Note 7. Reinsurance (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	May 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Due from reinsurers					$ 278,242	$ 380,229
Other assets					57,126	78,712
Madison National Life Subsidiaries Member | Madison National Life Coinsurance Transaction With Guggenheim Life and Annuity
Material Nonrecurring Reinsurance Transactions	Effective May 31, 2013, Madison National Life entered into a coinsurance agreement with an unaffiliated reinsurer, Guggenheim Life and Annuity Company, to cede approximately $218,633,000 of life and annuity reserves and, in accordance with its terms, transferred net cash and other assets, with an aggregate value of $215,137,000, to the reinsurer during the second quarter of 2013. As a result of this transaction, the Company: (i) recorded estimated amounts due from reinsurers of $218,296,000; (ii) recorded $6,643,000 of estimated deferred expenses (included in other assets) which will be amortized over the life of the underlying reinsured contracts; and (iii) wrote-off $9,307,000 of deferred acquisition costs associated with this block of policies. The write-off was more than offset by gains realized by the Company in the transaction, most of which resulted from the required sale and transfer of invested assets. During 2014, a large portion of the reserves were transferred to the reinsurer in accordance with the terms of an assumption agreement.
Madison National Life Subsidiaries Member | Madison National Life Coinsurance Transaction With Guggenheim Life and Annuity | Life and Annuity Insurance Product Line
Liability for Future Policy Benefits, Portion Ceded	218,633
Payments For Reinsurance Under Coinsurance Agreement		215,137
Due from reinsurers	218,296
Other assets	6,643
Deferred Policy Acquisition Cost, Amortization Expense, Effect of Adjustments to Estimated Gross Profit	9,307
Standard Security Life Subsidiaries Member | Standard Security Life Coinsurance Transaction with First Security Benefit
Material Nonrecurring Reinsurance Transactions			Effective January 26, 2012, Standard Security Life entered into a coinsurance agreement with an unaffiliated reinsurer, First Security Benefit Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York, to cede group annuity reserves. In accordance with the agreement, Standard Security Life transferred $143,537,000 of cash in the first quarter of 2012 and recorded a corresponding amount as due from reinsurers. The Company received final approval from the New York State Insurance Department to convert the transfer from a coinsurance to an assumption agreement which contractually relieves Standard Security Life of liability with regards to the policies. During the third quarter of 2012, a significant portion of the reserves were assumed by the reinsurer.
Standard Security Life Subsidiaries Member | Standard Security Life Coinsurance Transaction with First Security Benefit | Life and Annuity Insurance Product Line
Payments For Reinsurance Under Coinsurance Agreement				$ 143,537