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Investments (Net Impairment Losses) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
securities
Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Cost-method Investments [Line Items]      
Total other-than-temporary impairment recoveries (losses) on debt securities $ 125nwli_TotalOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesRecoveriesOnDebtSecurities $ 909nwli_TotalOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesRecoveriesOnDebtSecurities $ 1,121nwli_TotalOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesRecoveriesOnDebtSecurities
Portion recognized in comprehensive income (132)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent (1,151)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent (2,364)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent
Net impairment losses (gains) on debt securities recognized in earnings (7)nwli_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetDebtSecurities (242)nwli_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetDebtSecurities (1,243)nwli_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetDebtSecurities
Equity securities impairments (143)nwli_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsEquitySecurities (63)nwli_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsEquitySecurities (98)nwli_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsEquitySecurities
Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings $ (150)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet $ (305)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet $ (1,341)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
Number of debt securities   1nwli_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsNumberOfDebtSecurities