Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Note 1 - Basis of Presentation The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC and include the accounts of Kemper Corporation and its subsidiaries (individually and collectively referred to herein as the “Company”) and are unaudited. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain financial information that is normally included in annual financial statements, including certain financial statement footnote disclosures, prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) is not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting and has been condensed or omitted. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation. The preparation of interim financial statements relies heavily on estimates. This factor and other factors, such as the seasonal nature of some portions of the insurance business, as well as market conditions, call for caution in drawing specific conclusions from interim results. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in the 2017 Annual Report. Adoption of New Accounting Guidance Guidance Adopted in 2018 Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-01, Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. ASU 2016-01 addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. Most significantly, ASU 2016-01 requires companies to measure equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. However, an entity may choose to measure equity investments that do not have readily-determinable fair values at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer (“Modified Cost”). ASU 2016-01 also simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily-determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment. When a qualitative assessment indicates that an impairment of an equity investment without readily-determinable fair value exists, an entity is required to re-measure such investment at fair value. The Company applied the modified retrospective transition method, except for the provisions regarding equity investments without readily determinable fair values, which were applied on a prospective basis, with no impact on the Company’s Total Shareholders’ Equity. The Company recognized a $17.7 million increase to Retained Earnings, and a corresponding reduction to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”), as of January 1, 2018, which represents the accumulated net unrealized gains on Equity Securities at Fair Value immediately prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-01. The Company has recorded equity investments without readily-determinable fair values under the caption Equity Securities at Modified Cost in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As a result of adopting ASU 2016-01, the Company revised its accounting policy as of January 1, 2018 and no longer classifies equity investments as available-for-sale or trading securities. Equity securities with readily-determinable fair values, including equity securities which the Company previously classified as Fair Value Option Investments, are classified as Equity Securities at Fair Value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2018 with changes in fair value recorded as Income from Change in Fair Value of Equity Securities in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2018. The Company anticipates ASU 2016-01 will result in increased volatility within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income in future periods. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company early adopted ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Income Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. ASU 2018-02 provides companies the option to reclassify tax effects stranded in AOCI, as a result of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), to retained earnings. The Company elected to reclassify tax effects stranded in AOCI and recognized a decrease to Retained Earnings and a corresponding increase to AOCI of $35.9 million as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2018-02 had no impact on Total Shareholders’ Equity. On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those services. ASU 2014-09 specifically excludes insurance contracts, lease contracts and investments from its scope. Accordingly, the adoption of ASU 2014-09 had no material impact on the Company’s net income or its financial position. Note 1 - Basis of Presentation (continued) Guidance Not Yet Adopted In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), by amending the Accounting Standards Codification and creating a new topic on accounting for leases. ASU 2016-02 introduces a lessee model that requires most leases to be reported on the balance sheet of a lessee. ASU 2016-02 also aligns many of the underlying principles of the new lessor model with those in ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, the FASB’s new revenue recognition standard (e.g., those related to evaluating when profit can be recognized). Furthermore, ASU 2016-02 addresses other concerns related to the current leases model. For example, ASU 2016-02 eliminates the requirement in current GAAP for an entity to use bright-line tests in determining lease classification. ASU 2016-02 also requires lessors to increase the transparency of their exposure to changes in value of their residual assets and how they manage that exposure. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those years with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption to have a material impact on its financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that utilizes expected credit losses to provide for an allowance for credit losses for financial instruments and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The amendments in this ASU require a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset(s) to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. The income statement includes the measurement of credit losses for newly recognized financial assets, as well as the expected increases or decreases of expected credit losses that have taken place during the period. Credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities are measured in a manner similar to current GAAP, although the ASU requires that they be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. In situations where the estimate of credit loss on an available-for-sale debt security declines, entities will be able to record the reversal to income in the current period, which GAAP currently prohibits. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods with early adoption permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2018 and interim periods within such year. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statements. In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Derivatives and Hedging Activities. ASU 2017-12 aligns an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. The amendments in ASU 2017-12 expand and refine hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and align the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. Furthermore, the amendments make certain targeted improvements to simplify the application of hedge accounting guidance and ease the administration of hedge documentation requirements and assessing hedge effectiveness. ASU 2017-12 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those annual periods with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption to have a material impact on its financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-12, Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts. ASU 2018-12 amends the accounting model for certain long-duration insurance contracts and requires the insurer to provide additional disclosures in annual and interim reporting periods. ASU 2018-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods therein. The amendments in ASU 2018-12 are intended to improve measurement of the liability for future policy benefits related to nonparticipating traditional and limited-payment contracts, measurement and presentation of market risk benefits, amortization of deferred acquisition costs, and enhance presentation and disclosures. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statements. The Company has adopted all other recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates prior to October 1, 2018. There were no adoptions of such accounting pronouncements during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 that had a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. With the possible exceptions of ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, and ASU 2018-12, Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944):Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts, the Company does not expect the adoption of recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates after September 30, 2018 to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements and/or disclosures.

