CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenue:
Insurance premiums	$ 153,488us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet	$ 145,630us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet
Investment income	10,367us-gaap_GrossInvestmentIncomeOperating	10,809us-gaap_GrossInvestmentIncomeOperating
Realized investment gains, net	1,571us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses	8,741us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses
Other income (Note 6)	895us-gaap_OtherIncome	189us-gaap_OtherIncome
Total revenue	166,321us-gaap_Revenues	165,369us-gaap_Revenues
Benefits and expenses:
Insurance benefits and losses incurred	106,195	100,372
Commissions and underwriting expenses	40,923aame_CommissionsAndUnderwritingExpenses	40,556aame_CommissionsAndUnderwritingExpenses
Interest expense	1,607us-gaap_InterestExpense	1,898us-gaap_InterestExpense
Other expense	12,692us-gaap_OtherExpenses	11,337us-gaap_OtherExpenses
Total benefits and expenses	161,417us-gaap_BenefitsLossesAndExpenses	154,163us-gaap_BenefitsLossesAndExpenses
Income before income taxes	4,904	11,206
Income tax expense	474us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	184us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Net income	4,430us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	11,022us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Preferred stock dividends	(468)	(482)
Net income applicable to common shareholders	$ 3,962	$ 10,540
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.50us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.48us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted

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.