Note 8. Reinsurance (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2015	May. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Due from reinsurers				$ 480,859	$ 278,242
Other assets				$ 64,505	$ 65,636
Coinsurance And Sale Transaction With National Guardian Life Insurance Company Member
Material Nonrecurring Reinsurance Transactions	On July 31, 2015, Madison National Life and Standard Security Life together entered into a coinsurance and sale agreement with an unaffiliated reinsurer, National Guardian Life Insurance Company (“NGL”), to: (i) cede substantially all of their individual life and annuity policy blocks currently in run-off; and (ii) sell the related infrastructure associated with the administration of such policies. The Company transferred $207,964,000 of cash to NGL, net of the aggregate consideration of $42,000,000 for the coinsurance and sale transaction. As a result of this transaction, the Company: (i) recorded $234,740,000 of estimated amounts due from reinsurers; (ii) recorded a $31,192,000 decrease in deferred acquisition costs associated with the ceded policies; (iii) recorded a $9,866,000 decrease in policy loans; (iv) recorded $7,686,000 of estimated costs of reinsurance (included in other assets) which will be amortized over the life of the underlying reinsured contracts; and (v) recognized a $5,053,000 pre-tax gain (included in other income) on the sale of the assets associated with the administration of the ceded policies, net of disposal costs.
Payment To Reinsurer For Coinsurance And Sale Transaction	$ 207,964
Purchase Price Received	42,000
Due from reinsurers	234,740
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Period Increase (Decrease)	(31,192)
Increase (Decrease) in Policy Loans Receivable	(9,866)
Other assets	7,686
Coinsurance And Sale Transaction With National Guardian Life Insurance Company Member | Other Income
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Other Assets	$ 5,053
Madison National Life Coinsurance Transaction With Guggenheim Life And Annuity Member
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 Coinsurance Transaction With Guggenheim Life And Annuity Member | Life and Annuity Insurance Product Line
Due from reinsurers		$ 218,296
Other assets		6,643
Liability for Future Policy Benefits, Portion Ceded		218,633
Payments For Reinsurance Under Coinsurance Agreement			$ 215,137
Deferred Policy Acquisition Cost, Amortization Expense, Effect of Adjustments to Estimated Gross Profit		$ 9,307