Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation: The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Torchmark Corporation (Torchmark or alternatively, the Company) have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q. Therefore, they do not include all of the disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for annual financial statements. However, in the opinion of management, these statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial position at March 31, 2019, and the condensed consolidated results of operations, comprehensive income, and cash flows for the periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. The interim period condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements that are included in the Form 10-K filed with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 1, 2019.

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted / Not Yet Adopted

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in the Current Year
Standard	Description	Effective date	Effect on the consolidated financial statements
ASU No. 2016-02/2018-11, Leases (Topic 842), with clarification guidance issued in July 2018.	The standard requires lessees to record a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability on the balance sheet for all operating leases that do not qualify for the practical expedients allowed for in this standard. Additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures are required.	This standard became effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019.	The Company adopted the optional transition method allowed for under ASU 2018-11 by not restating comparative periods and recognizing an immaterial cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings on January 1, 2019. The Company does not have any significant lessor contracts. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2017-08, Receivables—Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Topic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities	This standard was issued to shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium. The standard requires the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date.	This standard became effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019.	This adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2019.

Accounting Pronouncements Yet to be Adopted
Standard	Description	Effective date	Effect on the consolidated financial statements
ASU No. 2016-13/2019-04, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, with clarification guidance issued in April 2019.	This standard provides financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments as well as to change the loss impairment methodology for available-for-sale debt securities by use of an allowance rather than a direct write-down.	This standard will become effective on January 1, 2020. The applicable section of the standard related to debt securities requires a prospective transition.	The Company is in the process of determining the impact this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.

Standard	Description	Effective date	Effect on the consolidated financial statements
ASU No. 2018-12,  Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts	The guidance was primarily issued to 1) improve the timeliness of recognizing changes in the liability for future policy benefits and modify the rate used to discount future cash flows, 2) simplify and improve the accounting for certain market-based options or guarantees associated with deposit (or account balance) contracts, 3) simplify the amortization of deferred acquisition costs, and 4) improve the effectiveness of the required disclosures.	This standard is effective beginning January 1, 2021, and should be applied on a retrospective basis. Early adoption of the amendments is permitted.	ASU 2018-12 will require changes to the Company's actuarial systems and data inputs related to the valuation of the future policy benefits. Additionally, it will significantly expand the Company's disclosures. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2018-13,  Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement	The amendment modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by removing, modifying, or adding certain disclosures.	The revised standard is effective beginning January 1, 2020. The removed and modified disclosures will be adopted on a retrospective basis and the new disclosures will be adopted on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted.	The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans-General (Subtopic 715-20), Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans	The standard removes disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial, clarifies the specific requirements of disclosures and adds disclosure requirements identified as relevant.	This standard is effective beginning January 1, 2021, and will be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted.	The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract	The standard was issued to align the accounting for implementation costs of hosting arrangements, regardless of whether they convey a license to the hosted software. Accordingly, the standard requires the capitalization of implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract, similar to the treatment for developed or obtained internal-use software.	The standard is effective beginning January 1, 2020, and the Company plans to apply the standards on a prospective basis. Early adoption of the amendments is also permitted.	The Company is in the process of determining the impact this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.