Schedule 2 HCCIH Financial Statements (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities
Share-based Compensation	$ 12,088	$ 13,000	$ 13,018
Change in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	100,091	17,538	31,032
Gain on investments	(30,120)	1,026	(12,168)
Other, net	86,403	9,812	36,479
Cash provided by operating activities	661,147	421,276	415,200
Investing activities
Payments for purchase of businesses, net of cash received	(46,627)	(1,892)	(36,348)
Cost of other investments acquired	0	(33,060)	(4,977)
Sales of available for sale fixed maturity securities	639,834	448,766	239,414
Sales of equity securities	14,117	0	0
Sales of other investments	21,736	347	4,638
Change in short-term investments	(207,403)	355,468	311,983
Maturity or call of available for sale fixed maturity securities	697,404	573,958	620,884
Cost of available for sale fixed maturity securities acquired	(1,489,235)	(1,550,587)	(1,347,285)
Cost of equity securities acquired	262,528	0	0
Cash used by investing activities	(618,903)	(196,991)	(299,653)
Financing activities
Advances on line of credit	185,000	305,000	50,000
Payments on line of credit	(80,000)	(125,000)	(50,000)
Payments on convertible notes	0	0	(64,472)
Sale of common stock	59,838	36,044	29,193
Purchase of common stock	(173,028)	(373,584)	(35,124)
Dividends paid	(64,345)	(65,822)	(63,245)
Other, net	(2,869)	5,770	(13,502)
Cash used by financing activities	(75,404)	(217,592)	(147,150)
Net decrease in cash	(33,160)	6,693	(31,603)
Cash at beginning of year	104,550	97,857	129,460
Cash at end of period	71,390	104,550	97,857
Parent Company [Member]
Operating activities
Net earnings	391,240	255,243	345,096
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities
Distributions from subsidiaries in excess of (less than) net earnings	(392,486)	(103,395)	(169,500)
Change in accrued interest receivable added to intercompany loan balances	(3,154)	(5,000)	(14,769)
Change in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	23,629	14,495	(6,139)
Gain on investments	309	1,653	0
Other, net	3,947	(10,588)	(21,657)
Cash provided by operating activities	23,485	152,408	133,031
Investing activities
Cash contributions to subsidiaries	(30,250)	(29,000)	(50,000)
Cost of other investments acquired	0	(32,496)	(4,753)
Sales of available for sale fixed maturity securities	87,099	109,655	0
Sales of equity securities	9,780	0	0
Sales of other investments	21,736	0	0
Change in short-term investments	(20,987)	103,684	(88,075)
Maturity or call of available for sale fixed maturity securities	105,982	58,189	0
Cost of available for sale fixed maturity securities acquired	(6,666)	(130,322)	0
Cost of equity securities acquired	(124,710)	0	0
Change in receivable/payable from subsidiaries	776	(34,767)	43,209
Intercompany loans to subsidiaries for acquisitions	(66,765)	(1,911)	(54,959)
Payments on intercompany loans to subsidiaries	51,427	43,548	70,474
Cash used by investing activities	27,422	86,580	(84,104)
Financing activities
Issuance of notes payable	25,000	0	13,000
Advances on line of credit	185,000	305,000	50,000
Payments on line of credit	(80,000)	(125,000)	(50,000)
Payments on convertible notes	0	0	(64,472)
Sale of common stock	59,838	36,044	29,193
Purchase of common stock	(173,028)	(373,584)	(35,125)
Dividends paid	(64,345)	(65,822)	(63,245)
Payments on notes payable	0	(13,000)	0
Other, net	0	(2,157)	0
Cash used by financing activities	(47,535)	(238,519)	(120,649)
Net decrease in cash	3,372	469	(71,722)
Cash at beginning of year	1,560	1,091	72,813
Cash at end of period	$ 4,932	$ 1,560	$ 1,091