Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") which, as to insurance companies, differ from the statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities. These financial statements include the accounts of Atlantic American Corporation ("Atlantic American" or the "Parent") and its subsidiaries (collectively with the Parent, the "Company"). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Operating results achieved in any historical period are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected in any future period. At December 31, 2012, the Parent owned three insurance subsidiaries, Bankers Fidelity Life Insurance Company ("Bankers Fidelity"), American Southern Insurance Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, American Safety Insurance Company (together known as "American Southern"), in addition to one non-insurance subsidiary, xCalibre Risk Services, Inc. The Parent has issued a guarantee of all liabilities of Bankers Fidelity.
Premium Revenue and Cost Recognition	Premium Revenue and Cost Recognition Life insurance premiums are recognized as revenue when due; accident and health insurance premiums are recognized as revenue over the premium paying period and property and casualty insurance premiums are recognized as revenue over the period of the contract in proportion to the amount of insurance protection provided. Benefits and expenses are accrued as incurred and are associated with premiums as they are earned so as to result in recognition of profits over the lives of the contracts. For traditional life insurance and long-duration health insurance, this association is accomplished by the provision of a future policy benefits reserve and the deferral and subsequent amortization of the costs of acquiring business, "deferred policy acquisition costs" (principally commissions, premium taxes, and other incremental direct costs of issuing policies). Deferred policy acquisition costs are amortized over the estimated premium-paying period of the related policies using assumptions consistent with those used in computing the policy benefits reserve. The Company provides for insurance benefits and losses on accident, health, and property-casualty claims based upon estimates of projected ultimate losses. The deferred policy acquisition costs for property and casualty insurance and short-duration health insurance are amortized over the effective period of the related insurance policies. Contingent commissions, if contractually applicable, are ultimately payable to agents based on the underlying profitability of a particular insurance contract or a group of insurance contracts, and are periodically evaluated and accrued as earned. In periods in which revisions are made to the estimated loss reserves related to the particular insurance contract or group of insurance contracts subject to such commissions, corresponding adjustments are also made to the related accruals. Deferred policy acquisition costs are expensed when such costs are deemed not to be recoverable from future premiums (for traditional life and long-duration health insurance) and from the related unearned premiums and investment income (for property and casualty and short-duration health insurance).
Goodwill	Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets acquired and is not amortized. The Company periodically reviews its goodwill to determine if any adverse conditions exist that could indicate impairment. Conditions that could trigger impairment include, but are not limited to, a significant change in business climate that could affect the value of the related asset, an adverse action, or an assessment by a regulator. No impairment of the Company's recorded goodwill was identified during the periods presented.
Investments	Investments The Company's investments in both fixed maturities, which include bonds and redeemable preferred stocks, and equity securities, which include common and non-redeemable preferred stocks, are classified as "available-for-sale" and, accordingly, are carried at fair value with the after-tax difference from amortized cost, as adjusted if applicable, reflected in shareholders' equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. The fair values for fixed maturities and equity securities are largely determined by either independent methods prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC"), which do not differ materially from publicly quoted market prices, when available, or independent broker quotations. The Company owns certain fixed maturities that do not have publicly quoted market values, but had an estimated fair value as determined by management of $2,124 at December 31, 2012. Such values inherently involve a greater degree of judgment and uncertainty and therefore ultimately greater price volatility than the value of securities with publicly quoted market values. Policy loans and real estate are carried at historical cost. Other invested assets are comprised of investments in limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and real estate joint ventures, and are accounted for using the equity method. If the value of a common stock, preferred stock, other invested asset, or publicly traded bond declines below its cost or amortized cost, if applicable, and the decline is considered to be other than temporary, a realized loss is recorded to reduce the carrying value of the investment to its estimated fair value, which becomes the new cost basis. The evaluation for an other than temporary impairment is a quantitative and qualitative process, which is subject to risks and uncertainties in the determination of whether declines in the fair value of investments are other than temporary. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among other things, changes in general economic conditions, an issuer's financial condition or near term recovery prospects and the effects of changes in interest rates. In evaluating a potential impairment, the Company considers, among other factors, management's intent and ability to hold these securities until price recovery, the nature of the investment and the expectation of prospects for the issuer and its industry, the status of an issuer's continued satisfaction of its obligations in accordance with their contractual terms, and management's expectation as to the issuer's ability and intent to continue to do so, as well as ratings actions that may affect the issuer's credit status. Premiums and discounts related to investments are amortized or accreted over the life of the related investment as an adjustment to yield using the effective interest method. Dividends and interest income are recognized when earned or declared. The cost of securities sold is based on specific identification. Unrealized gains (losses) in the value of invested assets are accounted for as a direct increase (decrease) in accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders' equity, net of deferred tax and, accordingly, have no effect on net income.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes Deferred income taxes represent the expected future tax consequences when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid. They arise from differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are adjusted for changes in tax laws and tax rates as those changes are enacted. The provision for income taxes represents the total amount of income taxes due related to the current year, plus the change in deferred income taxes during the year. A valuation allowance is recognized if, based on management's assessment of the relevant facts, it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.
