COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 item	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Future minimum rental payments required under operating leases
Outstanding mortgage loan commitments	$ 182,600,000	$ 182,400,000
Average rate (as a percent)	5.10%	5.58%
Estimated income tax payment if the IRS prevails on every issue identified in audit and the entity does not litigate these issues	26,600,000
Number of auditors from whom notice has been received	2
Number of blocks of life insurance policies	1
Administrative and marketing office space
Operating leased assets
Number of cities in which the company leases properties	20
Aggregate annualized rent	7,100,000	6,800,000	6,900,000
Future minimum rental payments required under operating leases
2013	6,948,000
2014	5,462,000
2015	4,229,000
2016	2,664,000
2017	740,000
Thereafter	235,000
Administrative and marketing office space | Minimum
Operating leased assets
Lease period	3 years
Administrative and marketing office space | Maximum
Operating leased assets
Lease period	10 years
Administrative and Marketing Office Space Birmingham excluding Home Office
Operating leased assets
Area leased in Birmingham (in square feet)	24,090
Building contiguous to home office
Future minimum rental payments required under operating leases
2013	679,000
2014	75,065,000
Approximate price for which the company may purchase building at the end of lease term	$ 75,000,000