Fair Value (Details) (Recurring [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
U.S. government obligations	$ 106,136	$ 70,742
Residential mortgage-backed securities	14,654	25,040
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	27,014	11,828
State and municipal obligations	111,419	194,865
Corporate securities	133,107	118,945
Options embedded in convertible securities	2,248	1,651
Foreign government obligations	25,176	22,598
Total fixed maturities	419,754	445,669
Equity securities	129,446	107,582
Short term	4,419	4,201
Cash equivalents	95,058	64,450
Total fair value	648,677	621,902
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
U.S. government obligations	106,136	70,742
Residential mortgage-backed securities	0	0
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	0	0
State and municipal obligations	0	0
Corporate securities	0	0
Options embedded in convertible securities	0	0
Foreign government obligations	0	0
Total fixed maturities	106,136	70,742
Equity securities	129,446	107,582
Short term	4,419	4,201
Cash equivalents	0	0
Total fair value	240,001	182,525
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
U.S. government obligations	0	0
Residential mortgage-backed securities	14,654	25,040
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	27,014	11,828
State and municipal obligations	111,419	194,865
Corporate securities	125,745	107,263
Options embedded in convertible securities	2,248	1,651
Foreign government obligations	25,176	22,598
Total fixed maturities	306,256	363,245
Equity securities	0	0
Short term	0	0
Cash equivalents	95,058	64,450
Total fair value	401,314	427,695
Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
U.S. government obligations	0	0
Residential mortgage-backed securities	0	0
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	0	0
State and municipal obligations	0	0
Corporate securities	7,362	11,682
Options embedded in convertible securities	0	0
Foreign government obligations	0	0
Total fixed maturities	7,362	11,682
Equity securities	0	0
Short term	0	0
Cash equivalents	0	0
Total fair value	$ 7,362	$ 11,682