Preneed Activities Schedule of Unrealized Loss on Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
12 Months Ended |
|
Dec. 31, 2017 |
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
|
$ 1,396,640
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
|
(56,889)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
|
883,668
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
|
(121,759)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
|
2,280,308
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
|
(178,648)
|
US Treasury Securities [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
$ 29,014
|
41,409
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
(115)
|
(838)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
106
|
0
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
(2)
|
0
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
29,120
|
41,409
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
(117)
|
(838)
|
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
20,947
|
2,913
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
(639)
|
(31)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
6,370
|
3,344
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
(450)
|
(191)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
27,317
|
6,257
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
(1,089)
|
(222)
|
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
2,423
|
2,107
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
(31)
|
(22)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
4,453
|
6,162
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
(139)
|
(205)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
6,876
|
8,269
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
(170)
|
(227)
|
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
2,880
|
303
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
(12)
|
(1)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
151
|
0
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
(2)
|
0
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
3,031
|
303
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
(14)
|
(1)
|
Asset-backed Securities [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
0
|
28
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
0
|
(22)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
74
|
156
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
(10)
|
(9)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
74
|
184
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
(10)
|
(31)
|
Preferred Stock securities [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
1,106
|
971
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
(92)
|
(53)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
248
|
515
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
(47)
|
(103)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
1,354
|
1,486
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
(139)
|
(156)
|
US Common Stock Securities [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
184,973
|
271,433
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
(20,561)
|
(23,168)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
18,542
|
50,923
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
(4,178)
|
(12,374)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
203,515
|
322,356
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
(24,739)
|
(35,542)
|
Canada Common Stock Securities [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
1,307
|
3,318
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
(224)
|
(383)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
1,314
|
1,078
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
(298)
|
(72)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
2,621
|
4,396
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
(522)
|
(455)
|
Other International Common Stock Securities [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
19,070
|
19,274
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
(2,499)
|
(4,139)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
2,327
|
24,525
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
(335)
|
(6,493)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
21,397
|
43,799
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
(2,834)
|
(10,632)
|
Equity Funds [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
32,348
|
234,714
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
(1,193)
|
(9,825)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
21,140
|
276,504
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
(3,119)
|
(47,032)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
53,488
|
511,218
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
(4,312)
|
(56,857)
|
Fixed Income Funds [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
225,766
|
323,917
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
(1,402)
|
(5,941)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
294,980
|
425,614
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
(22,541)
|
(40,278)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
520,746
|
749,531
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
(23,943)
|
(46,219)
|
Commingled funds - Fixed inc [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
|
473,550
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
|
(11,714)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
|
20,587
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
|
(520)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
|
494,137
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
|
(12,234)
|
Private Equity Funds [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
|
22,677
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
|
(750)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
|
73,100
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
|
(14,467)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
|
95,777
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
|
(15,217)
|
Other Investments [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
|
26
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
|
(2)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
|
1,160
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
|
(15)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
|
1,186
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
|
(17)
|
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
519,834
|
900,413
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Loss |
(26,768)
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
|
(44,425)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
349,705
|
789,981
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Loss |
(31,121)
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
|
(106,772)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
869,539
|
1,690,394
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
(57,889)
|
(151,197)
|
Reported At Net Asset Value [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
|
496,227
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
|
(12,464)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
|
93,687
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
|
(14,987)
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
|
589,914
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
|
$ (27,451)
|
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Commingled funds - Fixed inc [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
215,295
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
(988)
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
181,358
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
(4,872)
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
396,653
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
(5,860)
|
|
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Private Equity Funds [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
0
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
0
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
11,752
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
(2,149)
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
11,752
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
(2,149)
|
|
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Reported At Net Asset Value [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
215,295
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
(988)
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
193,110
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
(7,021)
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
408,405
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
(8,009)
|
|
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] |
|
|
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items] |
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |
735,129
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses |
(27,756)
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value |
542,815
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses |
(38,142)
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value |
1,277,944
|
|
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses |
$ (65,898)
|
|