CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows - operating activities
Premiums collected	$ 710,646	$ 723,705	$ 707,275
Policyholder benefits paid	(511,017)	(534,359)	(486,295)
Policy acquisition and other operating expenses paid	(277,076)	(267,854)	(262,765)
Federal income taxes paid	(27,847)	(24,861)	(29,195)
Investment income collected	344,778	330,034	324,252
Interest expense paid	(11,754)	(13,521)	(13,902)
Other	(20,312)	(6,101)	(17,437)
Net cash provided by operating activities	207,418	207,043	221,933
Fixed maturities
Purchases	(1,566,047)	(1,490,376)	(1,309,267)
Sales	429,251	445,100	261,696
Maturities, paydowns, calls and redemptions	799,653	683,335	451,074
Purchase of other invested assets	(83,588)	(38,018)	(16,041)
Net cash provided by (used in) short-term and other investments	95,371	(15,890)	47,023
Net cash used in investing activities	(325,360)	(415,849)	(565,515)
Cash flows - financing activities
Dividends paid to shareholders	(44,310)	(42,523)	(39,237)
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes due 2025	0	246,937	0
Redemption of Senior Notes due 2016	0	(127,292)	0
Maturity of Senior Notes due 2015	0	(75,000)	0
Principal repayment on Bank Credit Facility	0	(38,000)	0
Acquisition of treasury stock	(21,513)	(21,950)	(5,411)
Exercise of stock options	3,329	1,629	8,252
Annuity contracts: variable, fixed and FHLB funding agreements
Deposits	520,211	623,021	730,632
Benefits, withdrawals and net transfers to Separate Account (variable annuity) assets	(349,915)	(354,735)	(326,374)
Life policy accounts
Deposits	4,018	1,455	1,093
Withdrawals and surrenders	(3,965)	(3,985)	(4,883)
Cash received (paid) related to repurchase agreements	0	0	(25,848)
Change in bank overdrafts	11,248	3,083	(1,156)
Net cash provided by financing activities	119,103	212,640	337,068
Net increase (decrease) in cash	1,161	3,834	(6,514)
Cash at beginning of period	15,509	11,675	18,189
Cash at end of period	$ 16,670	$ 15,509	$ 11,675