<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 7

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999             APR-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999             JUN-30-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       801,248,328                       0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        1,185,097                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          1,251,306                       0
<EQUITIES>                                 121,521,762                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                     357,724                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                1,888,428                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                           1,153,141,722                       0
<CASH>                                       3,313,687                       0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                           1,848,793                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                     126,283,216                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,325,670,123                       0
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            587,644,502                       0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                        113,084,150                       0
<POLICY-OTHER>                               9,534,448                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        6,054,831                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                            101,726,789                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                    41,891,512                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 366,391,349                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             1,325,670,123                       0
<PREMIUMS>                                 201,371,629             100,994,559
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         32,664,773              16,270,579
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           5,495,441                  16,357
<OTHER-INCOME>                               1,264,244                 690,736
<BENEFITS>                                 141,892,585              71,142,629
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 29,840,636              15,007,798
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        24,031,606              10,385,510
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             45,031,260              21,436,294
<INCOME-TAX>                                12,833,516               5,519,127
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         32,197,744              15,917,167
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                32,197,744              15,917,167
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .80                     .40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .79                     .40
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             140,843,010                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        131,686,866                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                          (9,246,115)                       0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                          93,269,747                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            26,967,422                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            143,781,732                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0


</TABLE>