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 19, 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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Item 5:   Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure

         On December 19, 2003, A.M. Best Company issued a press release
announcing (1) assignment of indicative ratings of "bbb-" to unsecured senior
debt, "bb+" to subordinated debt and "bb" to preferred stock to Horace Mann
Educators Corporation's $300 million universal shelf offering filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on December 16, 2003 and (2) affirmation of
the Company's "A-" financial strength ratings and "bbb-" debt ratings. All
ratings have been assigned stable outlooks. A copy of the press release is
attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 7:   Financial Statements and Exhibits

          (c)  Exhibits.

               99.1 Press release issued by A.M. Best Company on December 19,
                    2003 regarding the financial strength and debt ratings of
                    Horace Mann Educators Corporation.



                                    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 19, 2003

EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

                            [A.M. Best Company logo]

A.M. Best Assigns Indicative Debt Ratings to Horace Mann's Shelf Registration;
Affirms Existing Debt and Financial Strength Ratings

CONTACTS:    Public Relations                   Analyst(s)

             Jim Peavy                          John Laubach - P/C
             (908) 439-2200, ext. 5644          (908) 439-2200, ext. 5731
             james.peavy@ambest.com             john.laubach@ambest.com
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             Rachelle Striegel                  Steven Faulks - L/H
             (908) 439-2200, ext. 5378          (908) 439-2200, ext. 5035
             rachelle.striegel@ambest.com       steven.faulks@ambest.com
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     OLDWICK, N.J., Dec. 19, 2003--A.M. Best Co. has assigned indicative ratings
of "bbb-" to unsecured senior debt, "bb+" to subordinated debt and "bb" to
preferred stock to Horace Mann Educators Corporation's (Springfield, IL) [NYSE:
HMN] recently filed $300 million universal shelf offering. At the same time,
A.M. Best has affirmed Horace Mann's existing debt and A- (Excellent) financial
strength ratings for the property/casualty and life/health operations. The
outlook for all of the ratings is stable.

     The shelf offering allows Horace Mann to periodically sell debt securities,
common stock, preferred stock and other securities, with net proceeds to be used
to reduce outstanding debt or for general corporate purposes.

     A.M. Best views favorably Horace Mann's strict expense management and
strengthened underwriting standards in the property/casualty operations. With
respect to the life/health operations, A.M. Best views favorably its solid
marketing niche in the educators' market place, consistently positive operating
performance and the ongoing success in growing agent productivity. Further, the
rating recognizes the establishment of its independent annuity field force.

     These strengths are partially offset by the aggressive underwriting
leverage position

                                    --MORE--



                                      --2--

maintained in the property/casualty operations and the decline in operating
performance in recent years that was primarily influenced by prior year adverse
loss reserve development. While the capital position of the property/casualty
operations has declined, it is supportive of the Excellent rating level.

     The following indicative debt ratings have been assigned to the shelf
registration:

Horace Mann Educators Corporation--

     -- "bbb-" on senior unsecured debt
     -- "bb+" on subordinated debt
     -- "bb" on preferred stock

     The financial strength ratings of A- (Excellent) have been affirmed for the
following property/casualty and life/health operating subsidiaries of the Horace
Mann Insurance Group:

     --  Horace Mann Insurance Company
     --  Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Company
     --  Teachers Insurance Company
     --  Horace Mann Lloyds
     --  Horace Mann Life Insurance Company



     The following debt ratings have been affirmed:

     Horace Mann Educators Corporation--
     -- "bbb-" on $100 million 6.625% senior notes, due 2006
     -- "bbb-" on $353.5 million 3% convertible notes, due 2032


     A.M. Best Co., established in 1899, is the world's oldest and most
authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information,
visit A.M. Best's Web site at www.ambest.com.
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