Fair Value (Details) (Recurring [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fixed maturities [Abstract]
U.S. government obligations	$ 123,933	$ 113,389
Residential mortgage-backed securities	7,349	13,252
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	35,694	28,565
State and municipal obligations	105,382	115,250
Corporate securities	126,748	134,635
Options embedded in convertible securities	2,749	2,580
Foreign government obligations	29,946	23,879
Total fixed maturities	431,801	431,550
Equity Securities [Abstract]
Financial institutions	20,594	18,850
Industrial & miscellaneous	139,676	126,978
Total equity securities	160,270	145,828
Short term	3,165	4,891
Cash equivalents	75,141	52,002
Total fair value	670,377	634,271
Level 1 [Member]
Fixed maturities [Abstract]
U.S. government obligations	123,933	113,389
Residential mortgage-backed securities	0	0
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	0	0
State and municipal obligations	0	0
Corporate securities	0	0
Options embedded in convertible securities	0	0
Foreign government obligations	0	0
Total fixed maturities	123,933	113,389
Equity Securities [Abstract]
Financial institutions	20,594	18,850
Industrial & miscellaneous	139,676	126,978
Total equity securities	160,270	145,828
Short term	3,165	4,891
Cash equivalents	0	0
Total fair value	287,368	264,108
Level 2 [Member]
Fixed maturities [Abstract]
U.S. government obligations	0	0
Residential mortgage-backed securities	7,349	13,252
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	35,694	28,565
State and municipal obligations	105,382	115,250
Corporate securities	126,748	134,635
Options embedded in convertible securities	2,749	2,580
Foreign government obligations	29,946	23,879
Total fixed maturities	307,868	318,161
Equity Securities [Abstract]
Financial institutions	0	0
Industrial & miscellaneous	0	0
Total equity securities	0	0
Short term	0	0
Cash equivalents	75,141	52,002
Total fair value	383,009	370,163
Level 3 [Member]
Fixed maturities [Abstract]
U.S. government obligations	0	0
Residential mortgage-backed securities	0	0
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	0	0
State and municipal obligations	0	0
Corporate securities	0	0
Options embedded in convertible securities	0	0
Foreign government obligations	0	0
Total fixed maturities	0	0
Equity Securities [Abstract]
Financial institutions	0	0
Industrial & miscellaneous	0	0
Total equity securities	0	0
Short term	0	0
Cash equivalents	0	0
Total fair value	$ 0	$ 0