Fair Value, Option, Gain (Loss) Recognized

No definition available.

Name:	gl_FairValueOptionGainLossRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	gl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair Value, Option, Gain (Loss) Recognized Due To Sales

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gl_FairValueOptionGainLossRecognizedDueToSales
Namespace Prefix:	gl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisValuationTechniquesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For each line item in the statement of financial position, the amounts of gains and losses from fair value changes included in earnings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 30
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75031198&loc=d3e14172-108612

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueOptionChangesInFairValueGainLoss1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value portion of investment securities, including, but not limited to, marketable securities, derivative financial instruments, and investments accounted for under the equity method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=gl_PartnershipInterestFairValueOptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Investments Investments - Fair Value Option (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Net Gains and Losses Recognized During the Period	$ 197	$ 2,405
Less Net Gains and Losses Recognized due to Sales	0	0
Total Changes in Fair Values Included in Current-Period Earnings	197	$ 2,405
Partnership Interest - Fair Value Option
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Limited partnerships, fair value	184,466		$ 108,241
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) \| Partnership Interest - Fair Value Option
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Limited partnerships, fair value	0		0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Partnership Interest - Fair Value Option
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Limited partnerships, fair value	184,466		108,241
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) \| Partnership Interest - Fair Value Option
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Limited partnerships, fair value	$ 0		$ 0