Stock-Based Compensation - Summary of Grant Contract and Vesting Periods (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Equity Option [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contract period	7 years
Equity Option [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contract period	10 years
Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan [Member] | Equity Option [Member] | Director [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contract period	7 years
Vesting period	6 months
Three Year Vesting Period [Member] | Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan [Member] | Equity Option [Member] | Employee [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contract period	7 years
Vesting period	3 years
Three Year Vesting Period [Member] | Previous Plan [Member] | Employee [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contract period	7 years
Five Year Vesting Period [Member] | Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan [Member] | Equity Option [Member] | Employee [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contract period	10 years
Vesting period	5 years
One-Half [Member] | Previous Plan [Member] | Equity Option [Member] | Employee [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	2 years
One-Half [Member] | Seven Year Grants [Member] | Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan [Member] | Equity Option [Member] | Employee [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	2 years
One-Half [Member] | Ten Year Grants [Member] | Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan [Member] | Equity Option [Member] | Employee [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	2 years
One-Half [Member] | Previous Plan [Member] | Equity Option [Member] | Employee [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	3 years
One-Half [Member] | Seven Year Grants [Member] | Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan [Member] | Equity Option [Member] | Employee [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	3 years
One-Half [Member] | Ten Year Grants [Member] | Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan [Member] | Equity Option [Member] | Employee [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	3 years
Six Month Vesting Period [Member] | Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan [Member] | Equity Option [Member] | Director [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	6 months
Six Month Vesting Period [Member] | Previous Plan [Member] | Director [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contract period	7 years
Six Month Vesting Period [Member] | Previous Plan [Member] | Equity Option [Member] | Director [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	6 months