payable. The Company continues to experience improved claims turnaround time
contributing to its overall claims efficiencies, thereby reducing claims
inventory levels in sequential quarters. A full reconciliation of the Company's
change in days in claims payable from the immediately preceding quarter is
highlighted below:

Physician Bonus ............... (2.2)
Pharmacy Accrual Changes ...... 1.2
Faster Payment Turn-Around..... (3.6)
Lower Ending Inventory ........ (1.5)
----
Total ................ (6.1)
====

OUTLOOK

Karey L. Witty, Centene's chief financial officer, commented, "Our 2003 revenue
guidance is expected to be in the range of $765 million to $768 million and
reflects the addition of the 21,000 HMO Blue Texas members, effective August 1,
2003. We anticipate net earnings of $1.77 to $1.80 per diluted share, based on
17.8 million shares outstanding.

CONFERENCE CALL

As previously announced, the Company will host a conference call tomorrow, July
29, 2003, at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) to review the financial results for the
second quarter ended June 30, 2003, and to discuss its business outlook. Michael
F. Neidorff and Karey L. Witty will host the conference call. Investors are
invited to participate in the conference call by dialing 800-273-1254 in the
U.S. and Canada, 706-679-8592 from abroad, or via a live Internet broadcast on
the Company's website at www.centene.com, under the Investor Relations section.
A replay will be available for on demand listening shortly after the completion
of the call until 11:59 PM Eastern on August 12, 2003 at the aforementioned URL,
or by dialing 800-642-1687 in the U.S. and Canada, or 706-645-9291 from abroad,
and entering access code 1488323.

ABOUT CENTENE CORPORATION

Centene Corporation provides managed care programs and related services to
individuals receiving benefits under Medicaid, including Supplemental Security
Income (SSI), and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The
Company operates health plans in Wisconsin, Texas, Indiana and New Jersey. In
addition, the Company contracts with other healthcare organizations to provide
specialty services including behavioral health, nurse triage and pharmacy
compliance.

The information provided in the second paragraph following the bullet listing
under "Second Quarter Highlights," the second bullet under "Statement of
Earnings Highlights" and the paragraph under "Outlook" above contain
forward-looking statements that relate to future events and future financial
performance of Centene. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's
estimates as of July 28, 2003. Subsequent events and developments may cause the
Company's estimates to change. The Company disclaims any obligation to update
this forward-looking financial information in the future. Readers are cautioned
that matters subject to forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties, including economic, regulatory, competitive and other
factors that may cause Centene's or its industry's

actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially
different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Actual
results may differ from projections or estimates due to a variety of important
factors, including Centene's ability to accurately predict and effectively
manage health benefits and other operating expenses, competition, changes in
healthcare practices, changes in federal or state laws or regulations,
inflation, provider contract changes, new technologies, reduction in provider
payments by governmental payors, major epidemics, disasters and numerous other
factors affecting the delivery and cost of healthcare. The expiration,
cancellation or suspension of Centene's Medicaid managed care contracts by state
governments would also negatively affect Centene.

[Tables Follow]

CENTENE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)

JUNE 30, DECEMBER 31,
2003 2002
----------- ------------
(UNAUDITED)

ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents ............................................................ $ 43,422 $ 59,656
Premium and related receivables, net of allowances of $246 and $219, respectively .... 16,739 16,773
Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost $9,396 and $9,687, respectively) 9,405 9,571
Deferred income taxes ................................................................ 1,688 2,846
Other current assets ................................................................. 6,574 4,243
-------- --------
Total current assets ............................................................... 77,828 93,089
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS, at fair value (amortized cost $94,813 and $78,025,
respectively) ........................................................................ 96,489 79,666
RESTRICTED DEPOSITS, at fair value (amortized cost $19,840 and $15,561,
respectively) ........................................................................ 20,068 15,762
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net ............................................................ 8,202 6,295
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net ................................................................. 13,039 10,695
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES .................................................................. 726 472
OTHER ASSETS ........................................................................... 4,062 4,348
-------- --------
Total assets ....................................................................... $220,414 $210,327
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Medical claims liabilities ........................................................... $ 87,101 $ 91,181
Accounts payable and accrued expenses ................................................ 9,810 10,748
Other current liabilities ............................................................ 30 --
-------- --------
Total current liabilities .......................................................... 96,941 101,929
OTHER LIABILITIES ...................................................................... 5,641 5,334
-------- --------
Total liabilities .................................................................. 102,582 107,263
MINORITY INTEREST ...................................................................... 7 881
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock, $.001 par value; authorized 40,000,000 shares;
16,606,059 and 16,243,649 shares issued and outstanding, respectively .............. 17 16
Additional paid-in capital ........................................................... 73,026 72,372
Accumulated other comprehensive income:

