Centene Offers Buyouts to Most Staff After Membership Losses (2)

Centene Corp. will offer buyouts to most employees to cut expenses after membership in its health insurance plans dropped substantially over the last year, according to a company spokesperson.

While employees will have the chance to apply for the voluntary separation program, the offer isn’t guaranteed or automatic, a spokesperson said. The St. Louis-based health insurer had 61,000 employees in the first quarter. The spokesperson didn’t say how much the company aims to shrink the workforce, but layoffs could follow if Centene doesn’t meet its target through voluntary exits.

“When our membership shifts, we need to shift our organization accordingly,” ...