Centene Corporation

Corporate brand

A U.S. managed-care company focused on Medicaid, Medicare, Affordable Care Act marketplace, behavioral-health, and other government-sponsored health programs.

Last updated November 1, 2026

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Overview

Centene Corporation is a U.S.-based healthcare enterprise that administers and insures government-sponsored and privately insured health programs. Its principal role is as an intermediary between public programs, employers, healthcare providers, and members. The company operates managed-care plans for Medicaid beneficiaries, Medicare members, people purchasing coverage through Affordable Care Act marketplaces, and selected commercial insurance customers. Its services can include medical-plan administration, provider-network management, care coordination, pharmacy-related services, behavioral healthcare, specialty programs, and correctional healthcare. The company traces its origins to Managed Health Services, founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1984 by Elizabeth Brinn. After Brinn's death, the nonprofit organization was sold to investors, with proceeds supporting the Betty Brinn Foundation. Michael Neidorff joined Centene as chief executive in 1996 and oversaw a period of substantial expansion. Centene became a publicly traded company in December 2001 and subsequently broadened its capabilities through acquisitions and the creation of specialized operating divisions. A major development was the acquisition of US Script in 2006, which expanded Centene's pharmacy-benefit-management capabilities. Those activities were later organized with other subsidiaries under the Envolve businesses. In 2011, Centene and MHM Services established Centurion, a correctional-healthcare joint venture; Centene acquired MHM Services in 2018 and thereby obtained full ownership of its interest in Centurion. Centene also expanded its health-plan footprint through the acquisition of Health Net, completed in 2016, and the purchase of Fidelis Care, a New York nonprofit insurer, announced in 2017. Its 2019 agreement to acquire WellCare significantly strengthened the company's Medicaid and Medicare presence, while the 2022 acquisition of Magellan Health added behavioral-health and specialty-care capabilities. Centene began participating in state Medicaid programs through Affordable Care Act exchanges in 2014. Its consumer-facing insurance brands have included Ambetter for marketplace coverage, WellCare and Allwell for Medicare offerings, and numerous state-specific Medicaid plans such as Sunshine Health, Peach State Health Plan, Superior HealthPlan, and Health Net. The company has also operated behavioral-health and specialty businesses associated with Magellan Health, as well as correctional-healthcare services through Centurion. Centene briefly developed a substantial United Kingdom healthcare presence. It acquired interests in Circle Health and obtained full control in 2021, while its subsidiary Operose Health acquired the AT Medics general-practice group and operated NHS primary-care practices. Centene sold Circle Health to PureHealth in 2023. In the United States, it sold Magellan Rx and PANTHERx Rare in 2022, reducing its exposure to pharmacy-benefit-management businesses. Centene's business has attracted regulatory and litigation scrutiny concerning network adequacy, claims administration, Medicaid pharmacy arrangements, government-program billing, and the integration of acquired businesses. Settlements with federal and state authorities have included payments relating to alleged duplicated or inflated claims, Medicaid pharmacy overpayments, and undisclosed discounts. These matters illustrate the compliance and public-policy risks inherent in administering publicly funded healthcare programs. Centene remains an active publicly traded healthcare company whose positioning centers on scale, government-program expertise, state-specific plan operations, and management of complex member populations.

