<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-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         2,640,070<F1>        
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0           
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0           
<EQUITIES>                                           0           
<MORTGAGE>                                      34,501           
<REAL-ESTATE>                                    7,664            
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               2,772,152            
<CASH>                                          14,398            
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0            
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          81,882            
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,111,659           
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              2,137,297<F2>       
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            162,402           
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0           
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          120,887            
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                141,590            
<COMMON>                                            30            
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0            
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     496,328
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,111,659
<PREMIUMS>                                     402,385
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            148,979
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               3,230
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<BENEFITS>                                     271,714
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     33,035
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            77,090
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 84,529
<INCOME-TAX>                                    22,756
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             61,773
<DISCONTINUED>                                 (3,481)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    58,292
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.52
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.52
<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 4 - Investments of the Company's Consolidated Notes to 
     Financial Statements for September 30, 1997.

<F2> Refer to the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 1997.
</FN>