Investments - Schedule of OTTI Recognized in Earnings for AFS Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Line Items]
Total OTTI losses recognized	$ 1,700	$ 3,420	$ 6,893
Less portion of OTTI recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	147
OTTI recognized in earnings	1,553	3,420	6,893
Does not intend to sell or more-likely-than-not will not be required to sell [Member]
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Line Items]
Total OTTI losses recognized	1,476	1,486	706
Less portion of OTTI recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	147
OTTI recognized in earnings	1,329	1,486	706
Intends to sell or more-likely-than-not will be required to sell before recovery [Member]
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Line Items]
OTTI recognized in earnings	$ 224	$ 1,934	$ 6,187

The amount by which the fair value of an investment is less than the amortized cost basis or carrying amount of that investment at the balance sheet date and the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary, before considering whether or not such amount is recognized in earnings or other comprehensive income.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 34
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82895926&loc=d3e25351-111560

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before tax of other than temporary impairment (OTTI) on investment in available-for-sale debt security, recognized in other comprehensive loss.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 35
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82895926&loc=d3e25362-111560

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAvailableforsaleSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of other than temporary impairment losses on investments in debt and equity securities categorized as Available-for-sale which have been recognized in earnings during the period. Such impairment losses consist of other than temporary impairments (OTTI) on equity securities, credit losses on investments in debt securities, and when the entity intends to sell an impaired debt security or it is more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the impaired debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82896770&loc=SL6284422-111562

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetAvailableforsaleSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentAxis=pri_DoesNotIntendToSellOrMoreLikelyThanNotWillNotBeRequiredToSellMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentAxis=pri_IntendsToSellOrMoreLikelyThanNotWillBeRequiredToSellBeforeRecoveryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: