<ARTICLE>           7
<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