Celebrating Centene's 40 Years of Impact & Innovation

This year marks a special milestone for Centene. We’ve had the unique privilege of serving our members and local communities for 40 years. Since our founding by Betty Brinn in 1984 as a small health plan in Wisconsin, we’ve evolved with the needs of our members ꟷ first, under the long-time leadership of President & CEO Michael Neidorff, and now, under CEO Sarah London’s leadership. This constant evolution has led to our success and increased our ability to help our members and communities. From a hospital basement to a Fortune 500 company, it’s been 40 years of growth toward one unwavering mission.

The past four decades hold such significance for Centene. From focusing on our youngest members and maternal health through Smart Start for Your Baby® beginning in 2008 to expanding our reach and keeping up with advances in technology to improve connectivity and access to care, we continue to make lasting impacts through innovative solutions.

“For 40 years, Centene has been dedicated to improving the health of communities across the nation, and I’m deeply grateful to be on this team and part of our mission to increase access to affordable, high-quality care,” said Centene CEO Sarah London. “Together, we will continue making a meaningful impact.”

Centene’s continued focus on innovation has led to our ability to connect our members with recent advancements in healthcare technology and services such as SilverSummit Healthplan’s partnership with MobexHealth to introduce cellular resource platform tablets in Clark & Washoe County, Nevada, improving connectivity and access to care.

The true driving factor that keeps us motivated is our members. Our work with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis in support of the Ferguson community, our supplier diversity program and our partnerships with Liberty Bank and McCormack Baron Salazar are examples of how we’re addressing the social and economic factors that impact how our members receive care.

Investments like this are powered by the more than 60,000 employees who invest their time and dedication to one common mission: to transform the health of the communities we serve, one person at a time. Their passion for our members and their communities is evident.

For example, MHS Health Wisconsin Project Coordinator, Becky Lintner, joined Centene 33 years ago. She has witnessed growth from one small health plan serving a few thousand members to the largest Medicaid managed care organization and the longest-running major carrier that never left Marketplace and now covers more working Americans than any other, serving more than 28 million members across all 50 states. But through all the growth, Becky says Centene’s focus on members has never wavered.

“I remember being told many years ago that our members are customers ꟷ they’re real people and they are not their circumstances,” said Becky. “For me, being taught to look beyond a person’s circumstances has been a great life lesson.”

Centene’s achievements over the past four decades lay the foundation for continued growth, and innovation as we continue our commitment to transforming healthcare and building healthier communities for years to come.