UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   -----------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 3, 2002


                                  CONSECO, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


   Indiana                                  1-9250               35-1468632
----------------------                   ----------------     --------------
(State or other                          (Commission          (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                          File Number)        Identification No.)
organization)

11825 North Pennsylvania Street
        Carmel, Indiana                                             46032
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(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)

                                 (317) 817-6100
                            -------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                 Not Applicable
                         (Former name or former address,
                         if changed since last report.)



Item 5. Other Events

     Attached as Exhibit 99 is a copy of a press release dated October 3, 2002.

Item 7(c) Exhibit

     99.  Press release of Conseco, Inc. issued October 3, 2002.



                                    Signature

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                           CONSECO, INC.

October 3, 2002
                                           By:  /s/ John R. Kline
                                                ------------------------
                                                John R. Kline
                                                  Senior Vice President and
                                                  Chief Accounting Officer