Schedule Of Segment Premium Revenue By Each Marketing Groups (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	$ 2,856,866	$ 2,657,345	$ 2,652,274
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
United American Independent
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	320,445	329,944	340,696
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	11.00%	12.00%	13.00%
Liberty National Exclusive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	545,258	578,415	625,643
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	19.00%	22.00%	24.00%
American Income Exclusive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	743,336	688,033	639,708
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	26.00%	26.00%	24.00%
Family Heritage
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	30,249
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	1.00%
Direct Response
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	688,077	650,717	620,932
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	24.00%	25.00%	23.00%
Medicare Part D
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	317,764	196,710	208,970
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	11.00%	7.00%	8.00%
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	211,737	213,526	216,325
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Life Insurance
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	1,808,524	1,726,244	1,663,699
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Life Insurance | United American Independent
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	21,127	22,846	25,534
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	1.00%	1.00%	1.00%
Life Insurance | Liberty National Exclusive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	281,723	288,308	294,587
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	15.00%	17.00%	18.00%
Life Insurance | American Income Exclusive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	663,696	607,914	560,649
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	37.00%	35.00%	34.00%
Life Insurance | Family Heritage
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	130
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	0.00%
Life Insurance | Direct Response
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	630,111	593,650	566,604
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	35.00%	35.00%	34.00%
Life Insurance | Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	211,737	213,526	216,325
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	12.00%	12.00%	13.00%
Health Insurance
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	1,047,783	930,493	987,937
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Health Insurance | United American Independent
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	298,759	306,490	314,524
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	28.00%	33.00%	32.00%
Health Insurance | Liberty National Exclusive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	263,535	290,107	331,056
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	25.00%	31.00%	34.00%
Health Insurance | American Income Exclusive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	79,640	80,119	79,059
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	8.00%	9.00%	8.00%
Health Insurance | Family Heritage
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	30,119
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	3.00%
Health Insurance | Direct Response
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	57,966	57,067	54,328
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	6.00%	6.00%	5.00%
Health Insurance | Medicare Part D
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	317,764	196,710	208,970
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	30.00%	21.00%	21.00%
Annuity
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	559	608	638
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Annuity | United American Independent
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	$ 559	$ 608	$ 638
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%