Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information Condensed consolidating balance sheets (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jan. 23, 2004
Assets [Abstract]
Investments	$ 78,376,000	$ 88,000,000
Investment in investee	26,526,000	41,733,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	90,821,000	80,813,000	90,821,000		80,813,000	72,646,000	85,486,000
Goodwill	9,105,000	8,421,000
Intangible assets, net of amortization of $19,821 and $19,263, respectively	50,025,000	50,583,000
Other Assets	3,974,000	4,045,000
Asset held for sale	8,737,000	8,737,000
TOTAL ASSETS	370,248,000	372,800,000
Liabilities and Equity [Abstract]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Net	101,204,000	106,564,000
Unearned Premiums	52,116,000	45,047,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	14,903,000	13,655,000
Senior unsecured debentures	25,888,000	23,730,000						125,000,000
Subordinated Debt	28,781,000	23,774,000
Other Liabilities	34,038,000	34,740,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES	322,529,000	307,386,000
Common stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 13,148,971 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012	296,621,000	296,621,000
Additional Paid in Capital	15,757,000	15,757,000
Accumulated deficit	(279,501,000)	(262,069,000)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	14,433,000	14,762,000		14,588,000	12,749,000
Shareholders' equity attributable to common shareholders	47,310,000	65,071,000
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	409,000	343,000
TOTAL EQUITY	47,719,000	65,414,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	370,248,000	372,800,000
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Amount of Equity	41,952,000	58,709,000
Investments	0	0
Investment in investee	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	1,846,000	1,932,000		15,964,000	22,389,000
Goodwill	0	0
Intangible assets, net of amortization of $19,821 and $19,263, respectively	0	0
Other Assets	4,306,000	5,004,000
Asset held for sale	0	0
TOTAL ASSETS	48,104,000	65,645,000
Liabilities and Equity [Abstract]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Net	0	0
Unearned Premiums	0	0
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	0	0
Senior unsecured debentures	0	0
Subordinated Debt	0	0
Notes Payable	0	0
Other Liabilities	385,000	231,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES	385,000	231,000
Common stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 13,148,971 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012	296,621,000	296,621,000
Additional Paid in Capital	15,757,000	15,757,000
Accumulated deficit	(279,501,000)	(262,069,000)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	14,433,000	14,762,000
Shareholders' equity attributable to common shareholders	47,310,000	65,071,000
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	409,000	343,000
TOTAL EQUITY	47,719,000	65,414,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	48,104,000	65,645,000
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Amount of Equity	191,724,000	185,079,000
Investments	0	0
Investment in investee	21,517,000	36,723,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	12,952,000	6,371,000		1,397,000	873,000
Goodwill	0	0
Intangible assets, net of amortization of $19,821 and $19,263, respectively	7,803,000	7,803,000
Other Assets	235,150,000	229,206,000
Asset held for sale	0	0
TOTAL ASSETS	469,146,000	465,182,000
Liabilities and Equity [Abstract]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Net	0	0
Unearned Premiums	0	0
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	0	0
Senior unsecured debentures	25,888,000	23,730,000
Subordinated Debt	28,781,000	23,774,000
Notes Payable	70,222,000	70,222,000
Other Liabilities	17,020,000	16,374,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES	141,911,000	134,100,000
Common stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 13,148,971 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012	829,681,000	829,681,000
Additional Paid in Capital	0	0
Accumulated deficit	(478,546,000)	(474,768,000)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(23,900,000)	(23,831,000)
Shareholders' equity attributable to common shareholders	327,235,000	331,082,000
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
TOTAL EQUITY	327,235,000	331,082,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	469,146,000	465,182,000
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Amount of Equity	0	0
Investments	136,478,000	142,499,000
Investment in investee	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	76,023,000	72,510,000		55,285,000	62,224,000
Goodwill	9,105,000	8,421,000
Intangible assets, net of amortization of $19,821 and $19,263, respectively	42,222,000	42,780,000
Other Assets	467,185,000	452,199,000
Asset held for sale	8,737,000	8,737,000
TOTAL ASSETS	739,750,000	727,146,000
Liabilities and Equity [Abstract]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Net	101,204,000	106,564,000
Unearned Premiums	52,116,000	45,047,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	14,903,000	13,655,000
Senior unsecured debentures	0	0
Subordinated Debt	0	0
Notes Payable	(70,222,000)	(70,222,000)
Other Liabilities	97,596,000	92,145,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES	195,597,000	187,189,000
Common stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 13,148,971 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012	574,299,000	572,079,000
Additional Paid in Capital	0	0
Accumulated deficit	(36,087,000)	(35,045,000)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	5,941,000	2,923,000
Shareholders' equity attributable to common shareholders	544,153,000	539,957,000
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
TOTAL EQUITY	544,153,000	539,957,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	739,750,000	727,146,000
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Amount of Equity	(233,676,000)	(243,788,000)
Investments	(58,102,000)	(54,499,000)
Investment in investee	5,009,000	5,010,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	0	0		0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Intangible assets, net of amortization of $19,821 and $19,263, respectively	0	0
Other Assets	(599,983,000)	(591,896,000)
Asset held for sale		0
TOTAL ASSETS	(886,752,000)	(885,173,000)
Liabilities and Equity [Abstract]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Net	0	0
Unearned Premiums	0	0
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	0	0
Senior unsecured debentures	0	0
Subordinated Debt	0	0
Notes Payable	0	0
Other Liabilities	(15,364,000)	(14,134,000)
TOTAL LIABILITIES	(15,364,000)	(14,134,000)
Common stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 13,148,971 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012	(1,403,980,000)	(1,401,760,000)
Additional Paid in Capital	0	0
Accumulated deficit	514,633,000	509,813,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	17,959,000	20,908,000
Shareholders' equity attributable to common shareholders	(871,388,000)	(871,039,000)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
TOTAL EQUITY	(871,388,000)	(871,039,000)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	(886,752,000)	(885,173,000)
Consolidated Entities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Amount of Equity	0	0
Investments	78,376,000	88,000,000
Investment in investee	26,526,000	41,733,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	90,821,000	80,813,000		72,646,000	85,486,000
Goodwill	9,105,000	8,421,000
Intangible assets, net of amortization of $19,821 and $19,263, respectively	50,025,000	50,583,000
Other Assets	106,658,000	94,513,000
Asset held for sale	8,737,000	8,737,000
TOTAL ASSETS	370,248,000	372,800,000
Liabilities and Equity [Abstract]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Net	101,204,000	106,564,000
Unearned Premiums	52,116,000	45,047,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	14,903,000	13,655,000
Senior unsecured debentures	25,888,000	23,730,000
Subordinated Debt	28,781,000	23,774,000
Notes Payable	0	0
Other Liabilities	99,637,000	94,616,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES	322,529,000	307,386,000
Common stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 13,148,971 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012	296,621,000	296,621,000
Additional Paid in Capital	15,757,000	15,757,000
Accumulated deficit	(279,501,000)	(262,069,000)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	14,433,000	14,762,000
Shareholders' equity attributable to common shareholders	47,310,000	65,071,000
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	409,000	343,000
TOTAL EQUITY	47,719,000	65,414,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 370,248,000	$ 372,800,000