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Retirement Plans (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |
Schedule Of Plan Terms In Effect And Revisions Of Retirement Savings Plan | (a) Selective Insurance Retirement Savings Plan (“Retirement Savings Plan”) SICA offers a voluntary defined contribution 401(k) plan, which is available to most of our employees and is a tax-qualified retirement plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). Expense recorded for this plan was $14.1 million in 2015, $13.4 million in 2014, and $12.2 million in 2013.
Schedule of Funded Status Of Retirement Income Plan And Retirement Life Plan |
December 31, |  | Pension Plan
($ in thousands) |  | 2015 |  | 2014
Change in Benefit Obligation: |  |  |  |  |  |
Benefit obligation, beginning of year |  | $ | 322,271 |  |  | 249,422 |
Service cost |  | 7,215 |  |  | 5,763 |
Interest cost |  | 13,668 |  |  | 12,776 |
Actuarial losses (gains) |  | (24,994 | ) |  | 61,534 |
Benefits paid |  | (7,852 | ) |  | (7,224 | )
Benefit obligation, end of year |  | $ | 310,308 |  |  | 322,271 |
Change in Fair Value of Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of assets, beginning of year |  | $ | 253,452 |  |  | 225,817 |
Actual return on plan assets, net of expenses |  | (7,600 | ) |  | 24,649 |
Contributions by the employer to funded plans |  | 11,700 |  |  | 10,210 |
Benefits paid |  | (7,852 | ) |  | (7,224 | )
Fair value of assets, end of year |  | $ | 249,700 |  |  | 253,452 |
Funded status |  | $ | (60,608 | ) |  | (68,819 | )
Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheet |
Amounts Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet: |  |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities |  | $ | (60,608 | ) |  | (68,819 | )
Net pension liability, end of year |  | $ | (60,608 | ) |  | (68,819 | )
Schedule of Amounts recognized in Accumulated Other than Comprehensive Income |
Amounts Recognized in AOCI: |  |  |  |  |  |
Net actuarial loss |  | $ | 80,828 |  |  | 89,085 |
Total |  | $ | 80,828 |  |  | 89,085 |
Schedule of Other Information as of December 31 |
Other Information as of December 31: |  |  |  |  |  |
Accumulated benefit obligation |  | $ | 310,307 |  |  | 318,018 |
Schedule of Components Of Net Periodic Benefit Cost And Other Amounts Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income |
|  | Pension Plan
($ in thousands) |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost and Other Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Periodic Benefit Cost: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service cost |  | $ | 7,215 |  |  | 5,763 |  |  | 7,346 |
Interest cost |  | 13,668 |  |  | 12,776 |  |  | 12,139 |
Expected return on plan assets |  | (15,969 | ) |  | (15,671 | ) |  | (15,755 | )
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 21 |
Amortization of unrecognized actuarial loss |  | 6,831 |  |  | 1,776 |  |  | 4,145 |
Curtailment expense |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 189 |
Total net periodic cost |  | $ | 11,745 |  |  | 4,644 |  |  | 8,085 |
Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net actuarial (gain) loss |  | $ | (1,425 | ) |  | 52,556 |  |  | (58,001 | )
Reversal of amortization of net actuarial loss |  | (6,831 | ) |  | (1,776 | ) |  | (4,145 | )
Reversal of amortization of prior service cost |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (21 | )
Curtailment expense |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (189 | )
Total recognized in other comprehensive income |  | $ | (8,256 | ) |  | 50,780 |  |  | (62,356 | )
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income |  | $ | 3,489 |  |  | 55,424 |  |  | (54,271 | )
Schedule Of Weighted- Average Expense and Liability Assumptions |
|  | Pension Plan
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Weighted-Average Expense Assumptions for the years ended December 31: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate |  | 4.29 | % |  | 5.16 |  | 4.66
Expected return on plan assets |  | 6.27 | % |  | 6.92 |  | 7.40
Rate of compensation increase |  | 4.00 | % |  | 4.00 |  | 4.00
Weighted-Average Liability Assumptions as of December 31: |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate |  | 4.69 | % |  | 4.29
