CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2026	Dec. 31, 2025
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 20,700	$ 17,888
Premium and trade receivables	20,329	18,105
Short-term investments	2,886	2,432
Other current assets	1,546	1,945
Total current assets	45,461	40,370
Long-term investments	14,794	17,035
Restricted deposits	1,470	1,412
Property, software and equipment, net	2,109	2,037
Goodwill	10,835	10,835
Intangible assets, net	4,042	4,530
Other long-term assets	569	528
Total assets	79,280	76,747
Current liabilities:
Medical claims liability	21,495	20,544
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	15,459	13,796
Return of premium payable	1,346	1,592
Unearned revenue	680	736
Current portion of long-term debt	88	50
Total current liabilities	39,068	36,718
Long-term debt	15,454	17,351
Deferred tax liability	719	833
Other long-term liabilities	1,732	1,789
Total liabilities	56,973	56,691
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	24	23
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 10,000 shares; no shares issued or outstanding at September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025	0	0
Common stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 800,000 shares; 626,679 issued and 494,973 outstanding at September 30, 2026, and 623,463 issued and 491,757 outstanding at December 31, 2025	1	1
Additional paid-in capital	20,926	20,777
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)	(514)	(58)
Retained earnings	11,235	8,674
Treasury stock, at cost (131,706 and 131,706 shares, respectively)	(9,441)	(9,441)
Total Centene stockholders' equity	22,207	19,953
Nonredeemable noncontrolling interest	76	80
Total stockholders' equity	22,283	20,033
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity	$ 79,280	$ 76,747

Return of Premium Payable

No definition available.

Name:	cnc_ReturnofPremiumPayable
Namespace Prefix:	cnc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and due within one year (or the operating cycle, if longer), including liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received, taxes, interest, rent and utilities, accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits.