<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
       THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
   THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE FORM 10Q FOR THE FISCAL QUARTER
        ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 FOR AETNA INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA
  AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000925988
<NAME>                        Aetna Insurance Company of America
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           114,776
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                           0
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 114,776
<CASH>                                          13,767
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          39,050
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 774,635
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                      0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          133,718
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         2,550
<OTHER-SE>                                      34,440
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   774,635
<PREMIUMS>                                           0
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              4,853
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  89
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     168
<BENEFITS>                                       4,242
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                          0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,355
<INCOME-TAX>                                       388
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                967
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       967
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0