Rate of compensation increase |  | 4.00 |  |  | 4.00
Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets |
|  | 2015 |  | 2014
|  | Target Ranges |  | Actual Percentage |  | Actual Percentage
Long duration fixed income |  | 55%-100% |  |  | 60 | % |  | 59 | %
Global equity |  | 0%-45% |  |  | 36 | % |  | 25 | %
Global Asset Allocation 1 |  | — | % |  | — | % |  | 11 | %
Private equity 1,2 |  | — | % |  | 3 | % |  | 4 | %
Cash and short-term investments 1 |  | — | % |  | 1 | % |  | 1 | %
Total |  | — | % |  | 100 | % |  | 100 | %
Schedule of Quantitative Disclosures of our Financial Assets that were Measured at Fair Value |
December 31, 2015 |  |  |  | Fair Value Measurements Using
($ in thousands) |  | Assets Measured at Fair Value 12/31/15 |  | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/ Liabilities (Level 1)1 |  | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)1 |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Description |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Measured on a recurring basis: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
AFS fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. government and government agencies |  | $ | 104,115 |  |  | 42,702 |  |  | 61,413 |  |  | — |
Foreign government |  | 15,181 |  |  | — |  |  | 15,181 |  |  | — |
Obligations of states and political subdivisions |  | 1,359,142 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,359,142 |  |  | — |
Corporate securities |  | 1,900,182 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,900,182 |  |  | — |
ABS |  | 244,154 |  |  | — |  |  | 244,154 |  |  | — |
CMBS |  | 243,592 |  |  | — |  |  | 243,592 |  |  | — |
RMBS |  | 541,837 |  |  | — |  |  | 541,837 |  |  | — |
Total AFS fixed income securities |  | 4,408,203 |  |  | 42,702 |  |  | 4,365,501 |  |  | — |
AFS equity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock |  | 194,789 |  |  | 191,517 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,272 |
Preferred stock |  | 12,262 |  |  | 12,262 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total AFS equity securities |  | 207,051 |  |  | 203,779 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,272 |
Total AFS securities |  | 4,615,254 |  |  | 246,481 |  |  | 4,365,501 |  |  | 3,272 |
Short-term investments |  | 194,819 |  |  | 194,819 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total assets |  | $ | 4,810,073 |  |  | 441,300 |  |  | 4,365,501 |  |  | 3,272 |
December 31, 2014 |  |  |  | Fair Value Measurements Using
($ in thousands) |  | Assets Measured at Fair Value 12/31/14 |  | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/ Liabilities (Level 1)1 |  | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)1 |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Description |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Measured on a recurring basis: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
AFS fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. government and government agencies |  | $ | 124,130 |  |  | 53,199 |  |  | 70,931 |  |  | — |
Foreign government |  | 27,831 |  |  | — |  |  | 27,831 |  |  | — |
Obligations of states and political subdivisions |  | 1,246,264 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,246,264 |  |  | — |
Corporate securities |  | 1,799,806 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,799,806 |  |  | — |
ABS |  | 177,224 |  |  | — |  |  | 177,224 |  |  | — |
CMBS |  | 179,593 |  |  | — |  |  | 179,593 |  |  | — |
RMBS |  | 511,274 |  |  | — |  |  | 511,274 |  |  | — |
Total AFS fixed income securities |  | 4,066,122 |  |  | 53,199 |  |  | 4,012,923 |  |  | — |
AFS equity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock |  | 191,400 |  |  | 188,500 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,900 |
Total AFS equity securities |  | 191,400 |  |  | 188,500 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,900 |
Total AFS securities |  | 4,257,522 |  |  | 241,699 |  |  | 4,012,923 |  |  | 2,900 |
Short-term investments |  | 131,972 |  |  | 131,972 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total assets |  | $ | 4,389,494 |  |  | 373,671 |  |  | 4,012,923 |  |  | 2,900 |