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC and include the accounts of Kemper Corporation and its subsidiaries (individually and collectively referred to herein as the “Company”) and are unaudited. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Certain financial information that is normally included in annual financial statements, including certain financial statement footnote disclosures, prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) is not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting and has been condensed or omitted. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation. The preparation of interim financial statements relies heavily on estimates. This factor and other factors, such as the seasonal nature of some portions of the insurance business, as well as market conditions, call for caution in drawing specific conclusions from interim results. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in the 2017 Annual Report.

Adoption of New Accounting Guidance

Guidance Adopted in 2018

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-01, Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. ASU 2016-01 addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. Most significantly, ASU 2016-01 requires companies to measure equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. However, an entity may choose to measure equity investments that do not have readily-determinable fair values at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer (“Modified Cost”). ASU 2016-01 also simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily-determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment. When a qualitative assessment indicates that an impairment of an equity investment without readily-determinable fair value exists, an entity is required to re-measure such investment at fair value.

The Company applied the modified retrospective transition method, except for the provisions regarding equity investments without readily determinable fair values, which were applied on a prospective basis, with no impact on the Company’s Total Shareholders’ Equity. The Company recognized a $17.7 million increase to Retained Earnings, and a corresponding reduction to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”), as of January 1, 2018, which represents the accumulated net unrealized gains on Equity Securities at Fair Value immediately prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-01. The Company has recorded equity investments without readily-determinable fair values under the caption Equity Securities at Modified Cost in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As a result of adopting ASU 2016-01, the Company revised its accounting policy as of January 1, 2018 and no longer classifies equity investments as available-for-sale or trading securities. Equity securities with readily-determinable fair values, including equity securities which the Company previously classified as Fair Value Option Investments, are classified as Equity Securities at Fair Value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2018 with changes in fair value recorded as Income from Change in Fair Value of Equity Securities in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2018. The Company anticipates ASU 2016-01 will result in increased volatility within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income in future periods.

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company early adopted ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Income Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. ASU 2018-02 provides companies the option to reclassify tax effects stranded in AOCI, as a result of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), to retained earnings. The Company elected to reclassify tax effects stranded in AOCI and recognized a decrease to Retained Earnings and a corresponding increase to AOCI of $35.9 million as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2018-02 had no impact on Total Shareholders’ Equity.

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those services. ASU 2014-09 specifically excludes insurance contracts, lease contracts and investments from its scope. Accordingly, the adoption of ASU 2014-09 had no material impact on the Company’s net income or its financial position.

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation (continued)

Guidance Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), by amending the Accounting Standards Codification and creating a new topic on accounting for leases. ASU 2016-02 introduces a lessee model that requires most leases to be reported on the balance sheet of a lessee. ASU 2016-02 also aligns many of the underlying principles of the new lessor model with those in ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, the FASB’s new revenue recognition standard (e.g., those related to evaluating when profit can be recognized). Furthermore, ASU 2016-02 addresses other concerns related to the current leases model. For example, ASU 2016-02 eliminates the requirement in current GAAP for an entity to use bright-line tests in determining lease classification. ASU 2016-02 also requires lessors to increase the transparency of their exposure to changes in value of their residual assets and how they manage that exposure. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those years with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption to have a material impact on its financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that utilizes expected credit losses to provide for an allowance for credit losses for financial instruments and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The amendments in this ASU require a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset(s) to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. The income statement includes the measurement of credit losses for newly recognized financial assets, as well as the expected increases or decreases of expected credit losses that have taken place during the period. Credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities are measured in a manner similar to current GAAP, although the ASU requires that they be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. In situations where the estimate of credit loss on an available-for-sale debt security declines, entities will be able to record the reversal to income in the current period, which GAAP currently prohibits. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods with early adoption permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2018 and interim periods within such year. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Derivatives and Hedging Activities. ASU 2017-12 aligns an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. The amendments in ASU 2017-12 expand and refine hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and align the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. Furthermore, the amendments make certain targeted improvements to simplify the application of hedge accounting guidance and ease the administration of hedge documentation requirements and assessing hedge effectiveness. ASU 2017-12 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those annual periods with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption to have a material impact on its financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-12, Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts. ASU 2018-12 amends the accounting model for certain long-duration insurance contracts and requires the insurer to provide additional disclosures in annual and interim reporting periods. ASU 2018-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods therein. The amendments in ASU 2018-12 are intended to improve measurement of the liability for future policy benefits related to nonparticipating traditional and limited-payment contracts, measurement and presentation of market risk benefits, amortization of deferred acquisition costs, and enhance presentation and disclosures. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statements.

The Company has adopted all other recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates prior to October 1, 2018. There were no adoptions of such accounting pronouncements during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 that had a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. With the possible exceptions of ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, and ASU 2018-12, Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944):Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts, the Company does not expect the adoption of recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates after September 30, 2018 to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements and/or disclosures.