CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows - operating activities
Premiums collected	$ 760,367	$ 739,503	$ 710,646
Policyholder benefits paid	(590,479)	(528,501)	(511,017)
Policy acquisition and other operating expenses paid	(305,000)	(283,351)	(277,076)
Income taxes paid	(8,679)	(16,259)	(27,847)
Investment income collected	373,568	363,283	344,778
Interest expense paid	(12,532)	(11,555)	(11,754)
Other	(16,357)	(6,534)	(16,297)
Net cash provided by operating activities	200,888	256,586	211,433
Fixed maturity securities
Purchases	(1,428,889)	(1,569,220)	(1,566,047)
Sales	625,527	500,760	429,251
Maturities, paydowns, calls and redemptions	737,535	927,665	799,653
Equity securities
Purchases	(13,430)	(32,312)	(60,135)
Sales and repayments	25,498	53,100	21,210
Limited partnership interests
Purchases	(93,545)	(103,200)	(70,177)
Sales	16,997	20,234	12,418
Change in short-term and other investments, net	(56,192)	(25,691)	108,467
Net cash used in investing activities	(186,499)	(228,664)	(325,360)
Cash flows - financing activities
Dividends paid to shareholders	(46,689)	(46,114)	(44,310)
FHLB borrowings	0	50,000	0
Acquisition of treasury stock	(5,088)	(1,660)	(21,513)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	3,627	4,190	3,329
Withholding tax payments on RSUs tendered	(3,165)	(3,245)	(4,015)
Annuity contracts: variable, fixed and FHLB funding agreements
Deposits	489,097	453,146	520,211
Benefits, withdrawals and net transfers to Separate Account (variable annuity) assets	(473,003)	(411,061)	(349,915)
Transfer of Company 401(k) to a third-party provider	0	(77,898)	0
Life policy accounts
Deposits	8,149	4,883	4,018
Withdrawals and surrenders	(4,910)	(4,458)	(3,965)
Change in book overdrafts	21,872	(4,748)	11,248
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(10,110)	(36,965)	115,088
Net increase (decrease) in cash	4,279	(9,043)	1,161
Cash at beginning of period	7,627	16,670	15,509
Cash at end of period	$ 11,906	$ 7,627	$ 16,670