<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 7
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             APR-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998             JUN-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       766,205,520                       0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        1,719,872                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          1,839,076                       0
<EQUITIES>                                 134,728,637                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                     459,078                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                1,681,156                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                           1,067,462,739                       0
<CASH>                                       2,986,625                       0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                           1,571,881                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                     109,259,380                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,218,079,294                       0
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            533,073,522                       0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                        103,302,436                       0
<POLICY-OTHER>                               9,140,165                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        6,327,194                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                             69,928,989                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                    41,891,512                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 369,321,373                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             1,218,079,294                       0
<PREMIUMS>                                 194,085,800              97,049,291
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         30,825,971              15,307,378
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           4,074,883               1,496,215
<OTHER-INCOME>                               1,087,865                 468,646
<BENEFITS>                                 144,230,656              74,428,626
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 28,911,359              14,555,752
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        16,596,884               8,411,132
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             40,335,620              16,926,020
<INCOME-TAX>                                12,393,803               5,044,445
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         27,941,817              11,881,575
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                27,941,817              11,881,575
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .68                     .29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .68                     .29
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             134,329,249                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        132,346,066                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                           (4,633,305)                      0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                          95,461,216                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            28,870,109                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            138,194,901                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0
        

</TABLE>