EXHIBIT 32.1

                   CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF
                        FORTIS BENEFITS INSURANCE COMPANY
           PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

          In connection with the quarterly report of Fortis Benefits Insurance
Company (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2004 as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the
"Report"), I, Robert Pollock, President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, based on my knowledge:

          1.        The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section
                    13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

          2.        The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                    all material respects, the financial condition and results
                    of operations of the Company.

Date: May 14, 2004

                                           /s/ Robert Pollock
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Robert Pollock
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer
                                           (Principal Executive Officer)