Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Taxes [Abstract]
Taxes	(7) Taxes: The Company uses the estimated annual effective tax rate method for calculating its tax provision in interim periods, which represents the Company’s best estimate of the effective tax rate expected for the full year based on projected annual taxable income (loss). The effective tax rate can fluctuate throughout the year because estimates used in the quarterly tax provision are updated as more information becomes available throughout the year. The effective federal tax rate on consolidated loss for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was 30.6% compared to 20.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The effective federal tax rate on consolidated income for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was 19.6% compared to 22.1% on consolidated loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The lower pre-tax loss for the three months ended September 30, 2019 as well as the relatively low amount of pre-tax income for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 make these interim period effective tax rates less comparable year over year. The difference in the effective federal income tax rate from the normal statutory rate was primarily related to the effects of tax-exempt investment income and the dividends received deduction. As of September 30, 2019, the Company's calendar years 2017 and 2016 remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

(7) Taxes:

The Company uses the estimated annual effective tax rate method for calculating its tax provision in interim periods, which represents the Company’s best estimate of the effective tax rate expected for the full year based on projected annual taxable income (loss). The effective tax rate can fluctuate throughout the year because estimates used in the quarterly tax provision are updated as more information becomes available throughout the year.

The effective federal tax rate on consolidated loss for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was 30.6% compared to 20.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The effective federal tax rate on consolidated income for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was 19.6% compared to 22.1% on consolidated loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The lower pre-tax loss for the three months ended September 30, 2019 as well as the relatively low amount of pre-tax income for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 make these interim period effective tax rates less comparable year over year. The difference in the effective federal income tax rate from the normal statutory rate was primarily related to the effects of tax-exempt investment income and the dividends received deduction.

As of September 30, 2019, the Company's calendar years 2017 and 2016 remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.