History

Centene began in 1984 as Managed Health Services, a Milwaukee nonprofit founded by Elizabeth Brinn. After Brinn died, the organization was sold to investors, and the proceeds were directed to the Betty Brinn Foundation. The transaction left the foundation as an important shareholder in the company that developed into Centene. Michael Neidorff became chief executive in 1996. Under his leadership, Centene moved from a relatively focused Medicaid organization toward a diversified managed-care enterprise. The company went public in December 2001, giving it access to capital for expansion. Its 2006 acquisition of US Script added pharmacy-benefit-management expertise; those operations were later combined with other businesses into the Envolve divisions. Centene expanded beyond conventional health-plan administration in 2011 by forming Centurion with MHM Services to provide healthcare in correctional settings. Centene acquired MHM Services in 2018, strengthening its control over Centurion. The company also entered Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage in 2014, building the Ambetter brand and extending its role beyond state Medicaid contracts. Acquisitions became a central part of the company's growth strategy. Centene announced the purchase of Health Net in 2015 and completed it in 2016. In 2017 it agreed to acquire Fidelis Care, expanding its New York presence. The 2019 WellCare transaction further increased the company's scale in Medicaid and Medicare. In 2021 Centene agreed to acquire Magellan Health, completing the transaction in January 2022 and adding behavioral-health and specialty-care capabilities. The company also pursued healthcare operations outside the United States. Beginning in 2017, it acquired interests in United Kingdom healthcare services. Through MH Services, Centene purchased a 40 percent interest in Circle Health in 2019 and obtained full control in 2021. Its UK subsidiary Operose Health also acquired AT Medics and became a major provider of general-practice services to NHS patients. Centene sold Circle Health to PureHealth in August 2023, marking a retreat from that hospital-focused international activity. Centene subsequently simplified parts of its portfolio. In May 2022 it sold Magellan Rx and PANTHERx Rare for a combined reported consideration of $2.8 billion, reducing its direct exposure to pharmacy-benefit businesses. Governance also changed during this period: investor Politan Capital Management disclosed a substantial stake in late 2021, Neidorff announced plans to retire, and he stepped down in March 2022. Sarah London succeeded him as chief executive. Centene's history has been accompanied by disputes over healthcare access, provider networks, claims, pharmacy-benefit arrangements, and public-program billing. Allegations involving a Texas Medicaid member's cancer surgery, Ambetter provider access, the Health Net acquisition, federal veterans' claims, and state Medicaid pharmacy payments generated litigation, regulatory attention, or settlements. The company's development therefore reflects both the expansion of government-sponsored managed care and the compliance challenges of operating at the intersection of insurers, public agencies, providers, and patients.

2023
Circle Health is sold
[1]Centene Corporationen.wikipedia.org
Centene sells Circle Health to PureHealth.
2022
Magellan Health acquisition closes
[1]Centene Corporationen.wikipedia.org
Centene completes its acquisition of Magellan Health.
2021
Centene obtains full control of Circle Health
[1]Centene Corporationen.wikipedia.org
The company takes full control of its UK private-hospital business.
2018
MHM Services acquisition
[1]Centene Corporationen.wikipedia.org
Centene acquires MHM Services and its interest in Centurion.
2016
Health Net acquisition closes
[1]Centene Corporationen.wikipedia.org
Centene completes its acquisition of Health Net.
2014
Marketplace expansion
[1]Centene Corporationen.wikipedia.org
Centene begins offering state Medicaid programs through Affordable Care Act exchanges.
2011
Centurion is formed
[1]Centene Corporationen.wikipedia.org
Centene and MHM Services establish Centurion as a correctional-healthcare joint venture.
2006
US Script acquisition
[1]Centene Corporationen.wikipedia.org
The acquisition expands Centene's pharmacy-benefit-management capabilities.
2001
Centene goes public
[1]Centene Corporationen.wikipedia.org
Centene completes its initial public offering in December.
1996
Michael Neidorff becomes chief executive
[1]Centene Corporationen.wikipedia.org
Michael Neidorff joins the company as CEO and later leads its expansion into a broad managed-care enterprise.
1984
Managed Health Services is founded
[1]Centene Corporationen.wikipedia.org
Elizabeth Brinn establishes Managed Health Services in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, providing the organizational foundation for Centene.

Products and positioning

A large managed-care organization specializing in government-sponsored healthcare, state-specific Medicaid administration, Medicare coverage, marketplace insurance, and services for complex or underserved populations.

