UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                  SCHEDULE l3D
                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                  CONSECO, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                     Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    208464883
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)
                                                     with a copy to:
       Stephen Feinberg                              Robert G. Minion, Esq.
       299 Park Avenue                               Lowenstein Sandler PC
       22nd Floor                                    65 Livingston Avenue
       New York, New York  10171                     Roseland, New Jersey  07068
       (212) 421-2600                                (973) 597-2424
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
                Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                               September 10, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)


If the filing person has previously  filed a statement on Schedule l3G to report
the  acquisition  that is the subject of this  Schedule  13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Sections 240.13d-1(e),  240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g),  check
the following box. [  ]

Note:  Schedules  filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule, including all exhibits.  See Section 240.13d-7 for other
parties to whom copies are to be sent.

*The  remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting  person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for  any  subsequent   amendment   containing   information  which  would  alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but  shall be  subject  to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).





Cusip No.  208464883
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1)   Names of  Reporting Persons.  I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons
       (entities only):

                                Stephen Feinberg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2)   Check the Appropriate Box  if a Member of a Group  (See Instructions):
             (a)              Not
             (b)           Applicable

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  3)   SEC Use Only

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  4)   Source of Funds (See Instructions):    WC, OO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  5)   Check if  Disclosure of  Legal Proceedings Is  Required Pursuant to Items
       2(d) or 2(e):           Not Applicable

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  6)   Citizenship or Place of Organization:     United States

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Number of                        7) Sole Voting Power:            *
                                            ------------------------------------
        Shares Beneficially              8) Shared Voting Power:          *
                                            ------------------------------------
        Owned by
        Each Reporting                   9) Sole Dispositive Power:       *
                                            ------------------------------------
        Person With                     10) Shared Dispositive Power:     *
                                            ------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  11)  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person:
                      5,069,744*

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12)  Check if the  Aggregate Amount in Row (11)  Excludes Certain Shares  (See
       Instructions):        Not Applicable

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  13)  Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11):      5.1%*

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  14)  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions):     IA, IN

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*  Pursuant to the Sixth Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization  of Conseco, Inc.,
an Indiana corporation,  Cerberus Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
("Cerberus"),  is entitled to receive  935,928  shares of the common stock,  par
value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"),  of Conseco,  Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 21,634 Shares (subject
to  adjustments  in certain  circumstances),  Cerberus  International,  Ltd.,  a
corporation  organized  under  the  laws of the  Bahamas  ("International"),  is
entitled to receive  2,539,728  Shares and  warrants to purchase an aggregate of
54,798 Shares (subject to adjustments in certain circumstances), Cerberus Series
Two Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Cerberus Series Two"),
is entitled to receive 1,238,228 Shares and warrants to purchase an aggregate of
27,050 Shares  (subject to adjustments in certain  circumstances),  and Cerberus
America  Series  One  Holdings,   LLC,  a  Delaware  limited  liability  company
("Cerberus  America"),  is entitled to receive  246,969  Shares and  warrants to
purchase  an  aggregate  of 5,409  Shares  (subject  to  adjustments  in certain
circumstances).  Stephen  Feinberg  possesses  sole power to vote and direct the
disposition  of all  securities of the Company held by Cerberus,  International,
Cerberus  Series Two and Cerberus  America.  Thus, as of September 10, 2003, for
the  purposes  of  Reg.  Section  240.13d-3,   Stephen  Feinberg  is  deemed  to
beneficially  own  5,069,744  Shares,  or 5.1% of the Shares  deemed  issued and
outstanding as of that date.




Item 1.   Security and Issuer.
          -------------------

          The class of equity  securities  to which this Schedule 13D relates is
the common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"),  of Conseco, Inc., a
Delaware  corporation (the "Company").  The principal  executive  offices of the
Company are located at 11825 North Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032.


Item 2.   Identity and Background.
          -----------------------

          The person filing this statement is Stephen  Feinberg,  whose business
address is 299 Park Avenue, 22nd Floor,  New York, New York 10171.  Mr. Feinberg
serves as (i) the managing member of Cerberus  Associates,  L.L.C., which is the
general  partner of Cerberus  Partners,  L.P.,  a Delaware  limited  partnership
("Cerberus"), and (ii) through one or more intermediate entities, the investment
manager for each of Cerberus International,  Ltd., a corporation organized under
the laws of the Bahamas ("International"),  Cerberus Series Two Holdings, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company ("Cerberus Series Two"), and Cerberus America
Series One  Holdings,  LLC,  a Delaware  limited  liability  company  ("Cerberus
America"). Cerberus, International, Cerberus Series Two and Cerberus America are
engaged in the investment in personal  property of all kinds,  including but not
limited to capital stock,  depository  receipts,  investment  companies,  mutual
funds,  subscriptions,  warrants,  bonds, notes,  debentures,  options and other
securities of whatever kind  and nature.  Mr. Feinberg also provides  investment
management and other services for various other third parties.

