<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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         2,166,331
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      11,757
<MORTGAGE>                                     151,501
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               2,991,829
<CASH>                                          18,429
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              52,292
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         275,412
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,756,412
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              2,530,824
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 252,014
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                107,715
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           261
<OTHER-SE>                                     470,973
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 3,756,412
<PREMIUMS>                                     604,850
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            134,376
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 566
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  13,929
<BENEFITS>                                     528,403
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     45,808
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            88,900
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 49,231
<INCOME-TAX>                                    16,553
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             32,678
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    32,295
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.25
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.25
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0