Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating activities
Net income	$ 107,219	$ 113,473	$ 109,869
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Interest credited to account balances	153,856	152,467	149,528
Charges for mortality, surrenders and administration	(111,792)	(108,250)	(105,100)
Net realized (gains) losses on investments	1,763	(10,489)	(2,938)
Change in the fair value of derivatives	(828)	(1,098)	(1,353)
Increase in traditional life and accident and health benefit liabilities	91,080	76,474	65,999
Deferral of acquisition costs	(42,553)	(43,215)	(41,409)
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of insurnace in force	30,898	38,306	37,171
Change in reinsurance recoverable	(1,392)	(2,651)	(1,246)
Provision for deferred income taxes	9,550	6,840	7,774
Other	1,993	3,053	(9,537)
Net cash provided by operating activities	239,794	224,910	208,758
Sales, maturities or repayments:
Fixed maturities - available for sale	539,657	615,811	511,246
Equity securities - available for sale	5,532	14,921	1,840
Mortgage loans	81,425	42,429	43,634
Derivative instruments	2,987	3,899	1,760
Policy loans	35,458	35,406	33,704
Securities and indebtedness of related parties	10,086	27,789	2,997
Other investments	171	0	0
Acquisitions:
Fixed maturities - available for sale	(829,184)	(871,406)	(777,547)
Equity securities - available for sale	(11,057)	(23,833)	(19,178)
Mortgage loans	(160,005)	(155,815)	(96,623)
Derivative instruments	(6,847)	(4,122)	(2,399)
Policy loans	(37,928)	(38,688)	(39,213)
Securities and indebtedness of related parties	(17,927)	(26,213)	(20,317)
Short-term investments, net change	11,903	20,334	60,092
Purchases and disposals of property and equipment, net	(11,787)	(9,869)	(8,639)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(387,516)	(369,357)	(308,643)
Financing activities
Contract holder account deposits	600,383	586,072	608,435
Contract holder account withdrawals	(344,664)	(415,262)	(396,795)
Proceeds from the issuance of short-term debt	0	15,000	0
Repayments of debt	(15,000)	0	0
Receipts related to noncontrolling interests, net	12	64	60
Excess tax deductions on stock-based compensation	846	1,362	1,199
Issuance (repurchase) of common stock, net	1,840	(584)	(8,003)
Dividends paid	(91,602)	(89,347)	(34,749)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	151,815	97,305	170,147
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	4,093	(47,142)	70,262
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	29,490	76,632	6,370
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	33,583	29,490	76,632
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid during the period for interest	(4,854)	(4,850)	(4,850)
Cash paid during the period for income taxes	$ (20,894)	$ (27,701)	$ (22,802)