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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:   February 17, 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

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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 February 17, 2004 reporting financial
                    results for the three and twelve month periods ended
                    December 31, 2003.

Item 12: Disclosure of Results of Operations and Financial Condition

     On February 17, 2004, Horace Mann Educators Corporation issued a press
release reporting its financial results for the three and twelve month periods
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: February 17, 2004

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