<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         2,529,760<F1>
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                           0
<MORTGAGE>                                      17,174
<REAL-ESTATE>                                      138
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               2,814,310
<CASH>                                          21,498
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         139,171
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,346,020
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              2,166,508<F2>
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            178,314
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          123,273
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                148,710
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            60
<OTHER-SE>                                     418,870
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,346,020
<PREMIUMS>                                     448,149
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            143,277
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             (3,163)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<BENEFITS>                                     329,271
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     40,816
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            89,505
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 44,942
<INCOME-TAX>                                    10,327
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             34,615
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    34,615
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.85
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.84
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>REFER TO NOTE 3 - INVESTMENTS OF THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED NOTES TO FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 30, 2000.
<F2>REFER TO THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2000.
</FN>