Exhibit 99.1

NEWS

For Release     Immediate


Contacts        (News Media) Tony Zehnder, EVP, Corporate Communications
                    312.396.7086
                (Investors) Lowell Short, SVP, Investor Relations 317.817.2893



              Conseco Declares Dividend on Class B Preferred Stock


Carmel, Ind., January 17, 2006 - Conseco, Inc. (NYSE:CNO) today announced that
it has declared a dividend on the outstanding shares of its Class B 5.50%
Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock (NYSE: CNO PrB) of $0.34375 per share.
The dividend is payable on February 15, 2006 to the holders of record at the
close of business on February 1, 2006.

Conseco, Inc.'s insurance companies help protect working American families and
seniors from financial adversity: Medicare supplement, long-term care, cancer,
heart/stroke and accident policies protect people against major unplanned
expenses; annuities and life insurance products help people plan for their
financial futures. For more information, visit Conseco's web site at
www.conseco.com.


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