<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 June 30, 1998, and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        22,234,150
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     170,101
<MORTGAGE>                                       5,242
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                              22,457,078
<CASH>                                         344,380
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                       2,529,487
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              26,306,741
<POLICY-LOSSES>                             19,383,733
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            263,901
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          189,073
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                522,597
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        31,736
<OTHER-SE>                                   3,503,446
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                26,306,741
<PREMIUMS>                                   2,896,373
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            554,136
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               (268)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  10,286
<BENEFITS>                                   2,384,537
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     98,565
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           763,712<F1>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                213,713
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (49,369)<F2>
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            263,082
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   263,082
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .99<F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .95<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 issued June 8, 1998.  Prior year
financial data schedules have not been restated.
</FN>