<ARTICLE> 7 <CIK> 0000823533 <NAME> FORTIS BENEFITS INSURANCE COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,583,643 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 93,892 <MORTGAGE> 822,979 <REAL-ESTATE> 42,938 <TOTAL-INVEST> 3,691,439 <CASH> (47,736) <RECOVER-REINSURE> 45,226 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 457,999 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 10,083,977 <POLICY-LOSSES> 3,119,058 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 30,914 <POLICY-OTHER> 242,103 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 7,328 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMON> 5,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 873,202 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 10,083,977 <PREMIUMS> 1,111,253 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 209,479 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> (18,819) <OTHER-INCOME> 50,895 <BENEFITS> 877,403 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 37,901 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 344,698 <INCOME-PRETAX> 92,806 <INCOME-TAX> 28,961 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 63,845 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 63,845 <EPS-BASIC> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <RESERVE-OPEN> 1,139,603 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0