Investments - Continuous loss position investments (Details)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
USD ($)
security
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
security
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 996 722
Maximum    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Percentage of book value (percent) 95.00%  
Minimum    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Unrealized loss amount $ 100,000  
Less than 12 Months    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 680 398
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value $ 849,333,000 $ 489,771,000
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (11,252,000) $ (3,233,000)
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 1.30% 0.70%
Less than 12 Months | Fixed Maturities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 680 398
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value $ 849,333,000 $ 489,771,000
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (11,252,000) $ (3,233,000)
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 1.30% 0.70%
Less than 12 Months | U.S. government    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 28 25
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value $ 48,202,000 $ 46,160,000
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (881,000) $ (422,000)
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 1.80% 0.90%
Less than 12 Months | State and Municipal    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 99 82
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value $ 184,046,000 $ 163,997,000
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (2,147,000) $ (939,000)
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 1.20% 0.60%
Less than 12 Months | Mortgage- Backed Securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 278 156
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value $ 174,756,000 $ 85,419,000
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (2,427,000) $ (483,000)
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 1.40% 0.60%
Less than 12 Months | Residential    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 263 154
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value $ 144,098,000 $ 81,841,000
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (2,250,000) $ (453,000)
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 1.50% 0.60%
Less than 12 Months | Commercial    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 15 2
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value $ 30,658,000 $ 3,578,000
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (177,000) $ (30,000)
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 0.60% 0.80%
Less than 12 Months | Asset-backed securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 43 31
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value $ 74,670,000 $ 35,407,000
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (628,000) $ (193,000)
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 0.80% 0.50%
Less than 12 Months | Corporates    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 232 104
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value $ 367,660,000 $ 158,788,000
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (5,168,000) $ (1,197,000)
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 1.40% 0.70%
Less than 12 Months | Equity securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security   0
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value   $ 0
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses   $ 0
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost   0.00%
Less than 12 Months | Short-term investments    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 0 0
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value $ 0 $ 0
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Losses $ 0 $ 0
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 0.00% 0.00%
12 Months or More    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 316 324
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 3.90% 2.40%
12 Months or More, Fair Value $ 179,380,000 $ 193,309,000
12 Months of More, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (7,369,000) $ (4,809,000)
12 Months or More | Fixed Maturities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 316 324
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 3.90% 2.40%
12 Months or More, Fair Value $ 179,380,000 $ 193,309,000
12 Months of More, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (7,369,000) $ (4,809,000)
12 Months or More | U.S. government    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 16 16
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 2.40% 1.70%
12 Months or More, Fair Value $ 12,743,000 $ 14,368,000
12 Months of More, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (307,000) $ (246,000)
12 Months or More | State and Municipal    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 4 5
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 1.40% 0.60%
12 Months or More, Fair Value $ 4,573,000 $ 10,529,000
12 Months of More, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (64,000) $ (60,000)
12 Months or More | Mortgage- Backed Securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 280 288
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 4.40% 2.80%
12 Months or More, Fair Value $ 142,480,000 $ 150,383,000
12 Months of More, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (6,569,000) $ (4,267,000)
12 Months or More | Residential    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 272 279
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 4.60% 2.80%
12 Months or More, Fair Value $ 119,273,000 $ 127,317,000
12 Months of More, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (5,730,000) $ (3,644,000)
12 Months or More | Commercial    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 8 9
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 3.50% 2.60%
12 Months or More, Fair Value $ 23,206,000 $ 23,066,000
12 Months of More, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (839,000) $ (623,000)
12 Months or More | Asset-backed securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 1 2
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 0.10% 0.20%
12 Months or More, Fair Value $ 1,458,000 $ 1,561,000
12 Months of More, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (2,000) $ (3,000)
12 Months or More | Corporates    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 15 13
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 2.30% 1.40%
12 Months or More, Fair Value $ 18,126,000 $ 16,468,000
12 Months of More, Gross Unrealized Losses $ (427,000) $ (232,000)
12 Months or More | Equity securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security   0
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost   0.00%
12 Months or More, Fair Value   $ 0
12 Months of More, Gross Unrealized Losses   $ 0
12 Months or More | Short-term investments    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Number of Securities with Unrealized Losses (positions) | security 0 0
Unrealized Losses as Percentage of Cost 0.00% 0.00%
12 Months or More, Fair Value $ 0 $ 0
12 Months of More, Gross Unrealized Losses $ 0 $ 0