Catatrophe Reinsurance - Coverage for Catastrophe Reinsurance (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Kemper Preferred, Kemper Specialty and Kemper Direct Segments [Member] | Retained [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program, Percent	0.00%
Kemper Preferred, Kemper Specialty and Kemper Direct Segments [Member] | First Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program, Percent	65.00%
Kemper Preferred, Kemper Specialty and Kemper Direct Segments [Member] | Second Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program, Percent	95.00%
Kemper Preferred, Kemper Specialty and Kemper Direct Segments [Member] | Third Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program, Percent	90.00%
Kemper Preferred, Kemper Specialty and Kemper Direct Segments [Member] | Fourth Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program, Percent	50.00%
Kemper Preferred, Kemper Specialty and Kemper Direct Segments [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Retained [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	0
Kemper Preferred, Kemper Specialty and Kemper Direct Segments [Member] | Minimum [Member] | First Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	50.0
Kemper Preferred, Kemper Specialty and Kemper Direct Segments [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Second Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	100.0
Kemper Preferred, Kemper Specialty and Kemper Direct Segments [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Third Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	200.0
Kemper Preferred, Kemper Specialty and Kemper Direct Segments [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Fourth Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	350.0
Kemper Preferred, Kemper Specialty and Kemper Direct Segments [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Retained [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	50.0
Kemper Preferred, Kemper Specialty and Kemper Direct Segments [Member] | Maximum [Member] | First Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	100.0
Kemper Preferred, Kemper Specialty and Kemper Direct Segments [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Second Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	200.0
Kemper Preferred, Kemper Specialty and Kemper Direct Segments [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Third Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	350.0
Kemper Preferred, Kemper Specialty and Kemper Direct Segments [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Fourth Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	450.0
Life and Health Segment - Property Insurance Operations [Member] | Retained [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program, Percent	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Life and Health Segment - Property Insurance Operations [Member] | First Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program, Percent	70.00%	70.00%	88.50%
Life and Health Segment - Property Insurance Operations [Member] | Second Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program, Percent	70.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Life and Health Segment - Property Insurance Operations [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Retained [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	0	0	0
Life and Health Segment - Property Insurance Operations [Member] | Minimum [Member] | First Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	8.0	8.0	8.0
Life and Health Segment - Property Insurance Operations [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Second Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	15.0	15.0	15.0
Life and Health Segment - Property Insurance Operations [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Retained [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	8.0	8.0	8.0
Life and Health Segment - Property Insurance Operations [Member] | Maximum [Member] | First Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	15.0	15.0	15.0
Life and Health Segment - Property Insurance Operations [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Second Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program	40.0	40.0	40.0
Kemper Preferred [Member] | Retained [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program, Percent		0.00%	0.00%
Kemper Preferred [Member] | First Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program, Percent		65.00%	65.00%
Kemper Preferred [Member] | Second Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program, Percent		95.00%	95.00%
Kemper Preferred [Member] | Third Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program, Percent		90.00%	90.00%
Kemper Preferred [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Retained [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program		0	0
Kemper Preferred [Member] | Minimum [Member] | First Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program		50.0	50.0
Kemper Preferred [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Second Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program		100.0	100.0
Kemper Preferred [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Third Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program		200.0	200.0
Kemper Preferred [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Retained [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program		50.0	50.0
Kemper Preferred [Member] | Maximum [Member] | First Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program		100.0	100.0
Kemper Preferred [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Second Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program		200.0	200.0
Kemper Preferred [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Third Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program		350.0	350.0
Kemper Direct and Kemper Specialty Segments [Member] | Retained [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program, Percent		0.00%	0.00%
Kemper Direct and Kemper Specialty Segments [Member] | First Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program, Percent		100.00%	100.00%
Kemper Direct and Kemper Specialty Segments [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Retained [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program		0	0
Kemper Direct and Kemper Specialty Segments [Member] | Minimum [Member] | First Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program		3.0	3.0
Kemper Direct and Kemper Specialty Segments [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Retained [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program		3.0	3.0
Kemper Direct and Kemper Specialty Segments [Member] | Maximum [Member] | First Layer of Coverage [Member]
Liability for Catastrophe Claims [Line Items]
Coverage for Catastophe Reinsurance Program		16.0	16.0