Basis Of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Basis Of Presentation [Abstract]
Basis Of Presentation	Note 1 - Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Horace Mann Educators Corporation ("HMEC"; and together with its subsidiaries, the "Company" or "Horace Mann") have been prepared in accordance with United States ("U.S.") generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), specifically Regulation S-X and the instructions to Form 10-Q. Certain information and note disclosures which are normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP but are not required for interim reporting purposes have been omitted. The Company believes that these consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the Company's consolidated financial position as of September 30, 2011, the consolidated results of operations and comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and the consolidated changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect (1) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, (2) disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and (3) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The subsidiaries of HMEC market and underwrite tax-qualified retirement annuities and private passenger automobile, homeowners, and life insurance products, primarily to K-12 teachers, administrators and other employees of public schools and their families. HMEC's principal operating subsidiaries are Horace Mann Life Insurance Company, Horace Mann Insurance Company, Teachers Insurance Company, Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Company and Horace Mann Lloyds. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date these consolidated financial statements were issued. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes to consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The Company has reclassified the presentation of certain prior period information to conform with the 2011 presentation. Adopted Accounting Standards Investments Held Through Separate Accounts Effective January 1, 2011, the Company adopted accounting guidance to address how investments held through the separate accounts of an insurance entity affect the consolidation analysis. The guidance clarifies that an insurance entity should not consider any separate account interests in an investment held for the benefit of policyholders to be the insurer's interest and those interests should not be combined with an insurer's general account interests when making a consolidation assessment. The adoption of this accounting guidance did not have an effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company. Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted, Retrospective Application Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts In October 2010, the Financial Accounting Standard Board ("FASB") issued accounting guidance to address diversity in practice regarding the interpretation of which costs relating to the acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts qualify for deferral. The guidance will allow an insurance entity to capitalize only incremental and certain direct costs related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and provides for either prospective or retrospective application. As of the time of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, management continues to assess the impact that the adoption of this accounting guidance will have on the results of operations and financial position of the Company. While management has completed a significant amount of analysis regarding deferrable costs under the new guidance, a considerable amount of work still needs to be completed, especially related to the Annuity and Life segments. As of the time of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, management's preliminary results indicate an impact on reported shareholders' equity excluding unrealized investment gains and losses of less than 5%. However, completion of the Company's final analysis could result in a larger impact on shareholders' equity. Management currently anticipates electing retrospective application of the new guidance effective January 1, 2012 resulting in a downward adjustment to the deferred policy acquisition costs asset with a corresponding adjustment to beginning retained earnings. On a forward-looking basis, management currently anticipates the net impact of lower expense deferrals and lower amortization on net income to be minimal.

Basis Of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Horace Mann Educators Corporation ("HMEC"; and together with its subsidiaries, the "Company" or "Horace Mann") have been prepared in accordance with United States ("U.S.") generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), specifically Regulation S-X and the instructions to Form 10-Q. Certain information and note disclosures which are normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP but are not required for interim reporting purposes have been omitted. The Company believes that these consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the Company's consolidated financial position as of September 30, 2011, the consolidated results of operations and comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and the consolidated changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect (1) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, (2) disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and (3) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The subsidiaries of HMEC market and underwrite tax-qualified retirement annuities and private passenger automobile, homeowners, and life insurance products, primarily to K-12 teachers, administrators and other employees of public schools and their families. HMEC's principal operating subsidiaries are Horace Mann Life Insurance Company, Horace Mann Insurance Company, Teachers Insurance Company, Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Company and Horace Mann Lloyds.

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date these consolidated financial statements were issued.

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes to consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The Company has reclassified the presentation of certain prior period information to conform with the 2011 presentation.

Adopted Accounting Standards

Investments Held Through Separate Accounts

Effective January 1, 2011, the Company adopted accounting guidance to address how investments held through the separate accounts of an insurance entity affect the consolidation analysis. The guidance clarifies that an insurance entity should not consider any separate account interests in an investment held for the benefit of policyholders to be the insurer's interest and those interests should not be combined with an insurer's general account interests when making a consolidation assessment. The adoption of this accounting guidance did not have an effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted, Retrospective Application

Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts

In October 2010, the Financial Accounting Standard Board ("FASB") issued accounting guidance to address diversity in practice regarding the interpretation of which costs relating to the acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts qualify for deferral. The guidance will allow an insurance entity to capitalize only incremental and certain direct costs related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and provides for either prospective or retrospective application. As of the time of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, management continues to assess the impact that the adoption of this accounting guidance will have on the results of operations and financial position of the Company. While management has completed a significant amount of analysis regarding deferrable costs under the new guidance, a considerable amount of work still needs to be completed, especially related to the Annuity and Life segments. As of the time of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, management's preliminary results indicate an impact on reported shareholders' equity excluding unrealized investment gains and losses of less than 5%. However, completion of the Company's final analysis could result in a larger impact on shareholders' equity. Management currently anticipates electing retrospective application of the new guidance effective January 1, 2012 resulting in a downward adjustment to the deferred policy acquisition costs asset with a corresponding adjustment to beginning retained earnings. On a forward-looking basis, management currently anticipates the net impact of lower expense deferrals and lower amortization on net income to be minimal.