Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fair value determined by third party	95.00%
Percentage of investment securities not classified as corporate securities, state and municipal securities, redeemable preferred stocks and U.S. government securities (less than)	1.00%
Level 3 Proportion to fixed maturities and equity securities	4.40%	4.00%
Private placement corporate bonds managed by a third party	$ 542,000	$ 497,000
Fair Value	13,758,024	14,493,060	[1]
Advanced agent commissions receivable	334,000	313,000
Advertising costs charged to earnings and included in other operating expense	10,000	8,000		$ 6,000
Capitalized advertising costs	1,210,000	1,150,000
Original cost of property and equipment	175,000	139,000
Accumulated depreciation	92,000	85,000
Depreciation expense	8,000	7,400		6,400
Loss on sale of real estate				265
Write-down of real estate				2,700
Insurance policy charges	$ 19,300	20,900		$ 22,100
Traditional life and health, interest rate, low end	2.50%
Traditional life and health, interest rate, high end	7.00%
Traditional life and health, weighted average interest rate	5.70%
Carrying value of investment in low-income housing interests	$ 306,000	318,000
Obligations under future commitments for low-income housing interests	$ 69,000
Minimum [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful life	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Building and Improvements [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful life	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful life	10 years
Maximum [Member] | Building and Improvements [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful life	40 years
Life Insurance [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Proportion of future policy reserves which are not universal life type	85.00%
Equity Option [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Option grants contractual term	7 years
Equity Option [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Option grants contractual term	10 years
Employee [Member] | Equity Option [Member] | Five Year Vesting Period [Member] | Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Option grants contractual term	10 years
Vesting period	5 years
Employee [Member] | Equity Option [Member] | Three Year Vesting Period [Member] | Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Option grants contractual term	7 years
Vesting period	3 years
Director [Member] | Equity Option [Member] | Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Option grants contractual term	7 years
Vesting period	6 months
Other Assets [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Carrying value of investment in low-income housing interests	$ 302,000	313,000
Other Long-term Investments [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Carrying value of investment in low-income housing interests	4,000	5,000
Private Placement Bonds [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fair Value	546,000	$ 513,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Private Placement Bonds [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fair Value	15,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fair Value	602,058
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Private Placement Bonds [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 531,000

[1] Certain balances were adjusted to give effect to discontinued operations as described in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies.