XML 12 R39.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Investments (Investment Gains and Losses) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Held to maturity debt securities:      
Real estate gains (losses) $ 0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfInvestmentRealEstate $ 89us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfInvestmentRealEstate  
Totals 978us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairments 1,548us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairments  
Percentage of gains on bonds, due to calls of securities 75.00%nwli_InvestmentsPercentageOfGainsOnBondsDueToCallsOfSecurities    
Total other-than-temporary impairment gains (losses) on debt securities 160nwli_TotalOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesRecoveriesOnDebtSecurities (4)nwli_TotalOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesRecoveriesOnDebtSecurities  
Portion of loss (gain) recognized in comprehensive income (160)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent (3)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent  
Net impairment losses on debt securities recognized in earnings 0nwli_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetDebtSecurities (7)nwli_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetDebtSecurities  
Equity securities impairments 0nwli_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsEquitySecurities (28)nwli_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsEquitySecurities  
Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet (35)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet  
Non-Credit Other-than-Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]      
Beginning balance, cumulative credit losses related to other-than-temporary impairments 2,298us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld 2,472us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld 2,472us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld
Reductions for securities sold during current period (20)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsSecuritiesSold   (181)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsSecuritiesSold
Additions for credit losses not previously recognized in other-than-temporary impairments 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsNoPreviousImpairment   7us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsNoPreviousImpairment
Ending balance, cumulative credit losses related to other-than-temporary impairments 2,278us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld   2,298us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld
Debt Securities [Member]      
Available for sale debt securities:      
Realized gains on disposal 213us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
692us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
 
Realized losses on disposal (9)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
(8)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
 
Held to maturity debt securities:      
Realized gains on disposal 724nwli_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesRealizedGainsOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
782nwli_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesRealizedGainsOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
 
Realized losses on disposal 0nwli_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesRealizedLossesOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
(11)nwli_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesRealizedLossesOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
 
Equity Securities [Member]      
Held to maturity debt securities:      
Equity securities realized gains (losses) $ 50us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfEquityInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
$ 4us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfEquityInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember