Schedule II Condensed Cash Flows (Parent Only) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities		$ 254,572	$ 393,816	$ 1,027,561
Fixed maturity securities available for sale		2,380,789	1,887,983	2,582,731
Equity securities available for sale		181,918	109,233	236,730
Property and equipment and other		3,448	172	1,422
Subsidiary	[1]	49,906	0	0
Fixed maturity securities available for sale		(2,747,392)	(2,472,494)	(3,396,588)
Equity securities available for sale		(185,025)	(132,748)	(215,881)
Other invested assets		(29,305)	(41,653)	(57,001)
Property and equipment and other		(114,896)	(83,603)	(52,326)
Change in short-term investments		(196,747)	93,571	(173,603)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		264,293	63,889	(392,738)
Issuance of debt		0	0	698,093
Repurchase of debt		0	0	(33,634)
Repayment of debt		0	(467,330)	0
Change in tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements		(4,067)	14,900	(1,112)
Acquisition of common stock		(292,906)	(215,183)	(393,012)
Dividends paid		(94,168)	(77,495)	(74,128)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(487,127)	(776,199)	196,699
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(56,231)	(28,126)	(23,742)
Change in cash and cash equivalents		(30,351)	(398,528)	807,780
Cash and cash equivalents		1,288,305	1,318,656	1,717,184	$ 909,404
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities		649,345	397,665	440,598
Fixed maturity securities available for sale		442,777	444,589	394,997
Equity securities available for sale		32,297	8,895	19,315
Other invested assets		447	0	0
Property and equipment and other		35	0	41
Subsidiary		3	0	0
Fixed maturity securities available for sale		20,167	45,145	69,156
Fixed maturity securities available for sale		(461,709)	(253,866)	(314,864)
Equity securities available for sale		(13,288)	(9,433)	(15,557)
Other invested assets		(2,649)	(4,134)	(152)
Property and equipment and other		(47,542)	(49,569)	(29,635)
Capital contributed to subsidiaries		(439,476)	(453,700)	(323,600)
Return of capital contributions from subsidiaries		172,391	205,250	174,277
Change in short-term investments		4,977	115,856	(118,123)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(291,570)	49,033	(144,145)
Issuance of debt		0	0	698,093
Repurchase of debt		0	0	(33,634)
Repayment of debt		0	(467,330)	0
Change in tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements		(4,067)	14,900	(1,112)
Acquisition of common stock		(292,906)	(215,183)	(393,012)
Dividends paid		(94,168)	(77,495)	(74,128)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(391,141)	(745,108)	196,207
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		0	50	(49)
Cash included in held for sale assets		(4,677)	0	0
Change in cash and cash equivalents		(38,043)	(298,360)	492,611
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 354,146	$ 392,189	$ 690,549	$ 197,938

[1] 2015 includes the sale of American Reliable Insurance Co. and certain assets related to our vehicle title administration services business and supplemental and small group self-funded businesses; the acquisition of Coast to Coast Services, Inc. and Rent Collect Global. 2014 includes the acquisition of StreetLinks, LLC, eMortgage Logic, LLC, CWI Group and other immaterial subsidiaries. 2013 includes the acquisition of Field Asset Services Group Limited and Lifestyle Services Group Limited.