CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenue:
Insurance premiums	$ 37,386us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet	$ 38,418us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet
Investment income	2,597us-gaap_GrossInvestmentIncomeOperating	2,598us-gaap_GrossInvestmentIncomeOperating
Realized investment gains, net	951us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses	108us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses
Other income	15us-gaap_OtherIncome	36us-gaap_OtherIncome
Total revenue	40,949us-gaap_Revenues	41,160us-gaap_Revenues
Benefits and expenses:
Insurance benefits and losses incurred	25,241	26,828
Commissions and underwriting expenses	10,721aame_CommissionsAndUnderwritingExpenses	9,907aame_CommissionsAndUnderwritingExpenses
Interest expense	349us-gaap_InterestExpense	429us-gaap_InterestExpense
Other expense	3,628us-gaap_OtherExpenses	3,003us-gaap_OtherExpenses
Total benefits and expenses	39,939us-gaap_BenefitsLossesAndExpenses	40,167us-gaap_BenefitsLossesAndExpenses
Income before income taxes	1,010	993
Income tax expense	319us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	173us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Net income	691us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	820us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Preferred stock dividends	(99)	(118)
Net income applicable to common shareholders	$ 592	$ 702
Earnings per common share (basic and diluted) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted	$ 0.03us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted

This element represents the direct and indirect costs incurred during the period related to the acquisition or renewal of insurance contracts and other operating costs and expense items associated with the entity's normal revenue producing operation.

No definition available.