Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended							3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Service Agreements	Dec. 31, 2013 Service Agreements	Sep. 30, 2014 Sales Agreements	Dec. 31, 2013 Sales Agreements	Sep. 30, 2014 1851	Sep. 30, 2013 1851	Sep. 30, 2014 1851	Sep. 30, 2013 1851	Sep. 30, 2014 Saybrus Sales Agreements	Sep. 30, 2013 Saybrus Sales Agreements	Sep. 30, 2014 Saybrus Sales Agreements	Sep. 30, 2013 Saybrus Sales Agreements	Sep. 30, 2014 Phoenix Life Sales Agreements	Sep. 30, 2013 Phoenix Life Sales Agreements	Sep. 30, 2014 Phoenix Life Sales Agreements	Sep. 30, 2013 Phoenix Life Sales Agreements	Dec. 31, 2013 Phoenix Life Sales Agreements	Sep. 30, 2014 Phoenix Life Processing Service Agreements	Dec. 31, 2013 Phoenix Life Processing Service Agreements	Sep. 30, 2014 Majority Shareholder [Member] Surplus Notes Surplus Notes 10.5%	Sep. 30, 2014 Majority Shareholder [Member] Surplus Notes Surplus Notes 10.5%	Dec. 30, 2013 Majority Shareholder [Member] Surplus Notes Surplus Notes 10.5%
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
General insurance expenses	$ 21,100,000	$ 23,100,000	$ 58,500,000	$ 70,300,000
Amounts payable						4,600,000	6,300,000											1,300,000		1,300,000		1,300,000
Commissions incurred										1,700,000	1,600,000	5,000,000	4,800,000
Commissions paid by related party														3,200,000	2,200,000	8,800,000	7,000,000	22,500,000	15,200,000	58,500,000	48,400,000
Commission amounts payable to related party								1,200,000	700,000
Due from (to) related party																							2,400,000	2,600,000
Receivable from related parties	2,000,000		2,000,000		2,600,000																		200,000
Face amount of debt instrument																											30,000,000.0
Annual interest rate																											10.50%
Interest expense																									$ 800,000	$ 2,400,000