Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Litigation: Torchmark and its subsidiaries, in common with the insurance industry in general, are subject to litigation involving various matters where we are either the defendant or the plaintiff. Torchmark subsidiaries are also currently the subject of audits regarding the identification, reporting and escheatment of unclaimed property arising from life insurance policies and a limited number of annuity contracts. In each of these matters, based upon information presently available, management does not believe that such litigation or audits will have a material adverse effect on Torchmark’s financial condition, future operating results or liquidity. On February 1, 2018, putative class action litigation was filed against American Income Life Insurance Company in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division (Bruce v. American Income Life Insurance Company, et al., Case No. 3:18-cv-00258-G). The plaintiff, a former insurance sales agent of American Income who is suing on behalf of all current and former American Income sales agents contracted through State General Agent Stephen Jubrey’s agency office at any time since January 31, 2015 through the final disposition of this matter, asserts that such agents are employees rather than independent contractors as they are classified by American Income. He alleges failure to pay minimum wages, overtime wages and other applicable monies in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act. The plaintiff seeks, in a jury trial, actual and punitive damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees, costs and other relief, including injunctive relief. On February 27, 2018, the Company filed a motion to compel arbitration of this matter and on July 27, 2018, the Court granted the Company’s motion. On September 12, 2018, putative class action litigation was filed against American Income Life Insurance Company in California’s Contra Costa County Superior Court (Joh v. American Income Life Insurance Company, Case No. C18-01863). The plaintiff, a former insurance sales agent of American Income, is suing on behalf of all current and former sales agents who sold insurance for American Income in the state of California for the last four years prior to the filing of the complaint. The complaint alleges that sales agents are employees and asserts claims under the California Labor Code and California Business and Professions Code. The complaint seeks compensatory damages, penalties and attorney fees on claims for failure to pay wages/commissions, failure to appropriately pay agents at termination, failure to provide itemized wage statements, failure to reimburse expenses and unfair business practices. The Company continues to assess the amount and thus does not have a reasonable estimate of any potential liability. On October 18, 2018, putative class action litigation was filed against Torchmark Corporation and American Income Life Insurance Company in California’s Los Angeles County Superior Court (Golz v. American Income Life Insurance Company, et al Case No. 18STCV01354). The complaint alleges that the putative class members are employees and asserts claims under the California Labor Code, California Business and Professions Code, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. The complaint alleges that plaintiff was an American Income insurance agent trainee in California who seeks to represent classes of individuals whom American Income classified as independent contractors during the class periods alleged. One class period based on California Labor Code claims is alleged to begin four years prior to the complaint’s filing. Another class period, which is based on the Fair Labor Standards Act claim, is alleged to begin three years prior to the complaint’s filing and is pleaded as a national class. The complaint seeks compensatory damages, penalties, and attorney fees on claims for failure to pay wages due, failure to appropriately pay wages at termination, failure to provide itemized wage statements, and unfair business practices. The Company continues to assess the amount and thus does not have a reasonable estimate of any potential liability. With respect to current litigation, at this time management believes that the possibility of a material judgment adverse to Torchmark is remote, and no estimate of range can be made for loss contingencies that are at least reasonably possible but not accrued. Guarantees: Torchmark has guaranteed letters of credit in connection with its credit facility with a group of banks. The letters of credit were issued by TMK Re, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary, to secure TMK Re, Ltd.’s obligation for claims on certain policies reinsured by TMK Re, Ltd. that were sold by other Torchmark insurance companies. These letters of credit facilitate TMK Re, Ltd.’s ability to reinsure the business of Torchmark’s insurance carriers. The agreement expires in 2021. The maximum amount of letters of credit available is $250 million. Torchmark would be liable to the extent that TMK Re, Ltd. does not pay the reinsured party. On March 14, 2018, the letters of credit were amended to reduce the current amount outstanding to $155 million from $177 million as of December 31, 2017.

Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation:

Torchmark and its subsidiaries, in common with the insurance industry in general, are subject to litigation involving various matters where we are either the defendant or the plaintiff. Torchmark subsidiaries are also currently the subject of audits regarding the identification, reporting and escheatment of unclaimed property arising from life insurance policies and a limited number of annuity contracts. In each of these matters, based upon information presently available, management does not believe that such litigation or audits will have a material adverse effect on Torchmark’s financial condition, future operating results or liquidity.

On February 1, 2018, putative class action litigation was filed against American Income Life Insurance Company in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division (Bruce v. American Income Life Insurance Company, et al., Case No. 3:18-cv-00258-G). The plaintiff, a former insurance sales agent of American Income who is suing on behalf of all current and former American Income sales agents contracted through State General Agent Stephen Jubrey’s agency office at any time since January 31, 2015 through the final disposition of this matter, asserts that such agents are employees rather than independent contractors as they are classified by American Income. He alleges failure to pay minimum wages, overtime wages and other applicable monies in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act. The plaintiff seeks, in a jury trial, actual and punitive damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees, costs and other relief, including injunctive relief. On February 27, 2018, the Company filed a motion to compel arbitration of this matter and on July 27, 2018, the Court granted the Company’s motion.

On September 12, 2018, putative class action litigation was filed against American Income Life Insurance Company in California’s Contra Costa County Superior Court (Joh v. American Income Life Insurance Company, Case No. C18-01863). The plaintiff, a former insurance sales agent of American Income, is suing on behalf of all current and former sales agents who sold insurance for American Income in the state of California for the last four years prior to the filing of the complaint. The complaint alleges that sales agents are employees and asserts claims under the California Labor Code and California Business and Professions Code. The complaint seeks compensatory damages, penalties and attorney fees on claims for failure to pay wages/commissions, failure to appropriately pay agents at termination, failure to provide itemized wage statements, failure to reimburse expenses and unfair business practices. The Company continues to assess the amount and thus does not have a reasonable estimate of any potential liability.

On October 18, 2018, putative class action litigation was filed against Torchmark Corporation and American Income Life Insurance Company in California’s Los Angeles County Superior Court (Golz v. American Income Life Insurance Company, et al Case No. 18STCV01354). The complaint alleges that the putative class members are employees and asserts claims under the California Labor Code, California Business and Professions Code, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. The complaint alleges that plaintiff was an American Income insurance agent trainee in California who seeks to represent classes of individuals whom American Income classified as independent contractors during the class periods alleged. One class period based on California Labor Code claims is alleged to begin four years prior to the complaint’s filing. Another class period, which is based on the Fair Labor Standards Act claim, is alleged to begin three years prior to the complaint’s filing and is pleaded as a national class. The complaint seeks compensatory damages, penalties, and attorney fees on claims for failure to pay wages due, failure to appropriately pay wages at termination, failure to provide itemized wage statements, and unfair business practices. The Company continues to assess the amount and thus does not have a reasonable estimate of any potential liability.

With respect to current litigation, at this time management believes that the possibility of a material judgment adverse to Torchmark is remote, and no estimate of range can be made for loss contingencies that are at least reasonably possible but not accrued.

Guarantees:

Torchmark has guaranteed letters of credit in connection with its credit facility with a group of banks. The letters of credit were issued by TMK Re, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary, to secure TMK Re, Ltd.’s obligation for claims on certain policies reinsured by TMK Re, Ltd. that were sold by other Torchmark insurance companies. These letters of credit facilitate TMK Re, Ltd.’s ability to reinsure the business of Torchmark’s insurance carriers. The agreement expires in 2021. The maximum amount of letters of credit available is $250 million. Torchmark would be liable to the extent that TMK Re, Ltd. does not pay the reinsured party. On March 14, 2018, the letters of credit were amended to reduce the current amount outstanding to $155 million from $177 million as of December 31, 2017.