Credit Arrangements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of Connecticut statutory business trusts	2
Financial structure of statutory business trusts [Abstract]
Balance June 30, 2012	$ 41,238		$ 41,238
Balance December 31, 2011	41,238		41,238
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES [Member]
Financial structure of statutory business trusts [Abstract]
Number of consecutive quarters for which interest payments can be deferred	20
Atlantic American Statutory Trust I [Member] | JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES [Member]
Financial structure of statutory business trusts [Abstract]
Principal amount owed	18,042	[1],[2]
Balance June 30, 2012	18,042	[1],[2]
Balance December 31, 2011	18,042	[1],[2]
Coupon rate	LIBOR + 4.00%	[1],[2]
Maturity date	Dec. 04, 2032	[1],[2]
Atlantic American Statutory Trust I [Member] | TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES [Member]
Financial structure of statutory business trusts [Abstract]
Coupon rate	LIBOR + 4.00%
Issuance date	Dec. 04, 2002
Securities issued (in shares)	17,500
Liquidation preference per security (in dollars per share)	$ 1
Liquidation value	17,500
Atlantic American Statutory Trust II [Member] | JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES [Member]
Financial structure of statutory business trusts [Abstract]
Principal amount owed	23,196	[1],[2]
Balance June 30, 2012	23,196	[1],[2]
Balance December 31, 2011	23,196	[1],[2]
Coupon rate	LIBOR + 4.10%	[1],[2]
Maturity date	May 15, 2033	[1],[2]
Atlantic American Statutory Trust II [Member] | TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES [Member]
Financial structure of statutory business trusts [Abstract]
Coupon rate	LIBOR + 4.10%
Issuance date	May 15, 2003
Securities issued (in shares)	22,500
Liquidation preference per security (in dollars per share)	$ 1
Liquidation value	22,500
Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrow or reborrow capacity	$ 5,000
Termination date of agreement	Aug. 31, 2012
Credit Agreement [Member] | Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on amounts outstanding under the agreement (in hundredths)	0.50%
Credit Agreement [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on amounts outstanding under the agreement (in hundredths)	2.00%

[1] For each of the respective debentures, the Company has the right at any time, and from time to time, to defer payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters up to the debentures' respective maturity dates. During any such period, interest will continue to accrue and the Company may not declare or pay any cash dividends or distributions on, or purchase, the Company's common stock nor make any principal, interest or premium payments on or repurchase any debt securities that rank equally with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. The Company has the right at any time to dissolve each of the trusts and cause the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities.

[2] The Junior Subordinated Debentures are unsecured and rank junior and subordinate in right of payment to all senior debt of the Parent and are effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of its subsidiaries.