<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THE 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>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         2,638,794<F1>
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                           0
<MORTGAGE>                                      32,107
<REAL-ESTATE>                                    6,024
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               2,769,046
<CASH>                                             353
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          85,883
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,131,912
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              2,111,561<F1>
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            166,996
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          122,107
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                141,599
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            59
<OTHER-SE>                                     505,913
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,131,912
<PREMIUMS>                                     542,712
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            198,928
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               5,340
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<BENEFITS>                                     359,441
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     44,198
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           106,398
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                119,638
<INCOME-TAX>                                    32,581
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             87,057
<DISCONTINUED>                                 (3,481)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    83,576
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.82
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.80
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 306,349<F2>
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                            365,986
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                             (45,152)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                             209,294
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                               148,581
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                269,308<F2>
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                         45,152
<FN>
<F1>Refer to the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 1997.
<F2>These balances are net of reinsurance recoverables.  See also Note 1 -
Significant Accounting Policies of the Company's Consolidated Notes to 
Financial Statements for December 31, 1997.
</FN>