Business Segments - Schedule of Segment Premium Revenue by Each Marketing Groups (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	$ 3,049,690	$ 2,856,866	$ 2,657,345
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
United American Independent [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	318,572	320,445	329,944
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	10.00%	11.00%	12.00%
Liberty National Exclusive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	517,244	545,258	578,415
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	17.00%	19.00%	22.00%
American Income Exclusive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	794,801	743,336	688,033
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	26.00%	26.00%	26.00%
Family Heritage [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	191,929	30,249
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	6.00%	1.00%
Direct Response [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	717,442	688,077	650,717
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	24.00%	24.00%	25.00%
Medicare Part D [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	300,008	317,764	196,710
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	10.00%	11.00%	7.00%
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	209,694	211,737	213,526
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	7.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Life Insurance [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	1,885,332	1,808,524	1,726,244
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Life Insurance [Member] | United American Independent [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	19,742	21,127	22,846
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	1.00%	1.00%	1.00%
Life Insurance [Member] | Liberty National Exclusive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	275,980	281,723	288,308
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	15.00%	15.00%	17.00%
Life Insurance [Member] | American Income Exclusive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	715,366	663,696	607,914
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	38.00%	37.00%	35.00%
Life Insurance [Member] | Family Heritage [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	1,006	130
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	0.00%	0.00%
Life Insurance [Member] | Direct Response [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	663,544	630,111	593,650
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Life Insurance [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	209,694	211,737	213,526
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	11.00%	12.00%	12.00%
Health Insurance [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	1,163,826	1,047,783	930,493
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Health Insurance [Member] | United American Independent [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	298,298	298,759	306,490
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	25.00%	28.00%	33.00%
Health Insurance [Member] | Liberty National Exclusive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	241,264	263,535	290,107
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	21.00%	25.00%	31.00%
Health Insurance [Member] | American Income Exclusive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	79,435	79,640	80,119
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	7.00%	8.00%	9.00%
Health Insurance [Member] | Family Heritage [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	190,923	30,119
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	16.00%	3.00%
Health Insurance [Member] | Direct Response [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	53,898	57,966	57,067
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	5.00%	6.00%	6.00%
Health Insurance [Member] | Medicare Part D [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	300,008	317,764	196,710
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	26.00%	30.00%	21.00%
Annuity [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	532	559	608
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Annuity [Member] | United American Independent [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment premium revenue, Amount	$ 532	$ 559	$ 608
Distribution channel premium as percentage of segment premium	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%