<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Company's consolidated financial statements as filed in Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1998, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            18,983
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                            7,441
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                              6,822
<EQUITIES>                                         177
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  26,620
<CASH>                                             374
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           3,067
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  31,183
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 23,481
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                309
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                              244
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    596
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            32
<OTHER-SE>                                       3,738
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    31,183
<PREMIUMS>                                       5,943
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              1,138
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 (2)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                      25
<BENEFITS>                                       4,877
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                        201
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             1,475<F1>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    551
<INCOME-TAX>                                        64<F2>
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                487
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       487
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.83<F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.76<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 for mandated policyholder protection fund.
<F2>Includes ($121) 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>