<ARTICLE>           7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
EXTRACTED FROM THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE REGISTRANT AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>        1,000
<CURRENCY>          U.S. DOLLAR
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         1,815,933
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                       6,992
<MORTGAGE>                                     112,994
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               2,586,619
<CASH>                                          11,891
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              82,221
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         259,719
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,361,082
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              2,195,537
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 253,308
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                106,145
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           261
<OTHER-SE>                                     439,934
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 3,361,082
<PREMIUMS>                                     406,940
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             87,844
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 919
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   8,991
<BENEFITS>                                     362,865
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     29,597
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            58,671
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 26,928
<INCOME-TAX>                                     8,756
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             18,172
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    17,923
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.70
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.70
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0