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: October 13, 2005

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. Horace Mann is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. It is important to note that the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Please refer to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 and the Company’s past and future filings and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for information concerning the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

Item 8.01: Other Events

On October 13, 2005, Horace Mann Educators Corporation issued a press release regarding 1) its estimated financial impact from Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita and other catastrophic storms which occurred during the third quarter of 2005 and 2) guidance on financial results for the year ended December 31, 2005. 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

(d) Exhibits.

99.1	Glossary of Selected Terms
99.2	Press release dated October 13, 2005 regarding the Company’s 1) estimated financial impact from Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita and other catastrophic storms which occurred during the third quarter of 2005 and 2) guidance on financial results for the year ended December 31, 2005.

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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: October 13, 2005

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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 Operations, 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 is meaningful to provide investors with an understanding of the significant factors that comprise the Company’s periodic results of operations.

Catastrophe costs – The sum of catastrophe losses and property and casualty catastrophe reinsurance reinstatement premiums.

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 loss and loss adjustment expense amounts net of reinsurance recoverables. 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.

Prior Years’ Reserve Development - A measure which the Company reports for its property and casualty segment which identifies the increase or decrease in net incurred claim and claim adjustment expense reserves at successive valuation dates for claims which occurred in previous calendar years. In the opinion of the Company’s management, a discussion of prior years’ loss reserve development is useful to investors as it allows them to assess the impact on current period earnings of incurred claims experience from the current calendar year and previous calendar years.

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EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

[Horace Mann Educators Corporation logo]

Contact:

Dwayne D. Hallman

Senior Vice President - Finance

Horace Mann Educators Corporation

(217) 788-5708

www.horacemann.com

HORACE MANN ESTIMATES IMPACT OF

HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA, LOWERS 2005 EARNINGS ESTIMATE

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., October 13, 2005 — Horace Mann Educators Corporation (NYSE:HMN) estimates its financial impact from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will total approximately $29 million to $33 million pretax, net of anticipated reinsurance recoveries. Hurricane Katrina, with estimated gross losses of $65 million to $75 million, represents the largest portion of this cost at approximately $21 million to $23 million pretax, net of anticipated reinsurance. Pretax losses from Hurricane Rita, which occurred in late September, are estimated to be approximately $8 million to $10 million. In addition to these two events, the company estimates third quarter losses of approximately $10 million to $12 million pretax from other catastrophic storms.

These amounts represent the estimated net losses both from claims reported to the company and from future expected claims from policyholders with hurricane damage, as well as estimated reinsurance reinstatement costs following Hurricane Katrina. These estimates are based upon information received through October 11, 2005 on claims that have been settled, on-site evaluations by loss adjusters and loss estimates from catastrophe modeling. Due to the magnitude and complexity of Hurricane Katrina, including limited access to certain portions of the affected areas, the preliminary nature of the information used to prepare the estimate and an uncertain legal and regulatory environment, there can be no assurance that the ultimate costs associated with this and other catastrophic events will not exceed the company’s current estimates. These estimates will be refined as necessary, as additional information becomes available.

Also impacting Horace Mann’s third quarter financial results is the elimination of contingent tax liability amounts related to tax years 1998 through 2001, which were deemed closed as of September 15, 2005. As a result, the company will record a decrease in federal income tax expense of approximately $6.4 million in the third quarter of 2005.

“In addition to the income tax benefit, Horace Mann’s favorable non-catastrophe property and casualty underwriting results in 2005 have continued into the third quarter, and preliminary analysis also indicates continued favorable development of property and casualty claim reserves for prior years,” said Louis G. Lower II, President and Chief Executive Officer.

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“Nonetheless, in light of the significant level of catastrophe losses experienced this quarter, we are reducing our estimated 2005 full year net income before realized investment gains and losses to between $1.70 and $1.80 per share, compared to our previous guidance of $1.80 to $1.90 per share,” Lower stated.

Horace Mann is scheduled to announce third quarter financial results on November 2, 2005, at which time further details related to its catastrophe loss estimates and earnings guidance will be provided.

“The devastation experienced by the people effected by these catastrophes is a test of their resilience,” said Lower. “Horace Mann customers can be assured that we are continuing to make every effort to ensure timely and equitable claim settlements.”

Horace Mann — the largest national multiline insurance company focusing on educators’ financial needs — provides auto and homeowners insurance, retirement annuities, life insurance and other financial solutions. Founded by educators for educators in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Ill. 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 is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Please refer to the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 and the company’s past and future filings and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for information concerning the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

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