<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Company's consolidated financial statements as filed in Form 10-Q for the
period ended March 31, 1998, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        22,597,866
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     166,954
<MORTGAGE>                                      12,626
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                              22,825,382
<CASH>                                         145,395
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                       2,603,945
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              27,528,228
<POLICY-LOSSES>                             19,706,916
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            277,768
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          199,036
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                511,186
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        15,855
<OTHER-SE>                                   3,437,842
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                27,528,228
<PREMIUMS>                                   1,472,399
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            278,563
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 183
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   5,881
<BENEFITS>                                   1,213,924
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     47,464
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           442,114<F1>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 53,524
<INCOME-TAX>                                 (106,878)<F2>
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            160,402
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   160,402
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .60<F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .58<F3>
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Includes provision of $111,279 for mandated policyholder protection fund.
<F2>Includes ($121,120) deferred tax benefit from Japan tax rate reduction.
<F3>Adjusted for the two-for-one stock split payable June 8, 1998.  Prior year
financial data schedules have not been restated.
</FN>