8-K

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: September 30, 2004

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

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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 7.01: Regulation FD Disclosure

On September 30, 2004, Horace Mann Educators Corporation issued a press release regarding its estimated financial impact from Hurricanes Frances, Ivan and Jeanne and guidance on financial results for the year ended December 31, 2004. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01: Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits.

99.1	Glossary of Selected Terms
99.2	Press release dated September 30, 2004 regarding the Company’s estimated financial impact from Hurricanes Frances, Ivan and Jeanne and guidance on financial results for the year ended December 31, 2004.

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: September 30, 2004

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Glossary of Selected Terms

The following measures are used by the Company’s management to evaluate performance against historical results and establish targets on a consolidated basis. A number of these measures are components of net income but, in some cases, may be considered non-GAAP financial measures under applicable SEC rules because they are not displayed as separate line items in the consolidated statement of income, and in some cases, require inclusion or exclusion of certain items not ordinarily included or excluded in a GAAP financial measure. In the opinion of the Company’s management, a discussion of these measures provides investors with a better understanding of the significant factors that comprise the Company’s periodic results of operations.

Catastrophe losses - In categorizing property and casualty claims as being from a catastrophe, the Company utilizes the designations of the Insurance Services Office, Inc. (“ISO”) and reports amounts net of reinsurance recoverables and inclusive of related reinsurance reinstatement premiums. A catastrophe is a severe loss resulting from natural and man-made events within a particular territory, including risks such as fire, earthquake, windstorm, explosion, terrorism and other similar events, that causes $25 million or more in insured property and casualty losses for the industry and affects a significant number of property and casualty insurers and policyholders. Each catastrophe has unique characteristics. Catastrophes are not predictable as to timing or amount in advance, and therefore their effects are not included in earnings or claim and claim adjustment expense reserves prior to occurrence. In the opinion of the Company’s management, a discussion of the impact of catastrophes is meaningful for investors to understand the variability in periodic earnings.

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EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

[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

HURRICANES FRANCES, IVAN AND JEANNE

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., September 30, 2004 — Horace Mann Educators Corporation (NYSE:HMN) estimates its financial impact from Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Ivan, net of anticipated reinsurance, will total approximately $23 to $26 million pretax. In addition, the company affirmed its previously announced pretax cost estimate for Hurricane Charley, net of reinsurance, of approximately $12 to $14 million. In each case, the estimates reflect anticipated recoveries from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund and from Horace Mann’s underlying catastrophe reinsurance program.

The claim reporting and adjusting process for Hurricane Jeanne is in a very preliminary stage and has been more difficult for claimants and adjusters, given the multiple events and current degree of property destruction in Florida. Horace Mann’s ability to estimate its net losses from this event is further complicated by the impact of loss estimates from the three prior events on the amount of catastrophe reinsurance coverage that would be available for Hurricane Jeanne. Current company estimates, however, project net pretax losses from Hurricane Jeanne at between $15 and $25 million. The higher level of estimated losses for Jeanne, compared to Charley, Frances and Ivan, is due to the anticipated reduction in coverage from the lower two layers of the company’s catastrophe reinsurance program due to estimated recoveries from the prior three events.

“Horace Mann’s favorable non-catastrophe property and casualty underwriting results in 2004 have continued into the third quarter,” said Louis G. Lower II, President and Chief Executive Officer. “That, along with a relatively low level of catastrophe losses in the first half of the year, enabled Horace Mann to recently confirm our previous full year 2004 guidance for net income before realized investment gains and losses of between $1.45 and $1.55 per share in spite of loss estimates from Hurricane Charley,” Lower continued. “However, given the three unprecedented subsequent events, which bring the total estimated net cost of the four hurricanes to between $50 and $65 million pretax, projected catastrophe losses are now well above our previous expectations for 2004 and above levels experienced by the company in any year in its 60 year history. As a result, we are reducing our estimated 2004 net income before realized investment gains and losses to between $0.85 and $1.00 per share.”

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Horace Mann is scheduled to announce third quarter financial results the week of November 1, at which time further details related to its catastrophe loss estimates and earnings guidance will be provided.

“For people in Florida and other parts of the southeast to experience the destruction of four powerful storms in such a short period of time is certainly a test of their resilience,” said Lower. “Horace Mann customers can be assured that we are continuing to make every effort to exceed their expectations and to ensure timely and equitable claim settlements.”

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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