Government-sponsored health insurance · 1984
Medicaid managed care
Centene's core business is the administration of state Medicaid programs through geographically focused health-plan brands. These plans coordinate medical care, maintain provider networks, manage utilization, and support members who qualify for publicly funded coverage. State brands include Sunshine Health, Peach State Health Plan, Superior HealthPlan, Buckeye Health Plan, and numerous others.
ACA marketplace insurance · 2014
Ambetter
Ambetter is Centene's principal Affordable Care Act marketplace insurance platform. It offers individual and family health plans through state and federal exchanges, with plan designs, networks, and availability varying by jurisdiction.
Medicare and managed-care plans
WellCare and Allwell
WellCare and Allwell represent Centene's Medicare-oriented offerings, including Medicare Advantage and related products. WellCare also appears in state Medicaid operations, reflecting Centene's practice of using established brands across government-sponsored segments.
Behavioral and specialty healthcare · 2022
Magellan Health services
Magellan Health added behavioral-health, specialty-care, and related management capabilities to Centene's portfolio. The business complemented Centene's insurance operations by addressing complex behavioral and specialty populations.
Correctional healthcare · 2011
Centurion
Centurion provides healthcare services in correctional settings. It originated as a joint venture between Centene and MHM Services and became more closely controlled by Centene after the 2018 MHM Services acquisition.
Commercial insurance
Commercial health insurance
Centene has also operated selected commercial insurance businesses, including products associated with Health Net and QualChoice. These offerings supplement its much larger government-sponsored healthcare portfolio.

Controversies

2022
Operose Health patient-safety criticism
Centene's UK subsidiary Operose Health faced criticism over staffing levels, use of physician associates, and backlogs involving test results and hospital correspondence. Operose stated that most of its practices received good or outstanding regulatory ratings.
Source
2021
Health Net Federal Services claims allegations
Health Net Federal Services agreed to pay $97 million to resolve allegations concerning duplicated or inflated claims submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Source
2021
State Medicaid pharmacy settlements
Centene and its Envolve pharmacy-benefit operations reached settlements with several states concerning alleged overpayments and related practices in Medicaid pharmacy programs.
Source
2021
Centene settles Ohio Medicaid overbilling lawsuit
Centene settled with Ohio for $88.3 million following accusations that it used an opaque, multi-layered billing process to retain more state Medicaid pharmacy-benefit money than it should have. The settlement resolved the dispute over the state's Medicaid pharmacy-benefit program. According to the source, the company did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
Source
2021
Centene reaches settlement with Ohio and Mississippi
Centene announced no-fault agreements with the attorneys general of Ohio and Mississippi to resolve state claims related to pharmacy-benefit services provided by its subsidiary Envolve Pharmacy Solutions. Under the agreements, Centene will pay $88 million to Ohio and $55 million to Mississippi. Centene denies liability for the practices described in the settlements.
Source
2021
Centene reaches $15.2 million Arkansas Medicaid settlement
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced a $15.2 million settlement with Centene Corporation and three subsidiaries over allegations that Envolve Pharmacy Solutions reported inflated pharmacy costs to Arkansas Medicaid after failing to disclose discounts and dispensing fees. Centene must pay in two installments and provide an accounting of pharmacy benefit claims.
Source
2020
Arkansas jury awards $9.4 million against Centene
An Arkansas jury awarded $9.4 million to Southeastern Emergency Physicians, an affiliate of TeamHealth, finding that Centene Corporation and its insurance subsidiaries underpaid the doctors' group and breached their contract. The final award was expected to increase with attorneys' fees and interest.
Source
2018
Ambetter network-access class action
A class action alleged that Ambetter enrollees were misled about plan benefits and had difficulty locating providers willing to accept their coverage.
Source
2018
Health Net acquisition litigation
Two pension funds sued Centene, alleging that the Health Net acquisition caused corporate harm and that liabilities and investigations associated with Health Net had not been adequately disclosed.
Source
2014
Dispute over Texas Medicaid cancer surgery coverage
Superior HealthPlan, a Centene-related Texas Medicaid plan, was reported to have denied coverage for an infant's brain-cancer surgery at Texas Children's Hospital. After public reporting, the decision was reversed and the surgery was covered.
Source

2023
Sale of Circle HealthM&A
Background
Centene had developed a UK healthcare presence through Circle Health but later chose to exit that business.
Action taken
Centene sold Circle Health to PureHealth.
Aftermath
The transaction reduced Centene's international hospital-services exposure.
Source
2022
Sale of pharmacy-benefit businessesStrategy
Background
Centene reviewed its portfolio after adding Magellan Health and sought to reduce exposure to pharmacy-benefit operations.
Action taken
The company sold Magellan Rx and PANTHERx Rare.
Aftermath
The divestitures simplified the portfolio and reduced Centene's direct pharmacy-benefit activities.
Combined reported sale value. $2.8 billion (May 2022)
Source
2021
Agreement to acquire Magellan HealthM&A
Background
Centene wanted to strengthen behavioral-health and specialty-care capabilities.
Action taken
Centene agreed to acquire Magellan Health.
Aftermath
The acquisition closed in January 2022 and expanded Centene's behavioral-health platform.
Announced transaction value. $2.2 billion (2021 announcement)
Source
2019
Agreement to acquire WellCareM&A
Background
Centene sought to increase scale in Medicaid, Medicare, and related government-sponsored healthcare markets.
Action taken
The company announced a planned acquisition of WellCare.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Centene's government-program portfolio and national operating footprint.
Announced transaction value. $17.3 billion (2019 announcement)
Source

