General Information (Details Textuals) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
General Information [Abstract]
Premiums Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	$ 3,700,000	$ 3,600,000
Fiduciary funds included in short-term investments and fixed income securities	222,300,000	257,500,000
Cumulative effect of initial adoption of FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2			4,300,000
Cash collected on long-term mortgage impairment insurance contracts			20,300,000
Proceeds received for terminated interest in mortgage impairment contract		8,300,000
Gain recognized on proceeds from mortgage impairment insurance contract		8,000,000
Other assets	1,516,000	857,000
Effect of ASU 2010-26 on Shareholder's Equity	$ 20,000,000