<ARTICLE>           7
<MULTIPLIER>             1,000,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                             12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                         DEC-31-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                      31,449
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                          0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                            0
<EQUITIES>                                                 1,865
<MORTGAGE>                                                     4
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                 60
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                            37,639
<CASH>                                                       112
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                        11,229
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                     3,535
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           108,840
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                           22,674
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                        2,797
<POLICY-OTHER>                                            22,220
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                     50,452
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                            1,532
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      1,000 <F1>
<PREFERRED>                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                       1
<OTHER-SE>                                                 4,519
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                             108,840
<PREMIUMS>                                                10,076
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                        2,523
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                          (126)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                 0
<BENEFITS>                                                 8,942
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                1,678
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                       2,015
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                             (318)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                (219)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                          (99)
<DISCONTINUED>                                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                                 (99)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                              (0.84)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              (0.84)
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                            12,597
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                        5,075
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                          1,049
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                         2,035
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                           2,797
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                           13,889
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>REPRESENTS  COMPANY OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SECURITIES OF
SUBSIDIARY TRUSTS HOLDING SOLELY PARENT JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES.
</FN>