Fair Value Measurement (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fixed Maturities and Equity Securities by Asset Class that are Measured at Fair Value

The following tables present, for each of the fair value hierarchy levels as defined by the accounting guidance for fair value measurements and described below, our Company’s fixed maturities and equity securities by asset class that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as well as the fair value of the 5.75% Senior notes due October 15, 2023 (the “5.75% Senior notes”) carried at amortized cost as of December 31, 2015 and 2014:

	December 31, 2015
amounts in thousands	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Fixed maturities:
U.S. Treasury bonds, agency bonds and foreign    government bonds	$	67,394	$	185,488	$	—	$	252,882
States, municipalities and political subdivisions		—		576,859		—		576,859
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities:
Agency mortgage-backed securities		—		379,269		—		379,269
Residential mortgage obligations		—		30,465		—		30,465
Asset-backed securities		—		225,012		—		225,012
Commercial mortgage-backed securities		—		189,713		—		189,713
Subtotal	$	—	$	824,459	$	—	$	824,459
Corporate bonds		—		760,010		—		760,010
Total fixed maturities	$	67,394	$	2,346,816	$	—	$	2,414,210
Equity securities		126,455		178,816		—		305,271
Short-term investments		217,745		—		—		217,745
Total assets measured at fair value	$	411,594	$	2,525,632	$	—	$	2,937,226
Senior notes	$	—	$	282,486	$	—	$	282,486
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	282,486	$	—	$	282,486

	December 31, 2014
amounts in thousands	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Fixed maturities:
U.S. Treasury bonds, agency bonds and foreign    government bonds	$	146,904	$	251,019	$	—	$	397,923
States, municipalities and political subdivisions		—		541,007		—		541,007
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities:
Agency mortgage-backed securities		—		364,622		—		364,622
Residential mortgage obligations		—		34,087		—		34,087
Asset-backed securities		—		206,413		—		206,413
Commercial mortgage-backed securities		—		206,318		—		206,318
Subtotal	$	—	$	811,440	$	—	$	811,440
Corporate bonds		—		615,564		—		615,564
Total fixed maturities	$	146,904	$	2,219,030	$	—	$	2,365,934
Equity securities		127,183		57,112		—		184,295
Short-term investments		179,506		—		—		179,506
Total assets measured at fair value	$	453,593	$	2,276,142	$	—	$	2,729,735
Senior notes	$	—	$	285,710	$	—	$	285,710
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	285,710	$	—	$	285,710