<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Independence Holding Company Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30,
1999 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       241,436,000
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                  24,297,000
<MORTGAGE>                                      26,000
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             347,272,000
<CASH>                                       5,378,000
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                         132,031,000
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      17,137,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             532,763,000
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            235,242,000
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         17,674,000
<POLICY-OTHER>                             111,648,000
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        3,720,000
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     7,146,000
<OTHER-SE>                                  98,713,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               532,763,000
<PREMIUMS>                                  61,372,000
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         19,757,000
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              95,000
<OTHER-INCOME>                               6,406,000
<BENEFITS>                                  47,648,000
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                  4,380,000
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             10,660,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                 2,985,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          7,675,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 7,675,000
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.04
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0