Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation (Narrative) (Details)		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) state segment	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) state	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) state	Sep. 17, 2017 segment	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of business segments | segment	1				2
Payment for income taxes				$ 7,648,000		$ 24,026,000
Federal tax refund received				10,000,000		0
Interest payments				0		0
Decrease in DAC asset related to assumed realization of unrealized gains (losses)	$ 9,995,000	$ 9,995,000		9,995,000			$ 6,413,000
Federal income tax expense (benefit)		(13,312,000)	$ 2,407,000	$ (13,330,000)		$ 6,489,000
Federal statutory rate				35.00%		35.00%
Liability for unrecognized tax benefits	$ 0	0		$ 0			$ 0
Excess tax benefit		$ 62,000		$ 546,000
Property and Casualty Insurance
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of states in which we are licensed as insurer | state	46	46		46
Number of business segments | segment	1
Life Insurance
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of states in which we are licensed as insurer | state	37	37		37
Continuing and Discontinuing Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Federal income tax expense (benefit)				$ (10,400,000)		$ 6,904,000