CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 3,848	$ (10,833)	$ 7,508
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	4,421	5,064	4,751
Deferred federal income taxes	(2,851)	(2,895)	(980)
Realized gains on investments	(1,943)	(3,633)	(8,402)
Share-based payments expense	380	709	1,114
Change in ceded unearned premiums	(2,941)	6,034	(2,860)
Change in premiums receivable	(13,170)	(3,842)	(702)
Change in accounts receivable	836	2,347	(3,674)
Change in deferred policy acquisition costs	(2,357)	(1,621)	(994)
Change in unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses	16,471	33,088	49,942
Change in unearned premiums	16,398	4,801	6,229
Change in reinsurance recoverable	(9,236)	227	(12,424)
Change in reinsurance balances payable	4,191	(246)	(160)
Change in current federal income tax payable (recoverable)	8,256	(2,470)	(5,359)
Change in all other liabilities	5,396	(5,707)	(2,040)
Change in all other assets	5,983	3,587	4,411
Net cash provided by operating activities	33,682	24,610	36,360
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(107)	(1,586)	(1,775)
Acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash received	0	(13,334)	7,404
Net transfers from (into) restricted cash	665	(4,095)	(2,196)
Purchases of investment securities	(167,626)	(265,684)	(226,246)
Maturities, sales and redemptions of investment securities	148,968	280,918	134,821
Net cash used in investing activities	(18,100)	(3,781)	(87,992)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Activity under revolving credit facility, net	(2,577)	1,250	0
Repayment of notes payable of acquired subsidiary	0	(1,660)	0
Redemption of non-controlling interest	(1,700)	0	0
Distribution to non-controlling interest	(281)	(165)	(144)
Payment of contingent consideration	(350)	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options	0	99	25
Purchase of treasury shares	0	(6,401)	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(4,908)	(6,877)	(119)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	10,674	13,952	(51,751)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	74,471	60,519	112,270
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	85,145	74,471	60,519
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid	(4,656)	(4,620)	(4,594)
Income taxes recovered (paid)	5,879	3,589	(7,202)
Supplemental schedule of non-cash activities:
Change in receivable for securities related to investment disposals that settled after the balance sheet date	2,614	(402)	(2,215)
Change in payable for securities related to investment purchases that settled after the balance sheet date	$ (203)	$ (2,290)	$ 2,474