Exhibit 99.1

NEWS

For Release     Immediate


Contacts        (News Media) Tony Zehnder, Corporate Communications 312.396.7086
                (Investors) Scott Galovic, Investor Relations 317.817.2893


           Conseco announces preliminary results of shareholder vote:
     nine directors elected; adoption of stockholders rights plan approved;
                       long-term incentive plan approved;
             independent registered public accounting firm ratified

Carmel, Ind., May 12, 2009 - Conseco, Inc. (NYSE: CNO) announced preliminary
results of voting at the company's annual meeting of shareholders today:

     o    Eight directors have been re-elected and new director R. Keith Long
          has been elected - all to serve terms expiring at next year's annual
          meeting;

     o    Adoption of a Section 382 Stockholders Rights Plan has been approved;

     o    The company's Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan has been
          approved; and

     o    The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the company's
          independent registered public accounting firm for 2009 has been
          ratified.

Because of the proxy contest at this year's meeting, results of the vote will
not be final and officially reported until approximately one week from today,
when Corporate Election Services (the election inspector) has certified results.

Based on preliminary results, the directors who have been elected are:

     o    R. Glenn Hilliard, 66, Conseco's chairman; former chairman, chief
          executive officer and member of the executive committee for ING
          Americas; and a director since September 2003.

     o    Donna A. James, 51, president and managing director of Lardon &
          Associates; a former executive with Nationwide Mutual Insurance
          Company and its public company subsidiary, Nationwide Financial
          Services, Inc.; and a director since May 2007.

     o    R. Keith Long, 61, president and chief executive officer of Otter
          Creek Management.

     o    Debra J. Perry, 58, managing member of Perry Consulting LLC; former
          senior managing director of Moody's Investors Service; and a director
          since June 2004.

     o    C. James Prieur, 58, Conseco's chief executive officer; and a director
          since September 2006.


     o    Neal C. Schneider, 64, chairman of PMA Capital Corp., former partner
          of Smart and Associates, LLP (business advisory and accounting firm)
          and independent consultant; former partner in charge of the Worldwide
          Insurance Industry Practice and the North American Financial Service
          Practice at Arthur Andersen & Co.; and a director since September
          2003.

     o    Michael T. Tokarz, 59, chairman of investment company MVC Capital,
          Inc.; managing member of Tokarz Group (venture capital investments);
          former general partner with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.; and a
          director since September 2003.

     o    John G. Turner, 69, chairman of Hillcrest Capital Partners (private
          equity investment firm); former vice chairman and member of the
          executive committee for ING Americas; former chairman and CEO of
          ReliaStar Financial Corp.; and a director since September 2003.

     o    Doreen A. Wright, 52, retired senior vice president and chief
          information officer of Campbell Soup Company; a former executive with
          Nabisco, Inc., Prudential Insurance Company and Bankers Trust Company;
          and a director since May 2007.

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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