Related Party Transactions Intercompany related dividends paid (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012 CICA Subsidiary of Citizens, Inc [Domain]	Sep. 30, 2012 SPLIC subsidiary of CICA [Domain]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash Dividends Paid to Parent Company		$ 5,400,000	$ 2,300,000
Claim limit on intercompany reinsurance agreement	35,000
Retention limit on intercompany reinsurance agreement	$ 100,000

This element represents disclosure of the total aggregate cash dividends paid to the entity by consolidated subsidiaries, by unconsolidated subsidiaries, and by 50% or less owned persons accounted for using the equity method.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph b

-Article 12

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e24072-122690

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 235

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-06)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6882215&loc=d3e537971-122884

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 06

-Article 9

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration