General (Details) (USD $) Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Aug. 09, 2013 Swap [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Swap [Member]	Aug. 09, 2013 Swap [Member] LIBOR [Member]
General [Abstract]
Potentially dilutive securities (in shares)	53	108	76	77
Deferred policy acquisition cost amortization	$ 126,891,000	$ 121,906,000	$ 377,006,000	$ 357,062,000
Advertising expenses			16,000,000	15,000,000
Derivative [Line Items]
Term of swap agreement						3 years
Notional amount	80,000,000		80,000,000
Basis spread on variable rate								1.20%
Swap agreement collateral							40,000,000
Unsecured Debt	$ 40,000,000		$ 40,000,000		$ 0