Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (11,062,000)	$ (38,127,000)	$ 1,969,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Realized gains on sale of investments and other assets	(108,000)	(518,000)	1,985,000
Net deferred policy acquisition costs	11,540,000	570,000	(4,217,000)
Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired	2,458,000	2,129,000	2,063,000
Depreciation	1,451,000	1,065,000	806,000
Amortization of premiums and discounts on investments	16,998,000	16,606,000	14,676,000
Stock-based compensation	410,000	0	0
Deferred federal income tax expense (benefit)	62,633,000	20,687,000	(9,834,000)
Write-off of goodwill	0	4,631,000	0
Change in:
Accrued investment income	595,000	(1,159,000)	(2,497,000)
Reinsurance recoverable	51,000	147,000	304,000
Due premiums	(560,000)	87,000	(1,033,000)
Future policy benefit reserves	48,496,000	75,920,000	74,583,000
Other policyholders' liabilities	940,000	5,860,000	7,521,000
Federal income tax receivable	(52,079,000)	11,808,000	9,287,000
Commissions payable and other liabilities	3,609,000	(6,753,000)	6,434,000
Other, net	(752,000)	59,000	224,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	84,620,000	93,012,000	102,271,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sale of fixed maturities, available-for-sale	38,823,000	1,077,000	20,638,000
Maturities and calls of fixed maturities, available-for-sale	65,906,000	74,902,000	56,032,000
Maturities and calls of fixed maturities, held-to-maturity	20,699,000	9,095,000	14,405,000
Purchase of fixed maturities, available-for-sale	(195,001,000)	(167,699,000)	(234,964,000)
Purchase of fixed maturities, held-to-maturity	0	0	(5,507,000)
Proceeds from sale of equity securities	0
Sale of equity securities		1,940,000	5,100,000
Calls of equity securities	0
Calls of equity securities		450,000	822,000
Purchase equity securities	(9,000)
Purchase of equity securities		0	0
Principal payments on mortgage loans	9,000	37,000	362,000
Increase in policy loans, net	(7,090,000)	(7,063,000)	(6,506,000)
Sale of other long-term investments	14,000	3,041,000	37,000
Purchase of other long-term investments and real estate	0	0	(75,000)
Purchase of property and equipment	(724,000)	(1,326,000)	(2,214,000)
Sale of property and equipment	89,000	41,000	59,000
Maturity of short-term investments	0	500,000	256,000
Purchase of short-term investments	(7,850,000)	0	(522,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(85,134,000)	(85,005,000)	(152,077,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Annuity deposits	7,265,000	9,346,000	8,673,000
Annuity withdrawals	(7,323,000)	(6,799,000)	(6,184,000)
Net cash provided by financing activities	(58,000)	2,547,000	2,489,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(572,000)	10,554,000	(47,317,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	46,064,000	35,510,000	82,827,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	45,492,000	46,064,000	35,510,000
Cash paid during the year for income taxes	$ 2,510,000	$ 2,675,000	$ 4,061,000