<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contians summary financial information extracted from the
Independence Holding Company Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 2000
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       332,405,000
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                  21,911,000
<MORTGAGE>                                      26,000
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             467,537,000
<CASH>                                       7,835,000
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                         130,113,000
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      31,552,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             673,395,000
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            284,834,000
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         20,450,000
<POLICY-OTHER>                             174,418,000
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        4,863,000
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                             15,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     7,181,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 102,923,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               673,395,000
<PREMIUMS>                                  42,184,000
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         18,016,000
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           (806,000)
<OTHER-INCOME>                               2,086,000
<BENEFITS>                                  32,627,000
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                  2,648,000
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              8,470,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                 2,655,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          5,815,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 5,815,000
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.81
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.80
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0