Schedule Of Revenues And Profitability Indicated By Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues, Total	$ 117,565	[1]
Segment profitability (loss), Total	41,632
Life Insurance
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues, Total	65,726
Segment profitability (loss), Total	22,692
Annuity
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues, Total	7,949
Segment profitability (loss), Total	(931)
Investment
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues, Total	43,787
Segment profitability (loss), Total	22,490
Other
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues, Total	103
Segment profitability (loss), Total	$ (2,619)

[1] Segment revenues differ from discontinued revenues by the amount of realized investment gains/losses, which Torchmark excludes from its consideration of ongoing operations.