SCHEDULE II-CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (PARENT COMPANY) (Details 4) (USD $)	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
Adjustments to reconcile net losses to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net realized investment (gains) losses	$ (3,611,000)	$ (10,999,000)	$ (3,742,000)	$ (3,684,000)	$ (9,139,000)	$ (5,481,000)	$ 664,000	$ (11,416,000)	$ (22,036,000)	$ (25,372,000)	$ (17,036,000)
Depreciation									3,765,000	3,145,000	3,177,000
Other items, net									13,104,000	7,732,000	(9,144,000)
Change in:
Stock option excess tax benefit									(6,310,000)	(1,471,000)	(4,210,000)
Changes in investment in unconsolidated investees:
Undistributed earnings									(10,915,000)	(8,853,000)	(6,497,000)
Dividends received	13,200,000				6,600,000				13,200,000	6,600,000
Net cash provided by operating activities									134,966,000	36,240,000	117,991,000
Purchase of:
Fixed income, available-for-sale									(545,899,000)	(632,955,000)	(450,813,000)
Short-term investments, net										(6,597,000)
Property and equipment									(25,407,000)	(18,521,000)	(5,382,000)
Sale of:
Fixed income, available-for-sale									173,694,000	181,338,000	383,664,000
Short-term investments, net									7,230,000		15,922,000
Property and equipment									9,368,000	3,913,000	1,424,000
Call or maturity of:
Fixed income, available-for-sale									224,620,000	248,134,000	261,654,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities									(101,932,000)	52,352,000	87,641,000
Cash flows from financing activities
Stock option excess tax benefit									6,310,000	1,471,000	4,210,000
Proceeds from stock option exercises									318,000	6,104,000	8,821,000
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes									149,571,000
Payment on senior notes									(99,504,000)
Debt issue costs paid									(1,437,000)
Treasury shares purchased											(6,624,000)
Net cash used in financing activities									(37,879,000)	(125,462,000)	(124,448,000)
Net (decrease) increase in cash									(4,845,000)	(36,870,000)	81,184,000
Cash at beginning of year				44,314,000				81,184,000	44,314,000	81,184,000
Cash at end of year	39,469,000				44,314,000				39,469,000	44,314,000	81,184,000
PARENT COMPANY
Cash flows from operating activities
Earnings (loss) before equity in net earnings of subsidiaries									5,822,000	1,010,000	(1,149,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net losses to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net realized investment (gains) losses									850,000	2,834,000	(42,000)
Depreciation									90,000	30,000	235,000
Other items, net									(1,789,000)	852,000	(104,000)
Change in:
Affiliate balances receivable/payable									1,349,000	(10,383,000)	3,026,000
Federal income taxes									5,288,000	3,964,000	3,330,000
Stock option excess tax benefit									(6,310,000)	(1,471,000)	(4,210,000)
Changes in investment in unconsolidated investees:
Undistributed earnings									(10,915,000)	(8,853,000)	(6,497,000)
Dividends received									13,200,000	6,600,000
Net cash provided by operating activities									7,585,000	(5,417,000)	(5,411,000)
Purchase of:
Fixed income, available-for-sale									(99,982,000)	(20,147,000)	(29,621,000)
Short-term investments, net									(12,963,000)		(10,198,000)
Property and equipment									(2,845,000)	(2,656,000)	(11,000)
Sale of:
Fixed income, available-for-sale										7,938,000	8,125,000
Short-term investments, net										10,786,000
Property and equipment									18,000	3,108,000
Call or maturity of:
Fixed income, available-for-sale									101,000,000	20,185,000	24,400,000
Cash dividends received-subsidiaries									40,000,000	138,000,000	150,000,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities									25,228,000	157,214,000	142,695,000
Cash flows from financing activities
Stock option excess tax benefit									6,310,000	1,471,000	4,210,000
Proceeds from stock option exercises									318,000	6,104,000	8,821,000
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes									149,571,000
Payment on senior notes									(99,504,000)
Debt issue costs paid									(1,437,000)
Treasury shares purchased											(6,624,000)
Cash dividends paid									(101,913,000)	(145,695,000)	(143,371,000)
Net cash used in financing activities									(46,655,000)	(138,120,000)	(136,964,000)
Net (decrease) increase in cash									(13,842,000)	13,677,000	320,000
Cash at beginning of year				14,023,000				346,000	14,023,000	346,000	26,000
Cash at end of year	181,000				14,023,000				181,000	14,023,000	346,000
Interest paid on outstanding debt									$ 8,400,000	$ 6,000,000	$ 6,000,000