Earnings Per Common Share	Earnings Per Common Share Basic earnings per common share are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the relevant period. Diluted earnings per common share are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the relevant period, plus options and share awards outstanding using the treasury stock method and the assumed conversion of our Series D Preferred Stock, if dilutive. Unless otherwise indicated, earnings per common share amounts are presented on a diluted basis.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and investments in short-term, highly liquid securities which have original maturities of three months or less from date of purchase.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards	Recently Issued Accounting Standards In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ("ASU 2013-02"). The main objective of ASU 2013-02 is to enhance disclosures for reclassification adjustments including changes in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") balances by component and significant items reclassified out of AOCI. ASU 2013-02 would not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements. However, the ASU would require an entity to provide enhanced disclosures to present separately by component reclassifications out of AOCI. In addition, an entity would be required to provide a tabular disclosure of the effect of items reclassified out of AOCI on the respective line items of net income but only if the item reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety. For other reclassification items that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified directly to net income in their entirety, the new disclosure would only require a cross-reference to other disclosures currently required under GAAP for those items. ASU 2013-02 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company currently does not have items that are reclassified out of AOCI in their entirety directly to net income but does currently have certain reclassifications that would require cross-referencing to other disclosures. Since ASU 2013-02 is a disclosure only update, the Company does not expect its adoption to have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operations. In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income ("ASU 2011-05"). ASU 2011-05 requires all nonowner changes in stockholders' equity to be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. If an entity elects the single continuous statement method of presentation, the entity is required to present the components of net income and total net income, the components of other comprehensive income and a total for other comprehensive income, along with the total of comprehensive income in that statement. In the two separate statement approach, an entity is required to present components of net income and total net income in the statement of net income. The statement of other comprehensive income is then required to immediately follow the statement of net income and include the components of other comprehensive income and a total for other comprehensive income, along with a total for comprehensive income. Regardless of the presentation an entity chooses, the entity is required to present on the face of the financial statements reclassification adjustments for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income in the statement(s) where the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income are presented. ASU 2011-05 was to be applied retrospectively and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ("ASU 2011-12"). The amendments in ASU 2011-12 were made to allow the FASB time to evaluate whether to present on the face of the financial statements the effects of reclassifications out of AOCI on the components of net income and other comprehensive income for all periods presented. The Company adopted all the requirements in ASU 2011-05 not affected by ASU 2011-12 on January 1, 2012. Since ASU 2011-05 was a disclosure only update, its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operations. See Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs ("ASU 2011-04"). This guidance resulted in a consistent definition of fair value and common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about fair value between GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. While many of the amendments to GAAP are not expected to have a significant effect on practice, this guidance changes some fair value measurement principles and disclosure requirements. ASU 2011-04 was required to be applied prospectively. For public entities, this guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted ASU 2011-04 on January 1, 2012. Adoption of ASU 2011-04 did not have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operations. See Note 15 for expanded disclosures. In October 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-26, Financial Services – Insurance (Topic 944): Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts ("ASU 2010-26") which specifies which costs relating to the acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts qualify for deferral. In accordance with ASU 2010-26, incremental direct costs of contract acquisition are required to be capitalized. Advertising costs are required to be included in deferred acquisition costs only if the capitalization criteria in the direct-response advertising guidance in Subtopic 340-20, Other Assets and Deferred Costs – Capitalized Advertising Costs, are met. All other acquisition related costs, including costs incurred by the insurer in soliciting potential customers, market research, training, administration, unsuccessful acquisition or renewal efforts, and product development, are required to be expensed as incurred. If the initial application of ASU 2010-26 resulted in the capitalization of acquisition costs that had not been capitalized previously, the entity may elect not to capitalize those types of costs. ASU 2010-26 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011. ASU 2010-26 was required to be applied prospectively upon adoption; although retrospective application to all prior periods presented upon the date of adoption was also permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2010-26 on January 1, 2012 on a prospective basis. Adoption of ASU 2010-26 did not have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operations.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements	Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions are used in developing and evaluating deferred income taxes, deferred acquisition costs, insurance reserves, investments (Note 15), and commitments and contingencies, among others, and actual results could differ materially from management's estimates.