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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000703701-05-000012.txt : 20050211
<SEC-HEADER>0000703701-05-000012.hdr.sgml : 20050211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050211115002
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000703701-05-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050211

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ASCENT ASSURANCE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000703701
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ACCIDENT & HEALTH INSURANCE [6321]
		IRS NUMBER:				731165000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3100 BURNETT PLAZA
		STREET 2:		801 CHERRY STREET, UNIT 33
		CITY:			FORT WORTH
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			76102
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8178783300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3100 BURNETT PLAZA
		STREET 2:		801 CHERRY STREET, UNIT 33
		CITY:			FORT WORTH
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			76102

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	WESTBRIDGE CAPITAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CUTLER BENJAMIN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001274957

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-10873
		FILM NUMBER:		05596181

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CHASE MANHATTAN PLAZA
		STREET 2:		41TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10005
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128597000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000703701</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ASCENT ASSURANCE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AASR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001274957</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CUTLER BENJAMIN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3100 BURNETT PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>801 CHERRY ST UNIT 33</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT WORTH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>76102</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-09-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5025619</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On September 1, 2004, Mr. Cutler was granted 5,025,619 shares of the Company's Common Stock, which will vest, (in the abscence of an &quot;Early Exercise Date&quot; as defined in the award agreement), in five equal installments on each of the first five anniversary dates of the option award. The exercise price of each option is equal to the fair market value of such shares, as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith based upon generally accepted industry evaluation methodologies, on the Early Exercise Date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Benjamin M Cutler</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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