STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities
Management fee received	$ 1,887,537	$ 1,845,075	$ 1,751,247
Administrative services reimbursements received	587,347	588,255	574,698
Service agreement fee received	25,797	27,627	28,677
Net investment income received	35,740	36,442	44,662
Commissions paid to agents	(928,864)	(895,563)	(853,758)
Agents bonuses paid	(108,227)	(115,795)	(134,314)
Salaries and wages paid	(188,070)	(186,460)	(182,537)
Pension contributions and employee benefits paid	(33,098)	(42,728)	(115,525)
General operating expenses paid	(253,545)	(236,128)	(208,036)
Administrative services expenses paid	(598,753)	(582,528)	(580,338)
Income taxes paid	(82,576)	(72,817)	(58,814)
Interest paid	(693)	(853)	(2,377)
Net cash provided by operating activities	342,595	364,527	263,585
Purchase of investments:
Available-for-sale securities	(396,014)	(956,818)	(392,895)
Equity securities	(79,518)	(66,760)	(4,087)
Other investments	(1,142)	(1,080)	(243)
Proceeds from investments:
Available-for-sale securities sales	101,718	687,347	235,323
Available-for-sale securities maturities/calls	118,852	303,798	134,396
Equity securities	70,405	16,109	4,162
Other investments	613	3,722	3,387
Purchase of fixed assets	(55,528)	(102,039)	(56,297)
Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets	15	777	6,014
Loans to agents	(10,098)	(17,611)	(42,594)
Collections on agent loans	7,472	7,921	6,436
Repayment of note receivable from Erie Family Life Insurance	0	0	25,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(243,225)	(124,634)	(81,398)
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid to shareholders	(272,902)	(167,651)	(156,474)
Net (payments) proceeds from long-term borrowings	(1,967)	(1,920)	24,983
Net cash used in financing activities	(274,869)	(169,571)	(131,491)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(175,499)	70,322	50,696
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	336,739	266,417	215,721
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	161,240	336,739	266,417
Supplemental disclosure of noncash transactions
Transfer of investments from other investments to equity securities	13,041	3,310	0
Liability incurred to purchase fixed assets	14,214	6,800	8,453
Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities	$ 4,943	$ 35,483	$ 0