Schedule III - Supplementary Insurance Information: Schedule III - Supplementary Insurance Information Table (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Supplementary Insurance Information, Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs	$ 33,401		$ 37,101		$ 43,465
Supplementary Insurance Information, Liability for Future Policy Benefits, Losses, Claims and Loss Expense Reserves	762,802		901,881		896,343
Supplementary Insurance Information, Unearned Premiums	8,453		4,319		4,043
Supplementary Insurance Information, Premium Revenue	356,067		336,414		326,146
Supplementary Insurance Information, Net Investment Income	33,356	[1]	39,788	[1]	41,801	[1]
Supplementary Insurance Information, Benefits, Claims, Losses and Settlement Expense	244,791		238,862		251,318
Supplementary Insurance Information, Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs	6,566		11,569		6,243
Supplementary Insurance Information, Other Operating Expense	149,999	[2]	147,102	[2]	139,643	[2]
Supplementary Insurance Information, Premiums Written	359,617		337,468		325,885
Medical Stop-Loss Segment Member
Supplementary Insurance Information, Liability for Future Policy Benefits, Losses, Claims and Loss Expense Reserves	59,029		58,741		64,339
Supplementary Insurance Information, Premium Revenue	139,724		114,478		121,156
Supplementary Insurance Information, Net Investment Income	4,990	[1]	4,399	[1]	4,080	[1]
Supplementary Insurance Information, Benefits, Claims, Losses and Settlement Expense	90,406		75,490		89,968
Supplementary Insurance Information, Other Operating Expense	40,154	[2]	39,024	[2]	38,808	[2]
Supplementary Insurance Information, Premiums Written	139,724		114,478		121,156
Fully Insured Segment Member
Supplementary Insurance Information, Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs	48		65		87
Supplementary Insurance Information, Liability for Future Policy Benefits, Losses, Claims and Loss Expense Reserves	41,034		32,508		34,540
Supplementary Insurance Information, Unearned Premiums	6,897		1,471		1,452
Supplementary Insurance Information, Premium Revenue	141,546		141,322		120,818
Supplementary Insurance Information, Net Investment Income	1,733	[1]	1,429	[1]	1,454	[1]
Supplementary Insurance Information, Benefits, Claims, Losses and Settlement Expense	94,700		89,040		81,676
Supplementary Insurance Information, Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs	17		21		28
Supplementary Insurance Information, Other Operating Expense	72,415	[2]	71,147	[2]	65,854	[2]
Supplementary Insurance Information, Premiums Written	145,202		142,206		120,598
Group disability, life annuities and DBL Segment Member
Supplementary Insurance Information, Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs					4,015
Supplementary Insurance Information, Liability for Future Policy Benefits, Losses, Claims and Loss Expense Reserves	126,840		265,595		249,937
Supplementary Insurance Information, Unearned Premiums	1,347		2,565		2,336
Supplementary Insurance Information, Premium Revenue	49,315		50,698		55,828
Supplementary Insurance Information, Net Investment Income	2,618	[1]	9,495	[1]	9,668	[1]
Supplementary Insurance Information, Benefits, Claims, Losses and Settlement Expense	27,663		37,946		41,440
Supplementary Insurance Information, Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs			5,099		497
Supplementary Insurance Information, Other Operating Expense	15,779	[2]	15,598	[2]	17,389	[2]
Supplementary Insurance Information, Premiums Written	49,212		50,871		55,791
Individual life annuities and other Segment Member
Supplementary Insurance Information, Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs	33,353		37,036		39,363
Supplementary Insurance Information, Liability for Future Policy Benefits, Losses, Claims and Loss Expense Reserves	535,899		545,037		547,527
Supplementary Insurance Information, Unearned Premiums	209		283		255
Supplementary Insurance Information, Premium Revenue	25,482		29,916		28,344
Supplementary Insurance Information, Net Investment Income	23,475	[1]	23,492	[1]	25,839	[1]
Supplementary Insurance Information, Benefits, Claims, Losses and Settlement Expense	32,022		36,386		38,234
Supplementary Insurance Information, Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs	6,549		6,449		5,718
Supplementary Insurance Information, Other Operating Expense	13,731	[2]	14,879	[2]	12,472	[2]
Supplementary Insurance Information, Premiums Written	25,479		29,913		28,340
Corporate
Supplementary Insurance Information, Net Investment Income	540	[1]	973	[1]	760	[1]
Supplementary Insurance Information, Other Operating Expense	$ 7,920	[2]	$ 6,454	[2]	$ 5,120	[2]

[1] Net investment income is allocated between product lines based on the mean reserve method.

[2] Where possible, direct operating expenses are specifically identified and charged to product lines. Indirect expenses are allocated based on time studies; however, other acceptable methods of allocation might produce different results.