Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Level 3 Proportion to fixed maturities and equity securities	2.80%	2.10%
Private placement corporate bonds managed by a third party	$ 313,000,000	$ 184,000,000
Insurance policy charges	22,124,000	23,310,000	24,950,000
Advertising costs charged to earnings and included in other operating expense	6,000,000	16,000,000	16,000,000
Capitalized advertising costs	1,090,000,000	1,040,000,000
Original cost of property and equipment	136,000,000	125,000,000
Accumulated depreciation	85,000,000	79,000,000
Depreciation expense	6,400,000	7,100,000	6,800,000
Loss on sale of real estate	265,000
Write-down of real estate	2,700,000
Carrying value of investment in low-income housing interests	290,000,000	285,000,000
Obligations under future commitments for low-income housing interests	58,000,000
Pretax state administrative issue expense			6,900,000
After tax state administrative issue expense			4,500,000
Litigation settlement expense	9,125,000		12,000,000
State guaranty fund assessment expense	1,200,000
State guaranty fund assessment expense, After tax	751,000
Life Insurance [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Proportion of future policy reserves which are not universal life type	0.83
Liability for future policy benefits, interest rate assumptions, low end	2.50%
Liability for future policy benefits, interest rate assumptions, high end	7.00%
Liability for future policy benefits, interest rate assumptions	5.80%
Minimum [Member] | Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Option grants contractual term	7 years
Vesting period	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful life	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Building and Building Improvements [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful life	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Option grants contractual term	10 years
Vesting period	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful life	10 years
Maximum [Member] | Building and Building Improvements [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful life	40 years
Other Assets [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Carrying value of investment in low-income housing interests	283,000,000	275,000,000
Other Invested Assets [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Carrying value of investment in low-income housing interests	7,000,000	10,000,000
Pre Tax [Member] | Prior Year Litigation Matter [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement expense	8,600,000		12,000,000
Pre Tax [Member] | Non-Insurance Matter [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement expense	500,000
After Tax [Member] | Prior Year Litigation Matter [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement expense	5,600,000		7,800,000
After Tax [Member] | Non-Insurance Matter [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement expense	$ 325,000
Third Party [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fair value determined by third party	99.00%
7.1% Junior Subordinated Debentures [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage rate of junior subordinated debentures	7.10%