Centene shares rose 3.5% in afternoon trading after the health coverage company said it will launch a National Performance-Based Gold Card Program in November 2026. The stock closed at $68.88, up 2.8%. The programme will streamline prior authorisation reviews for select outpatient services. More than 160,000 qualifying healthcare providers nationwide will be eligible. Prior authorisation is the process by which insurers approve medical care before it is delivered. Centene is up 64.9% since the start of the year and close to its 52-week high of $69.41, set in September 2026.

Centene CEO Sarah London says Medicaid patients are the last to benefit from health care innovation. She wants AI to change that. Fortune 2 hours ago 81 Discover more Read Daily News The latest innovations and breakthroughs in health care don't get routed to the sickest people, they usually go to the deepest pockets. "Most of the venture money in health care goes into where the money is, and the money isn't in Medicaid," Centene CEO Sarah London said on Monday at Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit. "That means that underserved communities don't actually benefit from innovation first. Sometimes they never do." Centene, a $33 billion company based in Missouri, is built around those very communities. The company runs Medicaid plans in 29 states and sells individual marketplace plans and Medicare Advantage. London, a mainstay of Fortune's Most Powerful Women and the youngest CEO in the Fortune 500, said Centene's 26 million members are "among the poorest, sickest members of the communities that we all live in," she told Fortune senior writer Sheryl Estrada. London, who took the CEO role four years ago at age 41, said she joined Centene because she believed health care and technology had reached an inflection point, and she wanted to lead a company that was part of getting more care to people who are usually last to get it. According to London, AI offers a massive opportunity to change the way people seek an... BankBit shares this Content always with CC License Screenshot generated in real time with SneakPeek Suite * Homepage * Finance * Centene CEO Sarah London says Medicaid patients are the last to benefit from health care innovation. She wants AI to change that.

Ambetter Health Solutions and Marathon Health expand access to primary care for members in Indiana and Missouri. Oct 07, 2026, 07:00 ET The new partnership will provide eligible members with $0 primary care visits, lab services, and virtual care beginning in 2027 ST. LOUIS, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), through Ambetter Health Solutions, today announced a new collaboration with Marathon Health, a leading advanced primary care provider, designed to make primary care easier to access for Ambetter members in select counties across Indiana and Missouri. Available through CHOICE Arrangements (formerly ICHRA), eligible members will have access to $0 primary care visits and lab services, along with virtual primary care through Marathon Health. "Strong primary care can help identify health concerns earlier and give Ambetter's CHOICE members the support they need to manage their health over time," said Alan Silver, President of Ambetter Health Solutions. "By combining the flexibility of CHOICE Arrangements with Marathon Health's advanced primary care model, we're making it easier for employers to offer meaningful healthcare access while helping members get the preventive care, chronic condition support and ongoing provider relationships that can improve long-term health outcomes." Marathon Health's advanced primary care model brings together in-person and virtual care with services such as lab testing, chronic condition support, mental health services, and help navigating the healthcare ecosystem. This coordinated approach is designed to provide a simpler member experience and help address health needs before they become severe. By building trust and delivering care earlier, Marathon's model has demonstrated measurable impact among engaged members: 15% fewer emergency room visits and 41% fewer inpatient admissions. "Access to primary care shouldn't be complicated, and it shouldn't come with barriers that make people delay the care they need," said Ryan Jacobs, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Partnerships, Marathon Health. "This collaboration gives Ambetter members in Indiana and Missouri a direct path to the kind of consistent, trusted provider relationships that keep people healthier and out of high-cost care settings." Eligible members will receive information about available services and how to access care prior to the beginning of the 2027 plan year. To learn more about advanced primary care for health plans, visit Marathon Health. About Ambetter Health Solutions Ambetter Health Solutions, Centene Corporation's off-Exchange Marketplace business offering, delivers individual health insurance plans that are compatible with Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRA). Available in select states, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and South Carolina, these plans empower individuals to choose the coverage that best fits their needs, helping employers control cost while offering greater choice and flexibility to their workforce. For more information on health benefits and health insurance plans in your state, please visit the state specific link on AmbetterHealth.com. About Marathon Health Marathon Health is a leading advanced primary care provider, partnering with employer and union plan sponsors, as well as health plans, to improve health for millions of Americans. With nationwide onsite, nearsite, and network health centers, and virtual primary care, Marathon delivers a value-based model that enhances the healthcare experience for members and providers, while driving meaningful cost savings for plan sponsors. Marathon is proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work(R), reflecting the company's commitment to building an inclusive, high-trust culture where all employees can thrive. Learn more at marathon.health. SOURCE Centene Corporation