While NQ annuities are not formally subject to the RMD rules for qualified plans and IRAs, and state law is a factor in some cases, the rules are being liberalized as illustrated by this recent letter ruling:
http://www.kitces.com/blog/archives/587-IRS-Opens-Door-In-PLR-201330016-For-1035-Exchange-By-Beneficiary-Of-Fixed-And-Variable-Inherited-Annuities.html