Income Taxes (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Deferred tax asset
Deferred acquisition costs	$ 0	$ 0
Policyholder dividends	8,583	8,919
Net operating loss carryforward	96,693	113,637
Pension plan accrued benefit liability	83,562	79,945
Experience rated refunds	6,654	12,673
Tax credits	168,597	154,017
Other	19,592	19,385
Total deferred taxes	383,681	388,576
Deferred tax liability
Policyholder reserves	278,632	262,822
Deferred acquisition costs	28,071	8,533
Investment assets	233,583	221,303
Goodwill	35,306	33,034
Other	0	0
Total deferred taxes	575,592	$ 525,692
Subsidiary | Federal
Federal net operating loss carry forwards generated by a subsidiary
2021	5,977
2022	136,796
2023	81,693
2028	2,215
Total	$ 226,681