Debt	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	Debt Issuance of long-term debt: On September 27, 2018, Torchmark completed the issuance and sale of $550 million in aggregate principal of Torchmark’s 4.55% Senior Notes due September 15, 2028. The notes were sold pursuant to Torchmark’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3. The net proceeds from the sale of the notes were $543 million, after giving effect to the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by Torchmark. Torchmark used the net proceeds from the sale of the notes to redeem the $293 million outstanding principal amount on Torchmark’s 9.25% Senior Notes on October 29, 2018, the payment of $10.7 million for the make-whole premium plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption of such Senior Notes, and to fund $150 million of additional capital to its insurance subsidiaries. Torchmark intends to use any remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include additional holding company liquidity and the repayment of a portion of Torchmark’s outstanding commercial paper.

Debt

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Issuance of long-term debt: On September 27, 2018, Torchmark completed the issuance and sale of $550 million in aggregate principal of Torchmark’s 4.55% Senior Notes due September 15, 2028. The notes were sold pursuant to Torchmark’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3. The net proceeds from the sale of the notes were $543 million, after giving effect to the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by Torchmark. Torchmark used the net proceeds from the sale of the notes to redeem the $293 million outstanding principal amount on Torchmark’s 9.25% Senior Notes on October 29, 2018, the payment of $10.7 million for the make-whole premium plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption of such Senior Notes, and to fund $150 million of additional capital to its insurance subsidiaries. Torchmark intends to use any remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include additional holding company liquidity and the repayment of a portion of Torchmark’s outstanding commercial paper.