Fair Value (Details - Level 3 rollforward) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2014
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	$ 1,027,763		$ 719,763		$ 769,384		$ 712,306
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	(14,801)		8,336		(14,118)		18,855
Purchases	56,745		89,769		361,102	[1]	158,773
Settlements	(346,128)	[2]	(41,698)	[3]	(392,789)	[1]	(113,764)	[4]
Sales	0		0		0		0
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	723,579		776,170		723,579		776,170
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	(14,875)		9,898		(12,560)		20,686
Fixed maturities [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	599,266		561,168		599,646		554,957
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	(16,101)		9,101		(16,701)		15,989
Purchases	33,720		72,295		77,142	[1]	135,978
Settlements	(93,015)	[2]	(29,841)	[3]	(136,217)	[1]	(94,201)	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	523,870		612,723		523,870		612,723
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	(15,958)		9,143		(16,445)		16,293
Fixed maturities [Member] | US states, territories and municipalities [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	147,683		113,467		149,728		108,380
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	(8,390)		5,960		(10,251)		6,852
Purchases	16,440		4,260		16,440	[1]	8,525
Settlements	(43,512)	[2]	(70)	[3]	(43,696)	[1]	(140)	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	112,221		123,617		112,221		123,617
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	(8,392)		5,959		(10,258)		6,849
Fixed maturities [Member] | Asset-backed securities [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	451,583		447,701		449,918		446,577
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	(7,711)		3,141		(6,450)		9,137
Purchases	17,280		68,035		60,702	[1]	127,453
Settlements	(49,503)	[2]	(29,771)	[3]	(92,521)	[1]	(94,061)	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	411,649		489,106		411,649		489,106
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	(7,566)		3,184		(6,187)		9,444
Equities [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	289,834		40,270		40,134		38,045
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	1,320		(2,749)		1,680		(524)
Purchases	0		8		249,340	[1]	8
Settlements	(249,472)	[2]	0	[3]	(249,472)	[1]	0	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	41,682		37,529		41,682		37,529
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	1,320		(2,749)		1,680		(524)
Equities [Member] | Finance [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	20,532		22,706		20,353		20,207
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	564		(3,142)		743		(643)
Purchases	0		0		0	[1]	0
Settlements	(132)	[2]	0	[3]	(132)	[1]	0	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	20,964		19,564		20,964		19,564
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	564		(3,142)		743		(643)
Equities [Member] | Technology [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	8,602		7,400		8,555		7,752
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	613		245		660		(107)
Purchases	0		0		0	[1]	0
Settlements	0	[2]	0	[3]	0	[1]	0	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	9,215		7,645		9,215		7,645
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	613		245		660		(107)
Equities [Member] | Communications [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	2,723		2,111		2,640		2,199
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	(143)		(44)		(60)		(132)
Purchases	0		0		0	[1]	0
Settlements	0	[2]	0	[3]	0	[1]	0	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	2,580		2,067		2,580		2,067
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	(143)		(44)		(60)		(132)
Equities [Member] | Other equities [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year			0				0
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income			(1)				(1)
Purchases			8				8
Settlements			0	[3]			0	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3			0				0
Balance, end of year			7				7
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period			(1)				(1)
Equities [Member] | Mutual funds and exchange traded funds [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	257,977		8,053		8,586		7,887
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	286		193		337		359
Purchases	0		0		249,340	[1]	0
Settlements	(249,340)	[2]	0	[3]	(249,340)	[1]	0	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	8,923		8,246		8,923		8,246
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	286		193		337		359
Other invested assets [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	126,523		102,801		116,074		103,853
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	(428)		1,403		1,885		2,991
Purchases	23,025		17,466		34,620	[1]	22,532
Settlements	(3,441)	[2]	(11,857)	[3]	(6,900)	[1]	(19,563)	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	145,679		109,813		145,679		109,813
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	(577)		2,923		3,255		4,518
Other invested assets [Member] | Derivatives, net [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	(1,377)		(1,042)		(1,858)		(788)
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	(1,033)		398		(552)		864
Purchases	0	[2]	(208)	[5]	0	[1]	(928)	[6]
Issuances	0		200		0		900
Settlements	0	[2]	0	[3]	0	[1]	0	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	(2,410)		(852)		(2,410)		(852)
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	(1,033)		398		(552)		864
Other invested assets [Member] | Notes And Loan Receivables And Notes Securitization [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	51,103		42,243		44,817		41,446
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	(540)		2,967		564		3,567
Purchases	16,271		2,196		22,682	[1]	2,916
Settlements	(1,384)	[2]	(8,803)	[3]	(2,613)	[1]	(9,326)	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	65,450		38,603		65,450		38,603
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	(541)		4,486		2,082		5,086
Other invested assets [Member] | Annuities and residuals [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	12,155		18,945		13,243		24,064
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	90		302		321		391
Purchases	0		0		0	[1]	0
Settlements	(1,149)	[2]	(2,113)	[3]	(2,468)	[1]	(7,321)	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	11,096		17,134		11,096		17,134
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	91		303		321		431
Other invested assets [Member] | Private equities [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	64,642		42,655		59,872		39,131
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	1,055		(2,264)		1,552		(1,831)
Purchases	6,754		15,478		11,938	[1]	20,544
Settlements	(908)	[2]	(941)	[3]	(1,819)	[1]	(2,916)	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	71,543		54,928		71,543		54,928
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	906		(2,264)		1,404		(1,863)
Funds Held - Directly Managed investment [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	12,140		15,524		13,530		15,451
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	408		581		(982)		399
Purchases	0		0		0	[1]	255
Settlements	(200)	[2]	0	[3]	(200)	[1]	0	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	12,348		16,105		12,348		16,105
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	340		581		(1,050)		399
Funds Held - Directly Managed investment [Member] | Other invested assets funds held directly managed [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	12,008		15,223		13,398		15,165
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	340		577		(1,050)		380
Purchases	0		0		0	[1]	255
Settlements	0	[2]	0	[3]	0	[1]	0	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	12,348		15,800		12,348		15,800
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	340		577		(1,050)		380
Funds Held - Directly Managed investment [Member] | US states, territories and municipalities [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	132		301		132		286
Realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains included in net income	68		4		68		19
Purchases	0		0		0	[1]	0
Settlements	(200)	[2]	0	[3]	(200)	[1]	0	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance, end of year	0		305		0		305
Change in unrealized investment (losses) gains relating to assets held at the end of period	$ 0		$ 4		$ 0		$ 19

[1] There were no issuances or sales for the six months ended June 30, 2015.

[2] There were no issuances or sales for the three months ended June 30, 2015.

[3] There were no sales for the three months ended June 30, 2014.

[4] There were no sales for the six months ended June 30, 2014.

[5] Purchases and issuances of derivatives include issuances of $0.2 million

[6] Purchases and issuances of derivatives include issuances of $0.9 million.