<ARTICLE>            7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the registrant
and is qualifed in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>         1,000
       
                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                   JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                     JUN-30-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                               1,361,925
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                      0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                        0
<EQUITIES>                                                 0
<MORTGAGE>                                                 0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                              0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                     1,917,644
<CASH>                                                14,692
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                    69,522
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                               203,335
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     2,498,485
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                    1,571,687
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                        0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       208,749
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                      0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      104,496
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                0
<COMMON>                                                 174
<OTHER-SE>                                           372,388
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       2,498,485
<PREMIUMS>                                           331,315
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                   60,925
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                     1,795
<OTHER-INCOME>                                         7,878
<BENEFITS>                                           281,252
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                           23,409
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                  37,637
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                       38,636
<INCOME-TAX>                                          14,247
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                   24,389
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                          23,996
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           1.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           1.41
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                             0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                        0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                          0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                         0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                           0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                            0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                    0