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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?> |
<ownershipDocument> |
| <schemaVersion> X0306 </schemaVersion> |
| <documentType> 4 </documentType> |
| <periodOfReport> 2022-09-16 </periodOfReport> |
| <notSubjectToSection16> 0 </notSubjectToSection16> |
| <issuer> |
| | <issuerCik> 0001071739 </issuerCik> |
| | <issuerName> CENTENE CORP </issuerName> |
| | <issuerTradingSymbol> CNC </issuerTradingSymbol> |
| | </issuer> |
| <reportingOwner> |
| | <reportingOwnerId> |
| | | <rptOwnerCik> 0001876662 </rptOwnerCik> |
| | | <rptOwnerName> TONEY COLIN A </rptOwnerName> |
| | | </reportingOwnerId> |
| | <reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet1> 7700 FORSYTH BOULEVARD </rptOwnerStreet1> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2> |
| | | <rptOwnerCity> ST. LOUIS </rptOwnerCity> |
| | | <rptOwnerState> MO </rptOwnerState> |
| | | <rptOwnerZipCode> 63105 </rptOwnerZipCode> |
| | | <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription> |
| | | </reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | <reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | | <isDirector> 0 </isDirector> |
| | | <isOfficer> 1 </isOfficer> |
| | | <isTenPercentOwner> 0 </isTenPercentOwner> |
| | | <isOther> 0 </isOther> |
| | | <officerTitle> EVP, Mergers & Acquisitions </officerTitle> |
| | | <otherText></otherText> |
| | | </reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | </reportingOwner> |
| <nonDerivativeTable> |
| | <nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 52123 </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F1"/> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | </nonDerivativeTable> |
| <derivativeTable> |
| | <derivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Phantom Stock </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <conversionOrExercisePrice> |
| <value> 0.0 </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F2"/> |
| </conversionOrExercisePrice> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2022-09-16 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 4 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> A </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> 0 </equitySwapInvolved> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 29.181 </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F3"/> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <value> 86 </value> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> A </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <exerciseDate> |
| <value> 2022-09-16 </value> |
| </exerciseDate> |
| | | <expirationDate> |
| <value> 2022-09-16 </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F4"/> |
| </expirationDate> |
| | | <underlyingSecurity> |
| <underlyingSecurityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </underlyingSecurityTitle> |
| <underlyingSecurityShares> |
| <value> 29.181 </value> |
| </underlyingSecurityShares> |
| </underlyingSecurity> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 456.254 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </derivativeTransaction> |
| | <derivativeHolding> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock Option (right to buy) </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <conversionOrExercisePrice> |
| <value> 81.85 </value> |
| </conversionOrExercisePrice> |
| | | <exerciseDate> |
| <footnoteId id="F5"/> |
| </exerciseDate> |
| | | <expirationDate> |
| <value> 2031-12-15 </value> |
| </expirationDate> |
| | | <underlyingSecurity> |
| <underlyingSecurityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </underlyingSecurityTitle> |
| <underlyingSecurityShares> |
| <value> 9818.0 </value> |
| </underlyingSecurityShares> |
| </underlyingSecurity> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 9818 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </derivativeHolding> |
| | </derivativeTable> |
| <footnotes> |
| | <footnote id="F1"> Ownership includes 48,435 shares of restricted stock subject to vesting requirements. </footnote> |
| | <footnote id="F2"> Each share of phantom stock represents the right to receive the fair market value of one share of Centene common stock. </footnote> |
| | <footnote id="F3"> The phantom stock was acquired by Mr. Toney through regularly scheduled payroll contributions to the Company's deferred compensation plan. </footnote> |
| | <footnote id="F4"> The phantom stock has no formal expiration date. The phantom stock will be settled in cash or other non-Company securities upon Mr. Toney's termination with the Company, or on such other date Mr. Toney may elect. </footnote> |
| | <footnote id="F5"> Performance Stock Option granted on December 15, 2021, may become exercisable on or after the third anniversary of the grant date if the closing price of CNC's common stock equals or exceeds $100 per share for 20 consecutive trading days following the grant date. </footnote> |
| | </footnotes> |
| <remarks></remarks> |
| <ownerSignature> |
| | <signatureName> /s/ Christopher A. Koster (executed by attorney-in-fact) </signatureName> |
| | <signatureDate> 2022-09-20 </signatureDate> |
| | </ownerSignature> |
| </ownershipDocument> |