          Mr. Feinberg  has  never been  convicted  in any  criminal  proceeding
(excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors),  nor has he been a party
to any civil proceeding  commenced before a judicial or  administrative  body of
competent  jurisdiction  as a  result  of which  he was or is now  subject  to a
judgment,  decree or final order enjoining future  violations of, or prohibiting
or mandating  activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding
any violation with respect to such laws. Mr. Feinberg is a citizen of the United
States.


Item 3.   Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
          -------------------------------------------------

          On September  10, 2003,  the United  States  Bankruptcy  Court for the
Northern  District of Illinois,  Eastern  Division  confirmed  the Sixth Amended
Joint Plan of  Reorganization  of Conseco,  Inc., an Indiana  corporation  ("Old
Conseco"),  dated  September  9,  2003  (the  "Plan of  Reorganization"),  which
provided  for the  exchange  of  certain  existing  debt  securities  and  trust
preferred securities of Old Conseco and/or certain of its affiliates and certain
other  existing  claims  against Old Conseco  and/or  certain of its  affiliates
(collectively,  the  "Discharged  Claims") for, among other things,  (i) Shares,
(ii) warrants to purchase Shares and (iii) Class A Senior Cumulative Convertible
Exchangeable  Preferred Stock of the Company (the "Preferred Shares").  Pursuant
to the Plan of Reorganization,  Cerberus, International, Cerberus Series Two and
Cerberus America,  in exchange for certain Discharged Claims,  have the right to
receive, in addition to cash and Preferred Shares,  which are not convertible or
exchangeable  at the option of the holder  thereof for Shares  within 60 days of
the  date  of  event  which  requires  filing  of this  Schedule  13D and do not
represent  5% or more of the  Preferred  Shares as a class,  935,928  Shares and
warrants to purchase an aggregate of 21,634 Shares  (subject to  adjustments  in
certain  circumstances),  2,539,728 Shares and warrants to purchase an aggregate
of 54,798 Shares  (subject to adjustments in certain  circumstances),  1,238,228
Shares and  warrants to  purchase  an  aggregate  of 27,050  Shares  (subject to





adjustments in certain  circumstances),  246,969 Shares and warrants to purchase
an aggregate of 5,409 Shares (subject to adjustments in certain  circumstances),
respectively.  The warrants issued to Cerberus,  International,  Cerberus Series
Two and Cerberus America do not represent 5% or more of that class.


Item 4.   Purpose of Transaction.
          ----------------------

          The acquisition of Shares and securities convertible into, exercisable
for or exchangeable for Shares referred to in Item 5 is for investment purposes.
Mr. Feinberg has no present plans or intentions  which relate to or would result
in any of the transactions required to be described in Item 4 of Schedule 13D.


Item 5.   Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
          ------------------------------------

          Based upon information provided by the Company, there were 100,000,000
Shares issued and  outstanding  as of September 10, 2003 pursuant to the Plan of
Reorganization.   As  of   September   10,   2003,   pursuant  to  the  Plan  of
Reorganization,  Cerberus was entitled to receive 935,928 Shares and warrants to
purchase  an  aggregate  of 21,634  Shares  (subject to  adjustments  in certain
circumstances),  International  was  entitled  to receive  2,539,728  Shares and
warrants to purchase an aggregate of 54,798 Shares  (subject to  adjustments  in
certain  circumstances),  Cerberus Series Two was entitled to receive  1,238,228
Shares and  warrants to  purchase  an  aggregate  of 27,050  Shares  (subject to
adjustments  in certain  circumstances),  and  Cerberus  America was entitled to
receive  246,969  Shares and  warrants to purchase an  aggregate of 5,409 Shares
(subject to adjustments in certain  circumstances).  Stephen Feinberg  possesses
sole power to vote and direct the  disposition  of all securities of the Company
held by Cerberus, International, Cerberus Series Two and Cerberus America. Thus,
as of  September  10,  2003,  for the  purposes of Reg. Section  240.13d-3,  Mr.
Feinberg is deemed to beneficially own 5,069,744  Shares,  or 5.1% of the Shares
deemed issued and outstanding as of that date.

          During  the  sixty  days  prior  to  September  10,  2003,   the  only
transaction  in Shares,  or  securities  convertible  into,  exercisable  for or
exchangeable for Shares,  by Mr. Feinberg or any person or entity  controlled by
him or any person or entity for which he possesses voting or investment  control
over the securities thereof, was the September 10, 2003 confirmation of the Plan
of Reorganization.


Item 6.   Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or  Relationships With Respect
          to Securities of the Issuer.
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------

          No contracts,  arrangements,  understandings or similar  relationships
exist with respect to the securities of the Company between Stephen Feinberg and
any person or entity.


Item 7.   Material to be Filed as Exhibits.
          --------------------------------

          Not applicable.





                                    Signature
                                    ---------


            After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief,
I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.

                                        October 7, 2003


                                        /s/ Stephen Feinberg
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Stephen Feinberg, on  behalf of Cerberus
                                        Associates,  L.L.C., the general partner
                                        of Cerberus Partners, L.P., and Cerberus
                                        International, Ltd., Cerberus Series Two
                                        Holdings,  LLC   and  Cerberus   America
                                        Series One Holdings, LLC




      Attention: Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute
                Federal criminal violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001).