CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows - operating activities
Premiums collected	$ 516,404	$ 497,282
Policyholder benefits paid	(361,356)	(362,726)
Policy acquisition and other operating expenses paid	(192,196)	(177,154)
Federal income taxes paid	(24,801)	(14,728)
Investment income collected	227,716	220,433
Interest expense paid	(7,159)	(7,232)
Contribution to defined benefit pension plan trust	(3,103)	(2,534)
Other	(4,581)	(3,107)
Net cash provided by operating activities	150,924	150,234
Fixed maturities
Purchases	(907,186)	(1,018,438)
Sales	270,329	470,684
Maturities, paydowns, calls and redemptions	361,925	453,184
Purchase of other invested assets	(25,000)	(50,000)
Net cash used in short-term and other investments	(37,911)	(82,423)
Net cash used in investing activities	(337,843)	(226,993)
Cash flows - financing activities
Dividends paid to shareholders	(24,311)	(16,001)
Acquisition of treasury stock	(3,889)	(13,640)
Exercise of stock options	12,729	3,846
Annuity contracts, variable and fixed
Deposits	316,780	302,870
Benefits, withdrawals and net transfers to Separate Account (variable annuity) assets	(202,447)	(161,414)
Life policy accounts
Deposits	1,136	1,326
Withdrawals and surrenders	(3,371)	(3,997)
Cash received related to repurchase agreements	121,285	0
Change in bank overdrafts	(401)	(1,763)
Net cash provided by financing activities	217,511	111,227
Net increase in cash	30,592	34,468
Cash at beginning of period	15,181	7,452
Cash at end of period	$ 45,773	$ 41,920