8-K

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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report:   December 8, 2003

                        HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

       Delaware                        1-10890                   37-0911756
(State of incorporation)      (Commission File Number)       (I.R.S. Employer
                                                             Identification No.)

              1 Horace Mann Plaza, Springfield, Illinois 62715-0001
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 217-789-2500

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Forward-looking Information

     Statements included in the accompanying press release that state Horace
Mann Educators Corporation's (the "Company") or its management's intentions,
hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of future events or the Company's
future financial performance are forward-looking statements and involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. It is important to note that
the Company's actual results could differ materially from those projected in
such forward-looking statements. Information concerning factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements is
contained from time to time in the Company's public filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.

Item 7:  Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)  Exhibits.
              99.1  Press release dated December 8, 2003 regarding guidance on
                    financial results for the year ended December 31, 2003.

Item 9:  Regulation FD Disclosure

     On December 8, 2003, Horace Mann Educators Corporation issued a press
release regarding its guidance on financial results for the year ended December
31, 2003. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is
incorporated by reference herein.

                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                 HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

                                 By:    /s/ Bret A. Conklin
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Name:   Bret A. Conklin
                                    Title:  Senior Vice President & Controller
                                            (Principal Accounting Officer)

Date: December 8, 2003

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EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

                    [Horace Mann Educators Corporation logo]

                                                         Dwayne D. Hallman
                                                         Senior Vice President -
                                                            Finance
                                                         Horace Mann Educators
                                                            Corporation
                                                         (217) 788-5708
                                                         www.horacemann.com

                   HORACE MANN ESTIMATES IMPACT OF CALIFORNIA
                    WILDFIRES; REDUCES 2003 EARNINGS ESTIMATE

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., December 8, 2003 -- Horace Mann Educators Corporation
(NYSE:HMN) estimates its policyholder claims from wildfires in Southern
California will total approximately $12.5 million pretax. Reflecting anticipated
recoveries from the company's reinsurance program, the net cost is expected to
be approximately $10 million ($6.5 million after tax, or 15 cents per share).
The claims relate to losses covered under the company's homeowners policies and
include entire homes destroyed, partial losses, smoke damage and costs
associated with living expenses due to evacuation and displacement.

Total industry-wide personal lines insured losses from the event are estimated
to exceed $2 billion, making this the largest fire-related catastrophe loss in
U.S. history.

"The devastation experienced by the people of Southern California is of historic
proportion," said Louis G. Lower II, President and Chief Executive Officer. "As
soon as the fires were contained, claim adjusters began meeting with our clients
to assess damages and provide settlements. The tools available to the adjusters
as a result of the recent redesign of our claims operations are helping to
expedite fulfillment of Horace Mann's promise to our policyholders."

Reflecting the greater than expected level of catastrophe losses in the fourth
quarter, the company is reducing its guidance for full year 2003 net income
before realized investment gains and losses to 15 cents to 25 cents per share.
This revised guidance assumes a normal level of catastrophe and weather-related
losses for the remainder of the fourth quarter and is before any property and
casualty reserve actions which may be identified by the previously announced
claims and reserving review being conducted by Deloitte & Touche.

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Horace Mann -- the largest national multiline insurance company focusing on
educators' financial needs -- provides retirement annuities, life insurance,
property/casualty insurance, and other financial solutions. Founded by educators
for educators in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Ill. Horace
Mann is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange as HMN. For more
information, visit www.horacemann.com.

Statements included in this news release that are not historical in nature are
forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Horace Mann
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as the result of new information, future events or
otherwise. Information concerning factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those in forward-looking statements is contained from
time to time in the company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

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