Reinsurance (Product information) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) agreement	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Maximum amount of life policy risk retained by entity, net of reinsured amounts		$ 1,500,000
Life Insurance [Member]
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Reinsurance percentage of death benefit liability		90.00%
Reinsurance
Traditional Life and UL insurance in force, gross		$ 196,300,000,000	$ 195,500,000,000
Traditional Life and UL insurance in force, reinsured		$ 144,200,000,000	$ 143,400,000,000
IUL and VUL
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Reinsurance percentage of death benefit liability		50.00%
TrioSource UL insurance [Member]
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Reinsurance percentage of death benefit liability		50.00%
Single Life Insurance [Member]
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Maximum amount of life insurance risk retained by the entity		$ 10,000,000
Flexible Premium Survivorship Life Insurance [Member]
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Maximum amount of life insurance risk retained by the entity		$ 10,000,000
Long Term Care Segment [Member]
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Reinsurance percentage of death benefit liability		50.00%
DI [Member]
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Maximum amount of life insurance risk retained by the entity		$ 5,000
Property, liability and casualty insurance product line [Member]
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Maximum amount of life insurance risk retained by the entity		$ 750,000
Number of types of reinsurance agreements | agreement		3
Maximum recovery per loss by entity		$ 5,000,000
Catastrophe reinsurance loss recovery per event by entity	$ 180,000,000	155,000,000
Maximum amount of auto and home catastrophe insurance risk retained by entity per event	$ 20,000,000	$ 20,000,000
Percentage of personal umbrella, loss ceded		80.00%
Maximum personal umbrella, recovery		$ 5,000,000