STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities
Management fee received	$ 1,751,247	$ 1,627,558	$ 1,536,699
Administrative services reimbursements received	574,698
Service agreement fee received	28,677	29,149	29,200
Net investment income received	37,489	31,281	26,796
Limited partnership distributions	7,173	5,128	17,837
(Decrease) increase in reimbursements collected from affiliates		(4,720)	247
Commissions paid to agents	(853,758)	(800,627)	(756,713)
Agents bonuses paid	(134,314)	(122,743)	(113,859)
Salaries and wages paid	(182,537)	(171,547)	(160,985)
Pension contributions and employee benefits paid	(115,525)	(89,981)	(44,250)
General operating expenses paid	(208,036)	(199,084)	(176,029)
Administrative services expenses paid	(580,338)
Income taxes paid	(58,814)	(106,250)	(104,607)
Interest paid	(2,377)	(1,038)	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	263,585	197,126	254,336
Purchase of investments:
Available-for-sale securities	(392,895)
Available-for-sale securities		(391,181)	(369,811)
Equity securities	(4,087)
Limited partnerships	(243)	(410)	(578)
Proceeds from investments:
Available-for-sale securities sales	235,323
Available-for-sale securities sales		144,317	89,498
Available-for-sale securities maturities/calls	134,396	194,980	146,285
Equity securities	4,162
Trading securities			5,171
Limited partnerships	3,387	10,768	16,113
Purchase of fixed assets	(56,297)	(28,927)	(25,208)
Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets	6,014	0	0
Distributions on agent loans	(42,594)	(9,153)	(5,215)
Collections on agent loans	6,436	4,943	6,801
Repayment of note receivable from Erie Family Life Insurance	25,000	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(81,398)	(74,663)	(136,944)
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid to shareholders	(156,474)	(145,765)	(135,985)
Net proceeds from long-term borrowings	24,983	49,951	24,776
Net cash used in financing activities	(131,491)	(95,814)	(111,209)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	50,696	26,649	6,183
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	215,721	189,072	182,889
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	266,417	215,721	189,072
Supplemental disclosure of noncash transactions
Transfer of investments from limited partnerships to trading securities	0	0	4,464
Liability incurred to purchase fixed assets	$ 8,453	$ 0	$ 0