Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Benefit Plans [Abstract]
Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block]	The Company sponsors a defined contribution retirement plan. The plan was initially established as the Citizens, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan and was restated as the Citizens, Inc. 401(k) Retirement and Profit Sharing Plan effective March 1, 2016. There have been no profit sharing contributions since 2014. On January 1, 2019, the 401(k) plan was amended to allow employees who have completed three months of service to participate in the plan. Prior to that date, a year of service was required before participation. Contributions are made by employees and the Company provides a matching contribution based upon the employee's level of contribution. The Company's expense was $0.8 million, $0.7 million and $0.7 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company is primarily self-insured for employee health benefits. The Company records its self-insurance liability based on an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported. There is stop-loss coverage for amounts in excess of $120,000 per individual per year. If more claims are made than were estimated or if the costs of actual claims increase beyond what was anticipated, reserves recorded may not be sufficient and additional accruals may be required in future periods.

Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block]

The Company sponsors a defined contribution retirement plan. The plan was initially established as the Citizens, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan and was restated as the Citizens, Inc. 401(k) Retirement and Profit Sharing Plan effective March 1, 2016. There have been no profit sharing contributions since 2014.

On January 1, 2019, the 401(k) plan was amended to allow employees who have completed three months of service to participate in the plan. Prior to that date, a year of service was required before participation. Contributions are made by employees and the Company provides a matching contribution based upon the employee's level of contribution. The Company's expense was $0.8 million, $0.7 million and $0.7 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The Company is primarily self-insured for employee health benefits. The Company records its self-insurance liability based on an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported. There is stop-loss coverage for amounts in excess of $120,000 per individual per year. If more claims are made than were estimated or if the costs of actual claims increase beyond what was anticipated, reserves recorded may not be sufficient and additional accruals may be required in future periods.