Name:	emci_AffiliatedReinsuranceContractFirstLayerCoinsuranceRate
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The Company's limit specified for the first layer in a ceded reinsurance contract between the Company and an affiliate.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_AffiliatedReinsuranceContractFirstLayerLimit
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The Company's retention amount specified in a ceded reinsurance contract between the Company and an affiliate.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_AffiliatedReinsuranceContractRetention
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The Company's coinsurance percentage specified for the second layer in a ceded reinsurance contract between the Company and an affiliate.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_AffiliatedReinsuranceContractSecondLayerCoinsuranceRate
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The Company's limit specified for the second layer in a ceded reinsurance contract between the Company and an affiliate.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_AffiliatedReinsuranceContractSecondLayerLimit
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Represents losses and settlement expenses assumed.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_AssumedLossesAndSettlementExpensesIncurred
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Represents earned premium assumed from EMC through the quota share agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_AssumedQuotaShareEarnedPremium
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Refers to the amount a catastrophe event must be greater than to be subject to the terms of the treaty.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_CatastropheEventMinimumAmount
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents losses and settlement expenses ceded.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_CededLossesAndSettlementExpensesIncurred
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Refers to amount of commissions paid by the reinsurance subsidiary to Employers Mutual.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_CommissionsPaidByReinsuranceSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Refers to cost allocation to the Company not through the pooling agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_CostAllocationByParentToSubsidiaryNotInPoolingAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Refers to cost allocation to the Company through the pooling agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_CostAllocationToSubsidiaryFromPoolingAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Refers to the dollar amount of cost of affiliated reinsurance contract.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_DollarAmountofCostofAffiliatedReinsuranceContract
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Refers to the dollar amount of cost of protection provided by Industry Loss Warranties purchased by the reinsurance subsidiary.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_DollarAmountofCostofProtectionProvidedbyIndustryLossWarranties
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

From affiliates, the aggregate foreign currency transaction gain (loss) (both realized and unrealized) included in determining net income for the reporting period. Excludes foreign currency transactions designated as hedges of net investment in a foreign entity and intercompany foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term nature, when the entities to the transaction are consolidated, combined, or accounted for by the equity method in the reporting enterprise's financial statements. For certain enterprises, primarily banks, that are dealers in foreign exchange, foreign currency transaction gains (losses) may be disclosed as dealer gains (losses).

No definition available.

Name:	emci_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTaxFromAffiliates
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Refers to amount of investment expenses allocated to the company by Employers Mutual.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_InvestmentExpensesAllocatedToCompany
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Refers to number of reinsurance treaties in the reinsurance program between the business segment and the Company's parent.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_NumberOfReinsuranceProgramTreaties
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Refers to percentage of cost of protection to total assumed reinsurance premiums written under an affiliated ceded reinsurance contract.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_PercentageAsCostOfProtectionToAssumedReinsurancePremiumsWrittenAffiliated
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Refers to percentage of pool participation for the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_PercentageOfPoolParticipation
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Refers to the percentage applied to business assumed by the reinsurance subsidiary through the quota share agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_QuotaSharePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Refers to the amount of reinstatement premium income (net after cession back to Employers Mutual) recognized through the quota share agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	emci_ReinstatementPremiumIncomeQuotaShare
Namespace Prefix:	emci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of earned premiums ceded to other entities.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 605
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b),(c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 605
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486662&loc=d3e27175-158546

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 235
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574992-122915

Name:	us-gaap_CededPremiumsEarned
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized and unrealized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450222&loc=d3e30840-110895

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450189&loc=d3e30700-110894

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450189&loc=d3e30690-110894

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

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.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_PropertyLiabilityAndCasualtyInsuranceSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=emci_ReinsuranceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	emci_ReinsuranceTreatiesAxis=emci_AnnualAggregateCatastropheExcessofLossMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: