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Credit Arrangements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | 6 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of Connecticut statutory business trusts | 2 |  |
Financial structure of statutory business trusts [Abstract] |  |  |
Balance June 30, 2012 | $ 41,238 |  | $ 41,238
Balance December 31, 2011 | 41,238 |  | 41,238
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES [Member] |  |  |
Financial structure of statutory business trusts [Abstract] |  |  |
Number of consecutive quarters for which interest payments can be deferred | 20 |  |
Atlantic American Statutory Trust I [Member] | JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES [Member] |  |  |
Financial structure of statutory business trusts [Abstract] |  |  |
Principal amount owed | 18,042 | [1],[2] |
Balance June 30, 2012 | 18,042 | [1],[2] |
Balance December 31, 2011 | 18,042 | [1],[2] |
Coupon rate | LIBOR + 4.00% | [1],[2] |
Maturity date | Dec. 04, 2032 | [1],[2] |
Atlantic American Statutory Trust I [Member] | TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES [Member] |  |  |
Financial structure of statutory business trusts [Abstract] |  |  |
Coupon rate | LIBOR + 4.00% |  |
Issuance date | Dec. 04, 2002 |  |
Securities issued (in shares) | 17,500 |  |
Liquidation preference per security (in dollars per share) | $ 1 |  |
Liquidation value | 17,500 |  |
Atlantic American Statutory Trust II [Member] | JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES [Member] |  |  |
Financial structure of statutory business trusts [Abstract] |  |  |
Principal amount owed | 23,196 | [1],[2] |
Balance June 30, 2012 | 23,196 | [1],[2] |
Balance December 31, 2011 | 23,196 | [1],[2] |
Coupon rate | LIBOR + 4.10% | [1],[2] |
Maturity date | May 15, 2033 | [1],[2] |
Atlantic American Statutory Trust II [Member] | TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES [Member] |  |  |
Financial structure of statutory business trusts [Abstract] |  |  |
Coupon rate | LIBOR + 4.10% |  |
Issuance date | May 15, 2003 |  |
Securities issued (in shares) | 22,500 |  |
Liquidation preference per security (in dollars per share) | $ 1 |  |
Liquidation value | 22,500 |  |
Credit Agreement [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Maximum borrow or reborrow capacity | $ 5,000 |  |
Termination date of agreement | Aug. 31, 2012 |  |
Credit Agreement [Member] | Federal Funds Rate [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Interest rate on amounts outstanding under the agreement (in hundredths) | 0.50% |  |
Credit Agreement [Member] | LIBOR [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Interest rate on amounts outstanding under the agreement (in hundredths) | 2.00% |  |
[1] | For each of the respective debentures, the Company has the right at any time, and from time to time, to defer payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters up to the debentures' respective maturity dates. During any such period, interest will continue to accrue and the Company may not declare or pay any cash dividends or distributions on, or purchase, the Company's common stock nor make any principal, interest or premium payments on or repurchase any debt securities that rank equally with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. The Company has the right at any time to dissolve each of the trusts and cause the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities.
[2] | The Junior Subordinated Debentures are unsecured and rank junior and subordinate in right of payment to all senior debt of the Parent and are effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of its subsidiaries.

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- Definition Description of the interest rate as being fixed or variable, and, if variable, identification of the index or rate on which the interest rate is based and the number of points or percentage added to that index or rate to set the rate, and other pertinent information, such as frequency of rate resets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of long-term debt (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer) identified as Junior Subordinated Notes, which have a lower priority than senior instruments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13, 16 -Article 9 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20, 22 -Article 5 + Details
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