SCHEDULE II CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Investments other than subsidiaries:
Fixed maturities	$ 431,550				$ 445,669				$ 431,550	$ 445,669
Limited partnerships	68,988				59,954				68,988	59,954
Total Investments	651,257				617,406				651,257	617,406
Cash and cash equivalents	59,297				71,549				59,297	71,549	89,726
Accounts receivable	100,830				83,400				100,830	83,400
Other assets	19,051				9,818				19,051	9,818
Total Assets	1,072,270				983,024				1,072,270	983,024
Liabilities:
Total Liabilities	690,546				636,312				690,546	636,312
Shareholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	50,594				50,275				50,594	50,275
Unrealized net gains on investments	49,089				35,467				49,089	35,467
Foreign exchange adjustment	1,401				1,976				1,401	1,976
Retained earnings	280,003				258,358				280,003	258,358	241,325	284,346
Shareholders' equity	381,724				346,712				381,724	346,712	319,061	368,735
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,072,270				983,024				1,072,270	983,024
Revenue:
Commissions and service fees									5,944	5,722	6,098
Net investment income	2,183	2,192	1,985	2,410	2,734	2,343	2,431	2,422	8,770	9,930	10,729
Net realized gains (losses) on investments									23,515	9,011	(17,803)
Total revenue									290,972	262,124	243,594
Expenses:
Other									85,361	77,430	73,328
Total expenses									236,062	215,518	288,883
Income before federal income taxes and equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries									54,910	46,606	(45,289)
Federal income tax (benefit)									18,322	14,687	(17,114)
Equity in undistributed income (loss) of subsidiaries									7,995	7,052	(21,890)
Net income (loss)	8,967	7,771	4,907	14,943	4,676	11,687	4,050	11,506	36,588	31,919	(28,175)
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities									35,907	55,794	54,284
Investing activities:
Distributions from limited partnerships									2,528	3,957	757
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities									(32,641)	(59,302)	17,295
Financing activities:
Dividends paid to shareholders									(14,943)	(14,886)	(14,846)
Net cash used in financing activities									(14,943)	(14,886)	(19,846)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									(12,252)	(18,177)	51,503
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				71,549				89,726	71,549	89,726	38,223
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	59,297				71,549				59,297	71,549	89,726
Class A [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	112				112				112	112
Class B [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	525				524				525	524
Parent Company [Member]
Assets
Investment in subsidiaries	398,008				362,450				398,008	362,450
Due from affiliates	2,465				2,719				2,465	2,719
Investments other than subsidiaries:
Fixed maturities	11,093				11,073				11,093	11,073
Limited partnerships	248				255				248	255
Total Investments	11,341				11,328				11,341	11,328
Cash and cash equivalents	9,848				12,143				9,848	12,143	5,690
Accounts receivable	7,075				8,033				7,075	8,033
Other assets	13,453				7,216				13,453	7,216
Total Assets	442,190				403,889				442,190	403,889
Liabilities:
Premiums payable	30,004				29,652				30,004	29,652
Deposits from insureds	16,307				15,489				16,307	15,489
Notes payable to bank	10,000				10,000				10,000	10,000
Other liabilities	4,155				2,036				4,155	2,036
Total Liabilities	60,466				57,177				60,466	57,177
Shareholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	50,594				50,275				50,594	50,275
Unrealized net gains on investments	49,089				35,467				49,089	35,467
Foreign exchange adjustment	1,401				1,976				1,401	1,976
Retained earnings	280,003				258,358				280,003	258,358
Shareholders' equity	381,724				346,712				381,724	346,712
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	442,190				403,889				442,190	403,889
Revenue:
Commissions and service fees									21,597	20,753	20,974
Dividends from subsidiaries									15,000	14,000	14,000
Net investment income									54	48	100
Net realized gains (losses) on investments									(11)	(49)	67
Other									41	24	98
Total revenue									36,681	34,776	35,239
Expenses:
Salary and related items									15,965	15,410	12,281
Other									6,633	7,098	5,550
Total expenses									22,598	22,508	17,831
Income before federal income taxes and equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries									14,083	12,268	17,408
Federal income tax (benefit)									(348)	(629)	1,004
Income (loss)									14,431	12,897	16,404
Equity in undistributed income (loss) of subsidiaries									22,157	19,022	(44,579)
Net income (loss)									36,588	31,919	(28,175)
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities									15,125	20,735	13,255
Investing activities:
Purchases of long-term investments									(10,322)	(8,944)	(10,025)
Sales or maturities of long-term investments									9,982	8,902	9,704
Decrease in notes receivable from employees									0	1,252	106
Distributions from limited partnerships									0	0	444
Net disposals (purchases) of property and equipment									(1,775)	(834)	(622)
Other									(362)	228	128
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities									(2,477)	604	(265)
Financing activities:
Dividends paid to shareholders									(14,943)	(14,886)	(14,846)
Repayment on line of credit									0	0	(5,000)
Net cash used in financing activities									(14,943)	(14,886)	(19,846)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									(2,295)	6,453	(6,856)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				12,143				5,690	12,143	5,690	12,546
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	9,848				12,143				9,848	12,143	5,690
Parent Company [Member] | Class A [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	112				112				112	112
Parent Company [Member] | Class B [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	$ 525				$ 524				$ 525	$ 524