COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - INSOLVENCY (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 jurisdiction
Penn Treaty Network America Insurance Company
Payables
Number of Jurisdictions	45
Weighted Average Number of Years	11 years
Recoverables
Number of Jurisdictions	45
Weighted Average Number of Years	11 years
Penn Treaty Network America Insurance Company | Maximum
Payables
Range of Years	68 years
Recoverables
Range of Years	68 years
Penn Treaty Network America Insurance Company | Minimum
Payables
Range of Years	1 year
Recoverables
Range of Years	1 year
American Network Insurance Company
Payables
Number of Jurisdictions	44
Weighted Average Number of Years	14 years
Recoverables
Number of Jurisdictions	44
Weighted Average Number of Years	14 years
American Network Insurance Company | Maximum
Payables
Range of Years	68 years
Recoverables
Range of Years	68 years
American Network Insurance Company | Minimum
Payables
Range of Years	1 year
Recoverables
Range of Years	1 year