Fair Value (Details) (Recurring [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fixed maturities [Abstract]
U.S. government obligations	$ 112,820	$ 101,094
Residential mortgage-backed securities	6,066	6,066
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	34,465	36,440
State and municipal obligations	116,612	113,777
Corporate securities	152,093	164,068
Options embedded in convertible securities	2,755	2,898
Foreign government obligations	25,632	27,466
Total fixed maturities	450,443	451,809
Equity securities [Abstract]
Financial institutions	24,144	25,343
Industrial & miscellaneous	138,447	136,764
Total equity securities	162,591	162,107
Short term	2,968	2,966
Cash equivalents	46,384	59,309
Total fair value	662,386	676,191
Level 1 [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	24,144	25,343
Industrial & miscellaneous	138,447	136,764
Total equity securities	162,591	162,107
Short term	2,968	2,966
Cash equivalents	0	0
Total fair value	165,559	165,073
Level 2 [Member]
Fixed maturities [Abstract]
U.S. government obligations	112,820	101,094
Residential mortgage-backed securities	6,066	6,066
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	34,007	36,440
State and municipal obligations	116,612	113,777
Corporate securities	139,249	151,860
Options embedded in convertible securities	2,755	2,898
Foreign government obligations	25,632	27,466
Total fixed maturities	437,141	439,601
Equity securities [Abstract]
Financial institutions	0	0
Industrial & miscellaneous	0	0
Total equity securities	0	0
Short term	0	0
Cash equivalents	46,384	59,309
Total fair value	483,525	498,910
Level 3 [Member]
Fixed maturities [Abstract]
U.S. government obligations	0	0
Residential mortgage-backed securities	0	0
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	458	0
State and municipal obligations	0	0
Corporate securities	12,844	12,208
Options embedded in convertible securities	0	0
Foreign government obligations	0	0
Total fixed maturities	13,302	12,208
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	$ 13,302	$ 12,208