This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations before equity in net earnings of subsidiaries.

No definition available.

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Represents the entity's proportionate share of the net income (loss) of its subsidiaries during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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This element represents the other comprehensive income or loss, net of tax, in subsidiaries or investees during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the reporting entity. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, but excludes any and all transactions which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.

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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

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The sum of the current income tax expense or benefit and the deferred income tax expense or benefit pertaining to continuing operations.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Represents the portion of interest incurred in the period on debt arrangements that was charged against earnings.

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Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

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The income earned from investments in securities and property, equipment and other capital assets. It includes rent from property and equipment, dividends from shares in corporations, and interest from bonds, loans, mortgages, derivatives, commercial paper, bank accounts, certificates of deposits, treasuries, and other financial securities. It does not include realized gains and losses on investments.

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.2)

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- Definition

This element represents Other Comprehensive Income or Loss, Net of Tax, for the period. Includes deferred gains or losses on qualifying hedges, unrealized holding gains or losses on available-for-sale securities, minimum pension liability, and cumulative translation adjustment. While for technical reasons this element has no balance attribute, the default assumption is a credit balance consistent with its label.

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This element represents Other Comprehensive Income or Loss, Net of Tax, for the period attributable to the parent entity. Includes deferred gains or losses on qualifying hedges, unrealized holding gains or losses on available-for-sale securities, minimum pension liability, and cumulative translation adjustment.

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Reclassification adjustment for unrealized gains or losses realized upon the sale of securities, after tax.

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Appreciation or loss in value (before reclassification adjustment) of the total of unsold securities during the period being reported on, net of tax. Reclassification adjustments include: (1) the unrealized holding gain (loss), net of tax, at the date of the transfer for a debt security from the held-to-maturity category transferred into the available-for-sale category. Also includes the unrealized gain (loss) at the date of transfer for a debt security from the available-for-sale category transferred into the held-to-maturity category; (2) the unrealized gains (losses) realized upon the sale of securities, after tax; and (3) the unrealized gains (losses) realized upon the write-down of securities, after tax.

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- Definition

This item represents the total realized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of selling marketable securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity and any gains or losses realized during the period from the sale of investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting and/or investments that are separately or otherwise not categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities.

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No definition available.

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The aggregate total costs related to selling a firm's product and services, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. Direct selling expenses (for example, credit, warranty, and advertising) are expenses that can be directly linked to the sale of specific products. Indirect selling expenses are expenses that cannot be directly linked to the sale of specific products, for example telephone expenses, Internet, and postal charges. General and administrative expenses include salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, utilities, communication, etc.

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6386349&loc=d3e3636-108311

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

SCHEDULE II-CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (PARENT COMPANY) (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS
Net investment income	$ 16,244	$ 15,954	$ 15,180	$ 16,303	$ 16,672	$ 16,762	$ 16,765	$ 16,600	$ 63,681	$ 66,799	$ 67,346
Net realized investment gains (losses)	2,691	(177)	10,050	4,472	7,962	4,527	4,291	6,463	17,036	23,243	(12,755)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investees									6,497	7,101	5,052
Interest expense on debt									(6,050)	(6,050)	(6,050)
Loss before income taxes	40,128	34,907	67,730	40,821	50,881	41,433	51,081	36,272	183,586	179,667	130,262
Income tax benefit									56,988	51,470	37,831
Net earnings	29,931	23,969	44,992	27,706	40,528	28,244	34,248	25,177	126,598	128,197	92,431
Unrealized gains on securities:
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period									32,230	33,552	53,995
Less: reclassification adjustment for losses (gains) included in net earnings									(10,897)	(14,971)	8,286
Other comprehensive earnings (OCI)									21,333	18,581	62,281
Comprehensive earnings									147,931	146,778	154,712
PARENT COMPANY
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS
Net investment income									1,179	675	906
Net realized investment gains (losses)									42	(13)	166
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investees									6,497	7,101	5,052
Selling, general and administrative expenses									(7,766)	(7,998)	(7,941)
Interest expense on debt									(6,050)	(6,050)	(6,050)
Loss before income taxes									(6,098)	(6,285)	(7,867)
Income tax benefit									(4,949)	(8,754)	(3,590)
Net earnings (loss) before equity in net earnings of subsidiaries									(1,149)	2,469	(4,277)
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries									127,747	125,728	96,708
Net earnings									126,598	128,197	92,431
Unrealized gains on securities:
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period									277	(530)	(70)
Less: reclassification adjustment for losses (gains) included in net earnings									(27)	8	(108)
Other comprehensive income (loss) - parent only									250	(522)	(178)
Equity in other comprehensive earnings of subsidiaries/investees									21,083	19,103	62,459
Other comprehensive earnings (OCI)									21,333	18,581	62,281
Comprehensive earnings									$ 147,931	$ 146,778	$ 154,712