CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows - operating activities
Premiums collected	$ 723,705	$ 707,275	$ 688,355
Policyholder benefits paid	(534,359)	(486,295)	(476,103)
Policy acquisition and other operating expenses paid	(267,854)	(262,765)	(251,293)
Federal income taxes paid	(24,861)	(29,195)	(33,672)
Investment income collected	330,034	324,252	311,712
Interest expense paid	(13,521)	(13,902)	(13,825)
Other	(6,101)	(17,437)	(19,238)
Net cash provided by operating activities	207,043	221,933	205,936
Fixed maturities
Purchases	(1,490,376)	(1,309,267)	(1,212,937)
Sales	445,100	261,696	298,045
Maturities, paydowns, calls and redemptions	683,335	451,074	504,921
Purchase of other invested assets	(38,018)	(16,041)	(35,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) short-term and other investments	(15,890)	47,023	(153,355)
Net cash used in investing activities	(415,849)	(565,515)	(598,326)
Cash flows - financing activities
Dividends paid to shareholders	(42,523)	(39,237)	(32,550)
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes due 2025	246,937	0	0
Redemption of Senior Notes due 2016	(127,292)	0	0
Maturity of Senior Notes due 2015	(75,000)	0	0
Principal repayment on Bank Credit Facility	(38,000)	0	0
Acquisition of treasury stock	(21,950)	(5,411)	(3,889)
Exercise of stock options	1,629	8,252	19,336
Annuity contracts: variable, fixed and FHLB funding agreements
Deposits	623,021	730,632	673,057
Benefits, withdrawals and net transfers to Separate Account (variable annuity) assets	(354,735)	(326,374)	(278,350)
Life policy accounts
Deposits	1,455	1,093	1,636
Withdrawals and surrenders	(3,985)	(4,883)	(4,734)
Cash received (paid) related to repurchase agreements	0	(25,848)	25,848
Change in bank overdrafts	3,083	(1,156)	(4,956)
Net cash provided by financing activities	212,640	337,068	395,398
Net increase (decrease) in cash	3,834	(6,514)	3,008
Cash at beginning of period	11,675	18,189	15,181
Cash at end of period	$ 15,509	$ 11,675	$ 18,189