Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Parent Company Only) (Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (3,662)	$ 5,048	$ 1,066	$ 4,074	$ 3,446	$ 6,698	$ 6,376	$ 5,343	$ 6,526	$ 21,863	$ 13,429
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense									3,894	3,516	3,224
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)									405	(1,030)	(393)
Realized loss									369	(2,503)	(134)
Change in current federal income tax (recoverable)/payable									(2,172)	(2,747)	249
Change in all other liabilities									3,586	(1,368)	7,998
Change in all other assets									5,433	(697)	(680)
Net cash provided by operating activities									30,854	52,936	33,684
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment, net									(4,340)	(3,608)	(546)
Purchase of fixed maturity and equity securities									(241,374)	(265,482)	(188,749)
Maturities and redemptions of investment securities									186,286	169,409	146,777
Net cash used in investing activities									(58,233)	(96,289)	(42,242)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options									466	658	1,155
Purchase of treasury shares									(6,117)	(2,532)	(1,805)
Activity under revolving credit facility, net										30,000	(1,473)
Payment of debt issuance costs										(96)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									(7,435)	26,814	(2,123)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents									(34,814)	(16,539)	(10,681)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				114,446				130,985	114,446	130,985	141,666
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	79,632				114,446				79,632	114,446	130,985
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid									4,287	3,906	4,576
Income taxes (recovered) paid									3,718	13,800	5,497
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)									6,526	21,863	13,429
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense									148	65	68
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)									609	(195)	183
Undistributed share of (earnings) loss of subsidiaries									1,643	(16,545)	(8,394)
Change in current federal income tax (recoverable)/payable									(2,828)	8	(3,290)
Change in all other liabilities									1,228	(7,080)	4,134
Change in all other assets									814	188	(184)
Net cash provided by operating activities									8,140	(1,696)	5,946
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment, net									(1,469)	(159)	(47)
Capital contribution to subsidiaries										(30,000)
Net cash used in investing activities									(1,469)	(30,159)	(47)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options									466	658	1,155
Purchase of treasury shares									(6,117)	(2,532)	(1,805)
Activity under revolving credit facility, net										30,000	(1,473)
Payment of debt issuance costs										(96)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									(5,651)	28,030	(2,123)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents									1,020	(3,825)	3,776
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				$ 8,014				$ 11,839	8,014	11,839	8,063
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 9,034				$ 8,014				9,034	8,014	11,839
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid									4,287	3,906	4,576
Income taxes (recovered) paid									$ 904	$ (1,086)	$ 1,481