Federal Income Taxes (Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Deferred tax assets:
Future policy benefits, excess of financial accounting liabilities over tax liabilities	$ 189,100	$ 162,424
Investment securities write-downs for financial accounting purposes	311	196
Benefit plan liabilities	7,444	10,355
Real estate, principally due to adjustments for financial accounting purposes	16	0
Accrued operating expenses recorded for financial accounting purposes not currently tax deductible	4,426	6,222
Tax reform reserve adjustment	0	83,935
Accrued and unearned investment income recognized for tax purposes and deferred for financial accounting purposes	109	265
Net unrealized losses on debt securities available for sale	7,390	0
Other	74	94
Total gross deferred tax assets	208,870	263,491
Deferred tax liabilities:
Deferred policy acquisition and sales inducement costs, principally expensed for tax purposes	(170,940)	(180,780)
Tax reform reserve adjustment	(61,170)	(83,935)
Debt securities, principally due to deferred market discount for tax	(7,370)	(7,526)
Real estate, principally due to adjustments for financial accounting purposes	0	(5)
Net unrealized gains on securities available for sale	0	(8,945)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,217)	(857)
Fixed assets, due to different depreciation bases	(7,546)	(6,853)
Other	(11)	2
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	(248,254)	(288,899)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$ (39,384)	$ (25,408)