Investments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	$ 245,911	$ 229,785
Gross Unrealized Gains	31,820	21,884
Gross Unrealized Losses	498	2,171
Amortized Cost	214,589	210,072
Carrying Value [Abstract]
Due in one year or less	1,523
Due after one year through five years	4,666
Due after five years through ten years	40,238
Due after ten years	182,582
Varying maturities	1,179
Totals	230,188	217,348
Amortized Cost [Abstract]
Due in one year or less	1,500
Due after one year through five years	4,219
Due after five years through ten years	36,987
Due after ten years	157,228
Varying maturities	994
Totals	200,928
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	27,548	35,922
Amortized Cost	22,900	31,736
Obligations of states and political subdivisions [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	17,849	17,030
Amortized Cost	15,253	15,273
Utilities and telecom [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	19,255	22,469
Amortized Cost	15,813	19,326
Financial services [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	56,819	44,624
Amortized Cost	53,033	45,319
Other business - diversified [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	66,066	56,668
Amortized Cost	58,425	51,709
Other consumer - diversified [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	54,190	48,983
Amortized Cost	44,981	42,620
Fixed maturities [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	230,188	217,348
Gross Unrealized Gains	29,744	20,814
Gross Unrealized Losses	484	1,972
Amortized Cost	200,928	198,506
Fixed maturities [Member] | Bonds [Member] | U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	27,548	35,922
Gross Unrealized Gains	4,648	4,186
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Amortized Cost	22,900	31,736
Fixed maturities [Member] | Bonds [Member] | Obligations of states and political subdivisions [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	17,849	17,030
Gross Unrealized Gains	2,596	1,757
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Amortized Cost	15,253	15,273
Fixed maturities [Member] | Corporate securities [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	178,812	156,959
Gross Unrealized Gains	22,459	14,674
Gross Unrealized Losses	470	1,510
Amortized Cost	156,823	143,795
Fixed maturities [Member] | Corporate securities [Member] | Utilities and telecom [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	17,888	18,598
Gross Unrealized Gains	3,039	2,736
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Amortized Cost	14,849	15,862
Fixed maturities [Member] | Corporate securities [Member] | Financial services [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	43,343	34,900
Gross Unrealized Gains	3,326	725
Gross Unrealized Losses	468	1,346
Amortized Cost	40,485	35,521
Fixed maturities [Member] | Corporate securities [Member] | Other business - diversified [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	65,934	56,553
Gross Unrealized Gains	7,556	5,043
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	152
Amortized Cost	58,378	51,662
Fixed maturities [Member] | Corporate securities [Member] | Other consumer - diversified [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	51,647	46,908
Gross Unrealized Gains	8,538	6,170
Gross Unrealized Losses	2	12
Amortized Cost	43,111	40,750
Fixed maturities [Member] | Redeemable preferred stocks [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	5,979	7,437
Gross Unrealized Gains	41	197
Gross Unrealized Losses	14	462
Amortized Cost	5,952	7,702
Fixed maturities [Member] | Redeemable preferred stocks [Member] | Utilities and telecom [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value		2,668
Gross Unrealized Gains		168
Gross Unrealized Losses		0
Amortized Cost		2,500
Fixed maturities [Member] | Redeemable preferred stocks [Member] | Financial services [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	5,786	4,576
Gross Unrealized Gains	41	29
Gross Unrealized Losses	14	462
Amortized Cost	5,759	5,009
Fixed maturities [Member] | Redeemable preferred stocks [Member] | Other consumer - diversified [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	193	193
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Amortized Cost	193	193
Equity securities [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	11,539	8,348
Gross Unrealized Gains	2,076	1,070
Gross Unrealized Losses	14	199
Amortized Cost	9,477	7,477
Equity securities [Member] | Common and non-redeemable preferred stocks [Member] | Utilities and telecom [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	1,367	1,203
Gross Unrealized Gains	403	239
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Amortized Cost	964	964
Equity securities [Member] | Common and non-redeemable preferred stocks [Member] | Financial services [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	7,690	5,148
Gross Unrealized Gains	915	558
Gross Unrealized Losses	14	199
Amortized Cost	6,789	4,789
Equity securities [Member] | Common and non-redeemable preferred stocks [Member] | Other business - diversified [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	132	115
Gross Unrealized Gains	85	68
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Amortized Cost	47	47
Equity securities [Member] | Common and non-redeemable preferred stocks [Member] | Other consumer - diversified [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	2,350	1,882
Gross Unrealized Gains	673	205
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Amortized Cost	1,677	1,677
Other invested assets [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	588	567
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Amortized Cost	588	567
Policy loans [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	2,320	2,246
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Amortized Cost	2,320	2,246
Real estate [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	38	38
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Amortized Cost	38	38
Investments in unconsolidated trusts [Member]
Schedule of investments aggregated by type and industry [Abstract]
Carrying Value	1,238	1,238
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Amortized Cost	$ 1,238	$ 1,238