WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  

<ARTICLE>           5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
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-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
[DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE]                         3,546,144
[DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE]                                0
[DEBT-MARKET-VALUE]                                  0
[EQUITIES]                                       9,187
[MORTGAGE]                                     213,717
[REAL-ESTATE]                                    1,573
[TOTAL-INVEST]                               4,592,472
<CASH>                                          24,485
[RECOVER-REINSURE]                             279,425
[DEFERRED-ACQUISITION]                         337,351
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,846,456
[POLICY-LOSSES]                              4,040,120
[UNEARNED-PREMIUMS]                                  0
[POLICY-OTHER]                                 404,899
[POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS]                                0
[NOTES-PAYABLE]                                107,695
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           310
<OTHER-SE>                                     784,387
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,846,456
[PREMIUMS]                                     822,884
[INVESTMENT-INCOME]                            207,606
[INVESTMENT-GAINS]                               3,358
[OTHER-INCOME]                                  17,593
[BENEFITS]                                     741,753
[UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION]                     54,098
[UNDERWRITING-OTHER]                           116,772
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 87,810
<INCOME-TAX>                                    31,563
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             56,247
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    55,783
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.01
[RESERVE-OPEN]                                       0
[PROVISION-CURRENT]                                  0
[PROVISION-PRIOR]                                    0
[PAYMENTS-CURRENT]                                   0
[PAYMENTS-PRIOR]                                     0
[RESERVE-CLOSE]                                      0
[CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY]                              0