Fair Value Measurements (Summarize Changes in Level 3 Assets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Beginning Balance	$ 182,255	$ 172,685
Earnings	29,065	22,332
Other Comprehensive Income	(31,735)	33,191
Purchases	15,540	42,361
Sales	(90,355)	(45,301)
Paydowns / Maturities	(22,318)	(17,113)
In	89	0
Out	0	(25,900)
Ending Balance	82,541	182,255
Equity Securities Available For Sale [Member]
Beginning Balance	91,005	56,272
Earnings	28,947	23,535
Other Comprehensive Income	(30,865)	31,633
Purchases	0	19,542
Sales	(75,225)	(39,977)
Paydowns / Maturities	0	0
In	0	0
Out	0	0
Ending Balance	13,862	91,005
Fixed Maturities Securities [Member]
Beginning Balance	88,063	116,060
Earnings	(454)	(850)
Other Comprehensive Income	(870)	1,558
Purchases	15,271	19,632
Sales	(11,864)	(5,324)
Paydowns / Maturities	(22,318)	(17,113)
In	0	0
Out	0	(25,900)
Ending Balance	67,828	88,063
Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities Securities [Member]
Beginning Balance		25,900
Earnings		0
Other Comprehensive Income		0
Purchases		0
Sales		0
Paydowns / Maturities		0
In		0
Out		(25,900)
Ending Balance		0
Corporate [Member] | Fixed Maturities Securities [Member]
Beginning Balance	88,063	90,160
Earnings	(454)	(850)
Other Comprehensive Income	(870)	1,558
Purchases	15,271	19,632
Sales	(11,864)	(5,324)
Paydowns / Maturities	(22,318)	(17,113)
In	0	0
Out	0	0
Ending Balance	67,828	88,063
Common Stocks [Member] | Equity Securities Available For Sale [Member]
Beginning Balance	1,559	1,559
Earnings	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income	0	0
Purchases	0	0
Sales	0	0
Paydowns / Maturities	0	0
In	0	0
Out	0	0
Ending Balance	1,559	1,559
Preferred Stocks [Member] | Equity Securities Available For Sale [Member]
Beginning Balance	89,446	54,713
Earnings	28,947	23,535
Other Comprehensive Income	(30,865)	31,633
Purchases	0	19,542
Sales	(75,225)	(39,977)
Paydowns / Maturities	0	0
In	0	0
Out	0	0
Ending Balance	12,303	89,446
Arbitrage Trading Account [Member]
Beginning Balance	3,187	353
Earnings	572	(353)
Other Comprehensive Income	0	0
Purchases	269	3,187
Sales	(3,266)	0
Paydowns / Maturities	0	0
In	89	0
Out	0	0
Ending Balance	851	3,187
Securities Sold But Not Yet Purchased [Member]
Beginning Balance	0
Earnings	40
Other Comprehensive Income	0
Purchases	67
Sales	(86)
Paydowns / Maturities	0
In	0
Out	0
Ending Balance	$ 21