Fair Value (Details) (Recurring [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fixed maturities: [Abstract]
U.S. government obligations	$ 101,094	$ 113,389
Residential mortgage-backed securities	6,066	13,252
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	36,440	28,565
State and municipal obligations	113,777	115,250
Corporate securities	164,068	134,635
Options embedded in convertible securities	2,898	2,580
Foreign government obligations	27,466	23,879
Total fixed maturities	451,809	431,550
Equity securities: [Abstract]
Financial institutions	25,343	18,850
Industrial & miscellaneous	136,764	126,978
Total equity securities	162,107	145,828
Short term	2,966	4,891
Cash equivalents	59,309	52,002
Total fair value	676,191	634,271
Level 1 [Member]
Fixed maturities: [Abstract]
U.S. government obligations	0	113,389
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	0	113,389
Equity securities: [Abstract]
Financial institutions	25,343	18,850
Industrial & miscellaneous	136,764	126,978
Total equity securities	162,107	145,828
Short term	2,966	4,891
Cash equivalents	0	0
Total fair value	165,073	264,108
Level 2 [Member]
Fixed maturities: [Abstract]
U.S. government obligations	101,094	0
Residential mortgage-backed securities	6,066	13,252
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	36,440	28,565
State and municipal obligations	113,777	115,250
Corporate securities	151,860	134,635
Options embedded in convertible securities	2,898	2,580
Foreign government obligations	27,466	23,879
Total fixed maturities	439,601	318,161
Equity securities: [Abstract]
Financial institutions	0	0
Industrial & miscellaneous	0	0
Total equity securities	0	0
Short term	0	0
Cash equivalents	59,309	52,002
Total fair value	498,910	370,163
Level 3 [Member]
Fixed maturities: [Abstract]
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	12,208	0
Options embedded in convertible securities	0	0
Foreign government obligations	0	0
Total fixed maturities	12,208	0
Equity securities: [Abstract]
Financial institutions	0	0
Industrial & miscellaneous	0	0
Total equity securities	0	0
Short term	0	0
Cash equivalents	0	0
Total fair value	$ 12,208	$ 0