Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair value measurements for investments in available-for-sale fixed maturity and equity securities

The following table presents our fair value measurements for our investments in available-for-sale fixed maturity and equity securities at September 30, 2012:

			Fair Value Measurements Using
	Fair Value		Quoted Prices in  Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(in thousands)
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	76,972	$	—	$	76,972	$	—
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		412,572		—		412,572		—
Corporate securities		74,253		—		74,253		—
Residential mortgage-backed securities		123,682		—		123,682		—
Equity securities		2,583		1,127		1,456		—
Totals	$	690,062	$	1,127	$	688,935	$	—

The following table presents our fair value measurements for our investments in available-for-sale fixed maturity and equity securities at December 31, 2011:

			Fair Value Measurements Using
	Fair Value		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(in thousands)
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	60,978	$	—	$	60,978	$	—
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		398,877		—		398,877		—
Corporate securities		64,114		—		64,114		—
Residential mortgage-backed securities		122,630		—		122,630		—
Equity securities		7,437		6,178		1,259		—
Totals	$	654,036	$	6,178	$	647,858	$	—