Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 316,452	$ 699,942
Proceeds from sales, maturities and redemptions of investments:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale	2,892,673	3,920,591
Mortgage loans on real estate	288,150	322,326
Limited partnership interests and other investments	5,827	8,439
Purchases of investments:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale	(2,786,257)	(4,313,849)
Mortgage loans on real estate	(650,495)	(689,122)
Limited partnership interests and other investments	(27,656)	(17,697)
Net change in short-term investments	(39,274)	(517,840)
Net change in policy loans	(1,057)	(9,677)
Purchases of furniture, equipment, and software	(39,541)	(30,867)
Net cash used in investing activities	(357,630)	(1,327,696)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Contract deposits	2,064,895	2,251,508
Contract withdrawals	(1,888,977)	(1,565,225)
Proceeds from surplus note issued to parent	346,218	0
Redemption of surplus note issued to parent	(333,400)	0
Dividends paid	(129,895)	(145,301)
Capital contribution	2,514	76,429
Payments for and interest paid on financing element derivatives, net	(724)	(3,290)
Net change in commercial paper borrowings	(194)	819
Net change in book overdrafts	(24,647)	15,659
Employee taxes paid for withheld shares	(41)	(671)
Net cash provided by financing activities	35,749	629,928
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(5,429)	2,174
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	17,211	18,321
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	11,782	20,495
Net cash paid during the year for:
Income taxes	(17,070)	(17,449)
Interest	(16,728)	(16,447)
Non-cash investing and financing transactions during the years:
Share-based compensation expense	648	1,156
Fair value of assets acquired in settlement of fixed maturity investments	$ 28,315	$ 9,323