Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Premiums:
Life insurance	$ 181,825	$ 191,342	$ 191,254
Accident and health insurance	1,218	1,392	1,546
Property insurance	4,817	4,986	5,076
Net investment income	54,205	53,146	48,560
Realized investment gains, net	108	518	(1,985)
Other income	1,833	1,243	955
Total revenue	244,006	252,627	245,406
Insurance benefits paid or provided:
claims and surrenders	91,103	82,905	81,367
Increase in future policy benefit reserves	47,947	76,029	75,881
Policyholders' dividends	6,362	6,268	6,832
Total insurance benefits paid or provided	145,412	165,202	164,080
Commissions	34,962	41,324	44,641
Other general expenses	47,632	46,388	33,356
Capitalized deferred policy acquisition costs	(22,695)	(29,120)	(32,732)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	34,235	29,690	28,515
Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired	2,458	2,129	2,063
Total benefits and expenses	242,004	255,613	239,923
Income (loss) before federal income tax	2,002	(2,986)	5,483
Federal income tax expense (benefit)	13,064	35,141	3,514
Net income (loss)	(11,062)	(38,127)	1,969
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized holding gains arising during the period		17,666
Unrealized holding losses arising during the period	(30,639)		(1,659)
Reclassification adjustments for losses included in net income	(953)	546	1,974
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net	(31,592)	18,212	315
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax effect	(6,464)	5,672	110
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(25,128)	12,540	205
Total comprehensive loss	$ (36,190)	$ (25,587)	$ 2,174
Common Stock Class A [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic and diluted earnings (losses) per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.22)	$ (0.77)	$ 0.04
Common Stock Class B [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic and diluted earnings (losses) per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.11)	$ (0.38)	$ 0.02