Schedule III and VI Supplementary Insurance Information Supplemental Information Concerning Property and Casualty Insurance Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Supplementary Insurance Information by Segment
Deferred policy acquisition costs	$ 245,355	$ 196,885	$ 216,456
Future policy benefits, claims and claims expenses	4,808,079	4,523,386	4,192,015
Unearned premiums	221,114	213,268	208,963
Other policy claims and benefits payable	346,292	103,227	114,530
Premium revenue/ premium earned	690,938	670,527	667,120
Net investment income	313,610	306,003	288,311
Benefits, claims and settlement expenses	618,210	611,815	657,344
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	84,643	79,519	83,398
Other operating expenses	174,348	170,307	162,642
Property and casualty segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information by Segment
Deferred policy acquisition costs	26,048	24,650	22,906
Future policy benefits, claims and claims expenses	275,809	274,542	281,080
Discount, if any, deducted in previous column	0	0	0
Unearned premiums	217,841	209,431	204,996
Other policy claims and benefits payable	0	0	0
Premium revenue/ premium earned	561,954	546,339	547,540
Net investment income	36,208	36,792	36,886
Benefits, claims and settlement expenses	385,601	389,430	442,517
Claims and claims adjustment expense incurred related to current year	403,589	406,605	452,827
Claims and claims adjustment expense incurred related to prior years	(17,988)	(17,175)	(10,310)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	68,516	63,768	61,374
Other operating expenses	87,064	83,579	80,133
Paid claims and claims adjustment expense	384,736	398,210	462,298
Premiums written	570,363	550,774	545,950
Annuity [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information by Segment
Deferred policy acquisition costs	170,749	125,437	139,316
Future policy benefits, claims and claims expenses	3,523,901	3,264,128	2,951,004
Unearned premiums	562	526	34
Other policy claims and benefits payable	342,795	99,603	110,734
Premium revenue/ premium earned	22,575	21,794	18,883
Net investment income	208,419	200,785	182,806
Benefits, claims and settlement expenses	128,768	124,693	115,468
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	7,957	6,868	12,334
Other operating expenses	34,004	34,148	31,802
Life [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information by Segment
Deferred policy acquisition costs	48,558	46,798	54,234
Future policy benefits, claims and claims expenses	1,008,369	984,716	959,931
Unearned premiums	2,711	3,311	3,933
Other policy claims and benefits payable	3,497	3,624	3,796
Premium revenue/ premium earned	106,409	102,394	100,697
Net investment income	69,932	69,409	69,633
Benefits, claims and settlement expenses	103,841	97,692	99,359
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	8,170	8,883	9,690
Other operating expenses	34,394	33,589	33,135
Other, including consolidating eliminations [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information by Segment
Deferred policy acquisition costs	0	0	0
Future policy benefits, claims and claims expenses	0	0	0
Premium revenue/ premium earned	0	0	0
Net investment income	(949)	(983)	(1,014)
Benefits, claims and settlement expenses	0	0	0
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	$ 18,886	$ 18,991	$ 17,572