Recent events

2026-10-27
Centene reports third-quarter 2026 results[7]Centene公布2026年第三季度业绩news.google.com
Reported: 2026-10-27
Centene Corporation reported its third-quarter 2026 results.
2022-01-04
Centene completes acquisition of Magellan Health[8]Centene 完成对 Magellan Health 的收购prnewswire.com
Reported: 2022-01-04
Centene announced that it had completed its acquisition of Magellan Health. Magellan Health will operate independently under Centene's Health Care Enterprises umbrella.
2021-09-30
Centene reaches $15.2 million Arkansas Medicaid settlement[6]Centene reaches $15.2 million Arkansas Medicaid settlementarktimes.com
Reported: 2021-09-30
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced a $15.2 million settlement with Centene Corporation and three subsidiaries over allegations that Envolve Pharmacy Solutions reported inflated pharmacy costs to Arkansas Medicaid after failing to disclose discounts and dispensing fees. Centene must pay in two installments and provide an accounting of pharmacy benefit claims.
2021-09-22
MHS announces two doula programs planned for October[9]MHS 宣布计划于 10 月推出两项导乐项目prnewswire.com
Reported: 2021-09-22
MHS announced two new doula programs for Indiana members, with the programs planned to launch in October 2021.
2021-06-15
Centene settles Ohio Medicaid overbilling lawsuit[4]Centene settles Ohio Medicaid overbilling lawsuityahoo.com
Reported: 2021-06-15
Centene settled with Ohio for $88.3 million after accusations that it used an opaque, multi-layered billing process to retain more state Medicaid pharmacy-benefit money than it should have. The article states that the company did not admit wrongdoing.
2021-06-14
Centene reaches settlement with Ohio and Mississippi[5]Centene reaches settlement with Ohio and Mississippifinanznachrichten.de
Reported: 2021-06-14
Centene announced no-fault agreements with the attorneys general of Ohio and Mississippi to resolve state claims related to pharmacy-benefit services provided by its subsidiary Envolve Pharmacy Solutions. Under the agreements, Centene will pay $88 million to Ohio and $55 million to Mississippi. Centene denies liability for the practices described in the settlements.
2021-06-14
Centene settles Mississippi Medicaid overbilling lawsuit[4]Centene settles Ohio Medicaid overbilling lawsuityahoo.com
Reported: 2021-06-15
Centene settled a similar Mississippi lawsuit for $55 million on Monday, following accusations related to excess pharmacy spending. The article says Centene did not admit liability.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
2021-05-07
Centene appoints Drew Asher as CFO[10]Centene任命Drew Asher为首席财务官prnewswire.com
Reported: 2021-05-07
Centene announced that Drew Asher was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective May 7, 2021. He succeeds Jeffrey A. Schwaneke, who is moving to another executive role.
2021-03-12
Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period expires for Centene's proposed Magellan acquisition[11]Centene 拟收购 Magellan 的 Hart-Scott-Rodino 等待期届满prnewswire.com
Reported: 2021-03-15
The Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period for Centene's proposed acquisition of Magellan Health expired at 11:59 p.m. on March 12, 2021. The proposed acquisition remained subject to required state regulatory approvals, Magellan Health stockholder approval, and other customary closing conditions.
2020-12-30
Centene completes acquisition of PANTHERx[12]Centene完成对PANTHERx的收购prnewswire.com
Reported: 2020-12-30
Centene announced that it completed its acquisition of PANTHERx, a specialty pharmacy focused on orphan drugs and rare diseases. PANTHERx and its management team will continue to operate independently as part of Centene's Envolve Pharmacy Solutions.

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