Investments Investments- unrealized loss positions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Equity investments, at fair value (cost of $27,775 and $2,305, respectively)	$ 31,110	$ 3,548
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	11,344	12,571
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	146	56
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	1,008	305
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	2	22
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	12,352	12,876
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	148	78
Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. Preferred Stock [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Equity investments, at fair value (cost of $27,775 and $2,305, respectively)	16,200
US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	4,848	4,612
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	13	1
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	4,848	4,612
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	13	1
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	4,182	3,782
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	101	40
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	4,182	3,782
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	101	40
Mortgage-backed Securities, Issued by US Government Sponsored Enterprises [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	127	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0	267
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	127	267
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	0	0
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	1,031	4,169
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	10	14
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	1,008	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	2	10
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	2,039	4,169
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	12	24
Fixed Maturities [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	11,190	12,563
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	125	55
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	1,008	267
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	2	10
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	12,198	12,830
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	127	65
Equity Securities [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Equity investments, at fair value (cost of $27,775 and $2,305, respectively)	31,110	3,548
Common Stock [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Equity investments, at fair value (cost of $27,775 and $2,305, respectively)	14,910
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	154	8
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	21	1
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0	38
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0	12
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	154	46
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	$ 21	$ 13