Business Segments (Analysis Of Profitability By Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended												9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 Life Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Life Insurance [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 Life Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Health Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Health Insurance [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 Health Insurance [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Annuity [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Annuity [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Annuity [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Annuity [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Other Income [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 Other Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Administrative Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Administrative Expense [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 Administrative Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Investment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Investment [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 Investment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Corporate And Adjustments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Corporate And Adjustments [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 Corporate And Adjustments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pretax operating income									$ 763,919	$ 750,380	[1]	$ 706,923	$ 486,235	$ 455,266	[1]	$ 427,412	$ 161,991	$ 170,059	[1]	$ 170,410	$ 1,348	[1]	$ 2,345	$ 1,348	$ 312	$ 2,507	$ 2,834	[1]	$ 2,914	$ (159,109)	$ (155,615)	[1]	$ (150,325)	$ 292,597	$ 297,145	[1]	$ 275,650	$ (22,647)	$ (20,657)	[1]	$ (19,450)
Applicable taxes									(249,495)	(252,357)	[1]	(238,153)
After-tax total net operating income, before discontinued operations									514,424	498,023	[1]	468,770
Discontinued operations (after tax)									0	27,932	[1]	26,810
Net operating income									514,424	525,955	[1]	495,580
Realized gains (losses)-investments (after tax)									16,838	24,270	[1]	(85,345)
Realized gains (losses)-discontinued operations (after tax)									0	1,852	[1]	(7,909)
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations (after tax)									(455)	(35,013)	[1]	0
Tax settlements (after tax)									0	0	[1]	2,858
Net proceeds (cost) from legal settlements (after tax)									(7,800)	0	[1]	0
Loss on Company-occupied property (after tax)									0	0	[1]	(231)
State administrative settlement (after tax)									(4,486)	0	[1]	0
Loss on sale of equipment (after tax)									(636)	0	[1]	0
Net income	126,357	137,055	148,940	105,533	154,808	114,531	126,049	121,676	517,885	517,064	[1]	404,953
Pretax operating income, Change									13,539	43,457			30,969	27,854			(8,068)	(351)					997	1,036		(327)	(80)			(3,494)	(5,290)			(4,548)	21,495			(1,990)	(1,207)
Applicable taxes, Change									2,862	(14,204)
After-tax total net operating income, before discontinued operations, Change									16,401	29,253
Discontinued operations (after tax), Change									(27,932)	1,122
Net operating income, change									(11,531)	30,375
Realized gains (losses)-investments (after tax), Change									(7,432)	109,615
Realized gains (losses)-discontinued operations (after tax), Change									(1,852)	9,761
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations (after tax), Change									34,558	(35,013)
Tax settlements (after tax), Change									0	(2,858)
Cost of legal settlements (after tax), Change									(7,800)	0
State administrative settlement (after tax), Change									(4,486)	0
Loss on Company-occupied property (after tax), Change									0	231
Loss on sale of equipment (after tax), Change									(636)	0
Net income, Change									$ 821	$ 112,111
Pretax operating income, Change %									2.00%	6.00%			7.00%	7.00%			(5.00%)	0.00%								(12.00%)	(3.00%)			2.00%	4.00%			(2.00%)	8.00%			10.00%	6.00%
Applicable taxes, Change %									(1.00%)	6.00%
After-tax total net operating income, before discontinued operations, Change %									3.00%	6.00%
Discontinued operations (after tax), Change %										4.00%
Net operating income, change percent									(2.00%)	6.00%
Net income, Change %									0.00%	28.00%

[1] During 2011, management changed the definition of total segment profits before tax to exclude the amortization of low-income housing interests, which management views as a tax expense. Accordingly, the 2010 total segment profits before tax and applicable tax amount have been updated for comparison purposes.