1 There were no transfers of securities between Level 1 and Level 2.
Schedule of Effect of Significant Unobservable Inputs, Changes in Plan Assets |
Investments in Limited Partnerships |  |  |  |
($ in thousands) |  | 2015 |  | 2014
Fair value, beginning of year |  | $ | 10,392 |  |  | 12,159 |
Total gains (realized and unrealized) |  |  |  |  |  |
included in changes in net assets |  | (410 | ) |  | 1,586 |
Purchases |  | 51 |  |  | 334 |
Sales |  | — |  |  | — |
Issuances |  | — |  |  | — |
Settlements |  | (3,575 | ) |  | (3,687 | )
Transfers into Level 3 |  | — |  |  | — |
Transfers out of Level 3 |  | — |  |  | — |
Fair value, end of year |  | $ | 6,458 |  |  | 10,392 |
Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments |
($ in thousands) |  | Pension Plan
Benefits Expected to be Paid in Future |  |  |
Fiscal Years: |  |  |
2016 |  | $ | 9,917 |
2017 |  | 10,958 |
2018 |  | 12,005 |
2019 |  | 13,045 |
2020 |  | 14,092 |
2021-2025 |  | 84,400 |
Retirement Income Plan [Member] |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |
Schedule of Quantitative Disclosures of our Financial Assets that were Measured at Fair Value |
December 31, 2015 |  |  |  | Fair Value Measurements at 12/31/15 Using
($ in thousands) |  | Assets Measured at Fair Value At 12/31/15 |  | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/ Liabilities (Level 1) |  | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Description |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long duration fixed income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Global asset allocation fund |  | $ | 33,565 |  |  | 33,565 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Extended duration fixed income |  | 117,297 |  |  | 117,297 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total long duration fixed income |  | 150,862 |  |  | 150,862 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Global equity: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-U.S. equity |  | 42,603 |  |  | — |  |  | 42,603 |  |  | — |
U.S. equity |  | 46,840 |  |  | — |  |  | 46,840 |  |  | — |
Total global equity |  | 89,443 |  |  | — |  |  | 89,443 |  |  | — |
Private equity (limited partnerships): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Private equity |  | 4,852 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 4,852 |
Real estate |  | 1,606 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 1,606 |
Total private equity |  | 6,458 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 6,458 |
Cash and short-term investments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-term investments |  | 1,600 |  |  | 1,600 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Deposit administration contracts |  | 1,418 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,418 |  |  | — |
Total cash and short-term investments |  | 3,018 |  |  | 1,600 |  |  | 1,418 |  |  | — |
Total invested assets |  | $ | 249,781 |  |  | 152,462 |  |  | 90,861 |  |  | 6,458 |
December 31, 2014 |  |  |  | Fair Value Measurements at 12/31/14 Using
($ in thousands) |  | Assets Measured at Fair Value At 12/31/14 |  | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/ Liabilities (Level 1) |  | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Description |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long duration fixed income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Global asset allocation fund |  | $ | 27,782 |  |  | 27,782 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Extended duration fixed income |  | 120,532 |  |  | 120,532 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total long duration fixed income |  | 148,314 |  |  | 148,314 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Global equity: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-U.S. equity |  | 16,852 |  |  | 5,438 |  |  | 11,414 |  |  | — |
U.S. equity |  | 47,719 |  |  | 47,719 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total global equity |  | 64,571 |  |  | 53,157 |  |  | 11,414 |  |  | — |
Global asset allocation |  | 27,842 |  |  | 27,842 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Private equity (limited partnerships): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity long/short hedge |  | 41 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 41 |
Private equity |  | 8,136 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 8,136 |
Real estate |  | 2,215 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 2,215 |
Total private equity |  | 10,392 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 10,392 |
Cash and short-term investments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-term investments |  | 1,222 |  |  | 1,222 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Deposit administration contracts |  | 1,180 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,180 |  |  | — |
Total cash and short-term investments |  | 2,402 |  |  | 1,222 |  |  | 1,180 |  |  | — |
Total invested assets |  | $ | 253,521 |  |  | 230,535 |  |  | 12,594 |  |  | 10,392 |

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- Definition Tabular disclosure of the change in the benefit obligation, fair value of plan assets, and funded status of pension plans or other employee benefit plans. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(b)(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=58740216&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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