Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Parent Company Only) (Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 3,428	$ 6,274	$ (3,151)	$ 1,694	$ 1,783	$ 3,671	$ (1,800)	$ 194	$ 8,245	$ 3,848	$ (10,833)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense									4,300	4,421	5,064
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)									(257)	(2,851)	(2,895)
Realized loss									(10,540)	(1,943)	(3,633)
Change in current federal income tax (recoverable) payable									(799)	8,256	(2,470)
Change in all other liabilities									(6,551)	5,396	(5,707)
Change in all other assets									17,141	5,983	3,587
Net cash provided by operating activities									68,338	33,682	24,610
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment, net									(673)	(107)	(1,586)
Purchase of fixed maturity and equity securities									(222,399)	(167,626)	(265,684)
Maturities and redemptions of investment securities									214,738	148,968	280,918
Net cash used in investing activities									(11,817)	(18,100)	(3,781)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options											99
Purchase of treasury shares											(6,401)
Activity under revolving credit facility, net										(2,577)	1,250
Net cash used in financing activities										(4,908)	(6,877)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents									56,521	10,674	13,952
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				85,145				74,471	85,145	74,471	60,519
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	141,666				85,145				141,666	85,145	74,471
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid									(4,599)	(4,656)	(4,620)
Income taxes (paid) recovered									(3,891)	5,879	3,589
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)									8,245	3,524	(10,891)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense									92	113	168
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)									1,182	(1,725)	(215)
Undistributed share of (earnings) loss of subsidiaries									(11,053)	(6,323)	7,130
Change in current federal income tax (recoverable) payable									(3,694)	4,030	(4,838)
Change in all other liabilities									12,232	357	5,155
Change in all other assets									63	450	1,074
Net cash provided by operating activities									7,067	426	(2,417)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment, net									(116)	(46)	(205)
Net cash used in investing activities									(116)	(46)	(205)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options											99
Purchase of treasury shares											(6,401)
Activity under revolving credit facility, net										(2,577)	1,250
Net cash used in financing activities										(2,577)	(5,052)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents									6,951	(2,197)	(7,674)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				1,112				3,309	1,112	3,309	10,983
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	8,063				1,112				8,063	1,112	3,309
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid									(4,599)	(4,656)	(4,620)
Income taxes (paid) recovered									$ (1,285)	$ 3,932	$ (3,383)