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, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 3,767	$ 3,463	$ 1,651	$ 4,548	$ 3,428	$ 6,274	$ (3,151)	$ 1,694	$ 13,429	$ 8,245	$ 3,848
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense									3,224	4,300	4,421
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)									(393)	(257)	(2,851)
Realized loss									(134)	(10,540)	(1,943)
Change in current federal income tax payable									249	(799)	8,256
Change in all other liabilities									7,946	(6,551)	5,396
Change in all other assets									(628)	17,141	5,983
Net cash provided by operating activities									33,684	68,338	33,682
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment, net									(546)	(673)	(107)
Purchase of fixed maturity and equity securities									(188,749)	(222,399)	(167,626)
Maturities and redemptions of investment securities									146,777	214,738	148,968
Net cash used in investing activities									(42,242)	(11,817)	(18,100)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options									1,155
Purchase of treasury shares									(1,805)
Activity under revolving credit facility, net									(1,473)		(2,577)
Net cash used in financing activities									(2,123)		(4,908)
(Decrease) Increase in cash and cash equivalents									(10,681)	56,521	10,674
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				141,666				85,145	141,666	85,145	74,471
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	130,985				141,666				130,985	141,666	85,145
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid									(4,576)	(4,599)	(4,656)
Income taxes (paid) recovered									(5,497)	(3,891)	5,879
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)									13,429	8,245	3,524
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense									68	92	113
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)									183	1,182	(1,725)
Undistributed share of (earnings) loss of subsidiaries									(8,394)	(11,053)	(6,323)
Change in current federal income tax payable									(3,290)	(3,694)	4,030
Change in all other liabilities									4,081	12,232	357
Change in all other assets									(131)	63	450
Net cash provided by operating activities									5,946	7,067	426
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment, net									(47)	(116)	(46)
Net cash used in investing activities									(47)	(116)	(46)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options									1,155
Purchase of treasury shares									(1,805)
Activity under revolving credit facility, net									(1,473)		(2,577)
Net cash used in financing activities									(2,123)		(2,577)
(Decrease) Increase in cash and cash equivalents									3,776	6,951	(2,197)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				8,063				1,112	8,063	1,112	3,309
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	11,839				8,063				11,839	8,063	1,112
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid									(4,576)	(4,599)	(4,656)
Income taxes (paid) recovered									$ (1,481)	$ (1,285)	$ 3,932