Net unrealized gain on investments, net of tax ....................................... 1,204 1,087
Retained earnings ...................................................................... 43,578 28,708
-------- --------
Total stockholders' equity ........................................................... 117,825 102,183
-------- --------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity ........................................... $220,414 $210,327
======== ========

CENTENE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)

THREE MONTHS ENDED SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, JUNE 30,
------------------------------ ------------------------------
2003 2002 2003 2002
---- ---- ---- ----
(UNAUDITED) (UNAUDITED)

REVENUES:
Premiums ................................ $ 182,900 $ 107,503 $ 359,112 $ 203,152
Services ................................ 3,332 107 4,554 211
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total revenues ........................ 186,232 107,610 363,666 203,363
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
EXPENSES:
Medical costs ........................... 152,404 88,109 299,311 167,053
Cost of services ........................ 2,613 86 3,588 168
General and administrative expenses ..... 20,879 11,697 40,284 22,162
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total operating expenses .............. 175,896 99,892 343,183 189,383
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Earnings from operations ............ 10,336 7,718 20,483 13,980
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Investment and other income, net ........ 1,257 976 2,231 1,891
Interest expense ........................ (4) (11) (31) (11)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Earnings before income taxes ........ 11,589 8,683 22,683 15,860
INCOME TAX EXPENSE ........................ 4,462 3,449 8,695 6,327
MINORITY INTEREST ......................... 581 -- 881 --
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net earnings .......................... $ 7,708 $ 5,234 $ 14,869 $ 9,533
============ ============ ============ ============
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE, BASIC:
Net earnings per common share ......... $ 0.47 $ 0.34 $ 0.91 $ 0.62
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE, DILUTED:
Net earnings per common share ......... $ 0.43 $ 0.30 $ 0.83 $ 0.56
SHARES USED IN COMPUTING PER SHARE AMOUNTS:
Basic ................................... 16,484,945 15,483,915 16,409,291 15,311,427
Diluted ................................. 17,803,016 17,319,569 17,829,558 17,152,775

CENTENE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)

SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30,
------------------------
2003 2002
---- ----
(UNAUDITED)

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net earnings .......................................................... $ 14,869 $ 9,533
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating
activities --
Depreciation and amortization ..................................... 2,761 975
Stock compensation expense ........................................ 108 49
Minority interest ................................................. (881) --
Gain on sale of investments ....................................... (777) (307)
Loss on disposal of equipment ..................................... 44 --
Changes in assets and liabilities --
Decrease (increase) in premium and related receivables .............. 1,205 (492)
Increase in other current assets .................................... (2,065) (1,676)
Decrease (increase) in deferred income taxes ........................ 836 (555)
Decrease (increase) in other assets ................................. 286 (106)
(Decrease) increase in medical claims liabilities .................... (4,081) 3,992
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses ................... (3,248) (2,497)
Increase in other current liabilities ............................... 30 --
Increase in other liabilities ....................................... 308 --
--------- --------
Net cash provided by operating activities ......................... 9,395 8,916
--------- --------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of property and equipment .................................... (2,561) (2,431)
Purchase of investments ............................................... (103,310) (87,328)
Sales and maturities of investments ................................... 83,196 29,093
Contract acquisitions ................................................. (561) --
Investment in subsidiary .............................................. (1,734) (3,193)
Proceeds from disposal of equipment ................................... 11 --
--------- --------
Net cash used in investing activities ............................. (24,959) (63,859)
--------- --------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock ............................ -- 10,304
Extinguishment of acquired liabilities ................................ (1,218) --
Proceeds from exercise of stock options ............................... 548 108
--------- --------
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities ............... (670) 10,412
--------- --------
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents ......................... (16,234) (44,531)
--------- --------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period .......................... 59,656 88,867
--------- --------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period ................................ $ 43,422 $ 44,336
========= ========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Interest paid ......................................................... $ 42 $ --
Income taxes paid ..................................................... $ 8,580 $ 9,282

