Fair Value (Details - Level 3 rollforward) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2015		Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 723,579		$ 776,170		$ 769,384		$ 712,306
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	19,156		(7,448)		5,038		11,407
Purchases and issuances	108,690		46,591		469,792		205,364
Settlements and sales	(94,650)		(62,924)	[1]	(487,439)		(176,688)	[2]
Sales			0	[1]			0	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	756,775		752,389		756,775		752,389
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	17,802		(7,300)		4,782		13,225
Fixed maturities [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	523,870		612,723		599,646		554,957
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	13,429		(803)		(3,272)		15,186
Purchases and issuances	78,244		16,780		155,386		152,758
Settlements and sales	(89,232)		(39,782)	[1]	(225,449)		(133,983)	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	526,311		588,918		526,311		588,918
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	13,950		(656)		(2,954)		15,476
Fixed maturities [Member] | US states, territories and municipalities [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	112,221		123,617		149,728		108,380
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	13,399		3,636		3,148		10,488
Purchases and issuances	0		5,695		16,440		14,220
Settlements and sales	(140)		(2,205)	[1]	(43,836)		(2,345)	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	125,480		130,743		125,480		130,743
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	13,398		3,747		3,140		10,483
Fixed maturities [Member] | Asset-backed securities [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	411,649		489,106		449,918		446,577
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	30		(4,439)		(6,420)		4,698
Purchases and issuances	78,244		11,085		138,946		138,538
Settlements and sales	(89,092)		(37,577)	[1]	(181,613)		(131,638)	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	400,831		458,175		400,831		458,175
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	552		(4,403)		(6,094)		4,993
Equity Securities [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	41,682		37,529		40,134		38,045
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	222		(727)		1,902		(1,251)
Purchases and issuances	0		0		249,340		8
Settlements and sales	(2,218)		0	[1]	(251,690)		0	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	39,686		36,802		39,686		36,802
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(509)		(727)		1,170		(1,251)
Equity Securities [Member] | Finance [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	20,964		19,564		20,353		20,207
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	897		(428)		1,640		(1,071)
Purchases and issuances	0		0		0		0
Settlements and sales	0		0	[1]	(132)		0	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	21,861		19,136		21,861		19,136
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	897		(428)		1,640		(1,071)
Equity Securities [Member] | Technology [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	9,215		7,645		8,555		7,752
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	(799)		(327)		(139)		(434)
Purchases and issuances	0		0		0		0
Settlements and sales	0		0	[1]	0		0	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	8,416		7,318		8,416		7,318
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(799)		(327)		(139)		(434)
Equity Securities [Member] | Communications [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	2,580		2,067		2,640		2,199
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	(12)		(101)		(72)		(233)
Purchases and issuances	0		0		0		0
Settlements and sales	0		0	[1]	0		0	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	2,568		1,966		2,568		1,966
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(12)		(101)		(72)		(233)
Equity Securities [Member] | Other equities [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period			7				0
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income			0				(1)
Purchases and issuances			0				8
Settlements and sales			0	[1]			0	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3			0				0
Balance at end of period			7				7
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period			0				(1)
Equity Securities [Member] | Mutual funds and exchange traded funds [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	8,923		8,246		8,586		7,887
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	136		129		473		488
Purchases and issuances	0		0		249,340		0
Settlements and sales	(2,218)	[3]	0	[1]	(251,558)		0	[2]
Sales	2,200	[3]			2,200	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	6,841		8,375		6,841		8,375
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(595)		129		(259)		488
Other invested assets [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	145,679		109,813		116,074		103,853
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	5,976		(4,457)		7,861		(1,466)
Purchases and issuances	30,446		29,591		65,066		52,123
Settlements and sales	(3,200)		(23,142)	[1]	(10,100)		(42,705)	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	178,901		111,805		178,901		111,805
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	4,832		(4,456)		8,087		62
Other invested assets [Member] | Derivatives, net [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	(2,410)		(852)		(1,858)		(788)
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	9,811		(1,255)		9,259		(391)
Purchases and issuances	0	[5]	57	[1]	0	[6]	(871)	[7]
Issuances	0	[5]	0	[1]	0	[6]	900	[7]
Settlements and sales	0		560	[1]	0		560	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	7,401		(1,490)		7,401		(1,490)
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	9,811		(1,255)		9,259		(391)
Other invested assets [Member] | Notes And Loan Receivables And Notes Securitization [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	65,450		38,603		44,817		41,446
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	(1,594)		(1,379)		(1,030)		2,188
Purchases and issuances	28,893		29,286		51,575		32,202
Settlements and sales	(1,363)		(21,114)	[1]	(3,976)		(30,440)	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	91,386		45,396		91,386		45,396
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(3,112)		(1,379)		(1,030)		3,707
Other invested assets [Member] | Annuities and residuals [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	11,096		17,134		13,243		24,064
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	(226)		(475)		95		(84)
Purchases and issuances	0		0		0		0
Settlements and sales	(826)		(1,779)	[1]	(3,294)		(9,100)	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	10,044		14,880		10,044		14,880
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	148		(474)		469		(44)
Other invested assets [Member] | Private equities [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	71,543		54,928		59,872		39,131
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	(2,015)		(1,348)		(463)		(3,179)
Purchases and issuances	1,553		248		13,491		20,792
Settlements and sales	(1,011)		(809)	[1]	(2,830)	[4]	(3,725)	[2]
Sales	200	[3]			200	[4]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	70,070		53,019		70,070		53,019
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(2,015)		(1,348)		(611)		(3,210)
Funds Held - Directly Managed investment [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	12,348		16,105		13,530		15,451
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	(471)		(1,461)		(1,453)		(1,062)
Purchases and issuances	0		220		0		475
Settlements and sales	0		0	[1]	(200)		0	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	11,877		14,864		11,877		14,864
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(471)		(1,461)		(1,521)		(1,062)
Funds Held - Directly Managed investment [Member] | Other invested assets funds held directly managed [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	12,348		15,800		13,398		15,165
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income	(471)		(1,467)		(1,521)		(1,087)
Purchases and issuances	0		220		0		475
Settlements and sales	0		0	[1]	0		0	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	11,877		14,553		11,877		14,553
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(471)		(1,467)		(1,521)		(1,087)
Funds Held - Directly Managed investment [Member] | US states, territories and municipalities [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period			305		132		286
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net income			6		68		25
Purchases and issuances			0		0		0
Settlements and sales			0	[1]	(200)		0	[2]
Net transfers into/ (out of) Level 3			0		0		0
Balance at end of period	$ 0		311		0		311
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period			$ 6		$ 0		$ 25

[1] There were no issuances or sales for the three months ended September 30, 2014.

[2] There were no sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

[3] Settlements and sales of mutual funds and exchange traded funds and private equities include sales of $2.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

[4] Settlements and sales of mutual funds and exchange traded funds and private equities include sales of $2.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

[5] There were no issuances for the three months ended September 30, 2015.

[6] There were no issuances for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

[7] Purchases and issuances of derivatives include issuances of $0.9 million.