INVESTMENT OPERATIONS (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Investment operations
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments recorded	$ 1,340,000	$ 34,420,000
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments recorded in earnings	4,584,000	18,764,000
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments recorded in other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,244,000)	15,656,000
Fixed income securities
Investment operations
Other-than-temporary impairments related to debt or equity securities that the Company intended to sell or expected to be required to sell	0	0
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments recorded	1,300,000	34,400,000
Impairments of investments	300,000
Credit losses on debt securities
Beginning balance	122,121,000	69,719,000
Additions for newly impaired securities	997,000	15,854,000
Additions for previously impaired securities	1,486,000	2,779,000
Ending balance	124,604,000	88,352,000
Equity securities
Investment operations
Other-than-temporary impairments related to debt or equity securities that the Company intended to sell or expected to be required to sell	0	0
Impairments of investments	$ 1,000,000