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Investments (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) Securities	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 Securities
Investments [Abstract]
Fixed income securities with call features, percentage	36.00%
Fixed income securities with call features, currently callable, percentage	1.40%
Fixed income securities with call features, currently callable, amount	$ 584,900
Fixed income securities with call features, callable during next 12 months, percentage	1.80%
Fixed income securities with call features, callable during next 12 months, amount	$ 744,500
Fixed income securities with call features, not callable until within 6 months of stated maturity, percentage	71.00%
Percentage of fixed maturity portfolio rated investment grade based on NAIC designations	97.00%		97.00%
Number of individual securities with unrealized losses | Securities	1,233		1,514
Percentage of unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities where securities are rated investment grade	86.00%		86.00%
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Scheduled principal repayments, calls and tenders for available for sale securities	$ 517,301	$ 581,647
Available For Sale Securities [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Proceeds from sales of available for sale securities	186,500	59,400
Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Scheduled principal repayments, calls and tenders for available for sale securities	$ 330,800	$ 522,300

X

- Definition

Represents the percentage of debt securities in the investment portfolio with call features that permit the issuer of the debt to repay before the stated maturity date (early retirement date) and are callable over the next 12 months.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the percentage of debt securities in the investment portfolio with call features that permit the issuer of the debt to repay before the stated maturity date (early retirement date) and are currently callable.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the percentage of debt securities in the investment portfolio with call features that permit the issuer of the debt to repay before the stated maturity date (early retirement date).

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the amount of debt securities in the investment portfolio with call features that permit the issuer of the debt to repay before the stated maturity date (early retirement date) and are callable during the next 12 months.

+ References

No definition available.

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Represents the amount of debt securities in the investment portfolio with call features that permit the issuer of the debt to repay before the stated maturity date (early retirement date) and are currently callable.

+ References

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- Definition

Represents the percentage of debt securities in the investment portfolio with call features that permit the issuer of the debt to repay before the stated maturity date (early retirement date) and are not callable until within 6 months of their stated maturities.

+ References

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- Definition

This item represents the percentage of unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities that is on securities classified as investment grade.

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Represents the percentage of fixed income securities at fair value rated investment grade (NAIC 1 or 2) compared to the entire fixed income security portfolio at fair value.

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Number of investment positions in available-for-sale investments in a continuous unrealized loss position for which an other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) has not been recognized in the income statement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27290-111563

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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The cash inflow associated with maturities (principal being due), prepayments and calls (requests of early payments) on securities not classified as either held-to-maturity securities or trading securities which are classified as available-for-sale securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (a),(b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3179-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
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-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66010992&loc=d3e26853-111562

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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The cash inflow associated with the sale of debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
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-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66010992&loc=d3e26853-111562

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-Paragraph 12
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