CENTENE CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA

Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3
2003 2003 2002 2002
---- ---- ---- ----

MEMBERSHIP
Wisconsin .................................. 145,600 139,100 133,000 126,800
Texas ...................................... 131,400 122,700 118,000 67,800
Indiana .................................... 109,000 104,800 105,700 101,500
New Jersey ................................. 52,700 52,700 52,900 --
------- ------- ------- -------
Total ................................ 438,700 419,300 409,600 296,100
======= ======= ======= =======

Medicaid ................................... 361,700 344,700 336,100 264,100
SCHIP ...................................... 68,800 66,600 65,900 29,400
SSI ........................................ 8,200 8,000 7,600 2,600
------- ------- ------- -------
Total ................................ 438,700 419,300 409,600 296,100
======= ======= ======= =======

REVENUE PER MEMBER ............................. $142.26 $142.06 $134.08 $133.20

CLAIMS

Period-end Inventory ....................... 109,865 144,465 150,717 140,432
Average Inventory .......................... 85,412 131,382 73,800 51,700
Period-end Inventory per Member ............ 0.25 0.34 0.37 0.47

DAYS IN CLAIMS PAYABLE(B) ...................... 52.0 58.1 71.8 62.7

(b) Days in Claims Payable is a calculation of Medical Claims Liabilities at
the end of the period divided by average medical costs per calendar day
for such period.

ANNUALIZED RETURN ON EQUITY(C) 27.1% 27.0% 27.7% 27.5%

(c) Annualized Return on Equity is calculated as follows: (net income for
quarter x 4) divided by ((beginning of period equity + end of period
equity) divided by 2).

HEALTH BENEFITS RATIO BY CATEGORY:

THREE MONTHS ENDED SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, JUNE 30,
------------------ ------------------
2003 2002 2003 2002
---- ---- ---- ----

Medicaid (excluding SSI) 82.4% 82.0% 82.4% 82.2%
SSI .................... 103.3 -- 103.7 --
Total .............. 83.3 82.0 83.3 82.2

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE RATIO BY BUSINESS SEGMENT:

THREE MONTHS ENDED SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, JUNE 30,
------------------ -----------------
2003 2002 2003 2002
---- ---- ---- ----

Medicaid Managed Care 10.3% 10.9% 10.4% 11.0%
Specialty Services .. 32.2 -- 30.2 --
Total ........... 11.2 10.9 11.1 11.0

MEDICAL CLAIMS LIABILITIES
(IN THOUSANDS)

Four rolling quarters of the changes in medical claims liabilities are
summarized as follows:

BALANCE, JUNE 30, 2002 $ 63,557
Acquisitions ......... 16,230(d)
Incurred related to:
Current period .... 535,975
Prior period ...... (24,249)
---------
Total incurred . 511,726
---------
Paid related to:
Current period .... 467,744
Prior period ...... 36,668
---------
Total paid ..... 504,412
---------
BALANCE, JUNE 30, 2003 $ 87,101
=========

(d) Includes reserves acquired in connection with the acquisition of 80% of
the outstanding capital stock of University Health Plans, Inc.

Our claims reserving process utilizes a consistent actuarial methodology to
estimate our ultimate liability. Any reduction in the "Incurred related to:
Prior period" claims may be offset as we actuarially determine "Incurred related
to: Current period." As such, only in the absence of a consistent reserving
methodology would favorable development of prior period claims liability
estimates reduce medical costs. We believe we have consistently applied our
claims reserving methodology in each of the periods presented.