XML 57 R34.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Share-Based Payments (General Descriptions) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
plan
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Jun. 20, 2008
Jun. 25, 2004
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Number of plans 2nwli_EmployeeServiceSharebasedCompensationNumberofPlans        
Expiration period of awards 10 years        
Period in force, from which option holders may elect to sell back acquired shares 90 days        
Pre-tax compensation cost (benefit) recognized $ (0.8)us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 1.7us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense      
Compensation cost (benefit), tax expense (benefit) 0.3us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense (0.6)us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense      
Compensation cost related to nonvested options not yet recognized $ 2.0us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions        
Weighted average period over which the compensation is expected to be recognized 2 years        
Common Class A [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Common stock, par value $ 1.00us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
  $ 1us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
$ 1.00us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
$ 1.00us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
Director [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Annual vesting percentage 20.00%nwli_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAnnualVestingPercentage
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_DirectorMember
       
Requisite service period of awards 1 year        
Employees [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Annual vesting percentage 20.00%nwli_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAnnualVestingPercentage
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= nwli_EmployeesMember
       
Requisite service period of awards 3 years        
1995 Plan [Member] | Common Class A [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share-based payments, number of shares authorized under plans         300,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nwli_StockAndIncentivePlan1995PlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
2008 Plan [Member] | Common Class A [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share-based payments, number of shares authorized under plans       300,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nwli_StockAndIncentivePlan2008PlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember