National General (NTTNP) 10-Q 10 May 16 2016 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information Statement - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	May. 05, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	NGHC
Entity Registrant Name	National General Holdings Corp.
Entity Central Index Key	1,578,735
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		105,714,916

Condensed Consolidated Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Investments:
Total investments	$ 2,738,662	$ 2,667,710
Cash and cash equivalents (Exchanges - $2,673 and $8,393)	274,749	282,277
Accrued investment income (Exchanges - $2,658 and $2,347)	21,249	20,402
Premiums and other receivables, net (Related parties $27,974 and $62,306) (Exchanges - $52,922 and $56,194)	886,417	758,633
Deferred acquisition costs (Exchanges - $0 and $23,803)	145,155	160,531
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses (Related parties - $37,412 and $42,774) (Exchanges - $43,401 and $39,085)	837,886	833,176
Prepaid reinsurance premiums (Exchanges - $59,706 and $61,730)	132,157	128,343
Income tax receivable (Exchanges - $300 and $300)	300	300
Notes receivable from related party	127,188	125,057
Due from affiliate (Exchanges - $11,703 and $12,060)	16,880	41,536
Premises and equipment, net (Exchanges - $2,386 and $332)	69,082	42,931
Intangible assets, net (Exchanges - $32,638 and $4,825)	371,104	348,898
Goodwill	119,553	112,414
Prepaid and other assets (Exchanges - $187 and $93)	43,859	41,184
Total assets	5,784,241	5,563,392
Liabilities:
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves (Exchanges - $137,093 and $132,392)	1,783,533	1,755,624
Unearned premiums (Exchanges - $143,194 and $146,186)	1,288,024	1,192,499
Unearned service contract and other revenue	28,342	12,504
Reinsurance payable (Related parties - $30,964 and $31,923) (Exchanges - $11,092 and $14,357)	82,462	69,172
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (Related parties - $41,849 and $51,755) (Exchanges - $6,972 and $19,845)	305,277	284,902
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value	114,196	52,484
Deferred tax liability (Exchanges - $23,716 and $32,724)	7,043	12,247
Income tax payable	28,052	5,593
Notes payable (Exchanges owed to related party - $0 and $45,476)	446,244	491,537
Other liabilities (Exchanges - $37,550 and $38,105)	94,969	150,190
Total liabilities	4,178,142	4,026,752
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 150,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 105,714,916 shares - 2016; authorized 150,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 105,554,331 shares - 2015	1,057	1,056
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 10,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 2,365,000 shares - 2016; authorized 10,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 2,365,000 shares - 2015. Aggregate liquidation preference $220,000 - 2016, $220,000 - 2015	220,000	220,000
Additional paid-in capital	903,933	900,114
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments	(2,914)	(3,780)
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments	7,448	(15,634)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	4,534	(19,414)
Retained earnings	461,574	412,044
Total National General Holdings Corp. Stockholders' Equity	1,591,098	1,513,800
Non-controlling interest (Exchanges - $14,768 and $22,619)	15,001	22,840
Total stockholders’ equity	1,606,099	1,536,640
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	5,784,241	5,563,392
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Investments:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value	2,016,391	2,063,051
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value	38,038	57,216
Short-term investments	2,440	1,528
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	243,005	234,948
Other investments	54,090	13,031
Securities pledged (amortized cost $126,482 and $54,955)	129,097	55,394
Reciprocal Exchanges
Investments:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value	255,013	238,969
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value	588	1,574
Short-term investments	0	1,999
Cash and cash equivalents (Exchanges - $2,673 and $8,393)	2,673	8,393
Accrued investment income (Exchanges - $2,658 and $2,347)	2,658	2,347
Premiums and other receivables, net (Related parties $27,974 and $62,306) (Exchanges - $52,922 and $56,194)	52,922	56,194
Deferred acquisition costs (Exchanges - $0 and $23,803)	0	23,803
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses (Related parties - $37,412 and $42,774) (Exchanges - $43,401 and $39,085)	43,401	39,085
Prepaid reinsurance premiums (Exchanges - $59,706 and $61,730)	59,706	61,730
Income tax receivable (Exchanges - $300 and $300)	300	300
Due from affiliate (Exchanges - $11,703 and $12,060)	11,703	12,060
Premises and equipment, net (Exchanges - $2,386 and $332)	2,386	332
Intangible assets, net (Exchanges - $32,638 and $4,825)	32,638	4,825
Prepaid and other assets (Exchanges - $187 and $93)	187	93
Total assets	464,175
Liabilities:
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves (Exchanges - $137,093 and $132,392)	137,093	132,392
Unearned premiums (Exchanges - $143,194 and $146,186)	143,194	146,186
Reinsurance payable (Related parties - $30,964 and $31,923) (Exchanges - $11,092 and $14,357)	11,092	14,357
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (Related parties - $41,849 and $51,755) (Exchanges - $6,972 and $19,845)	6,972	19,845
Deferred tax liability (Exchanges - $23,716 and $32,724)	23,716	32,724
Notes payable (Exchanges owed to related party - $0 and $45,476)	0	45,476
Other liabilities (Exchanges - $37,550 and $38,105)	37,550	38,105
Total liabilities	449,407
Stockholders' equity:
Non-controlling interest (Exchanges - $14,768 and $22,619)	14,768	$ 22,619
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 464,175

Condensed Consolidated Balance3

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Parenthetical - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 274,749	$ 282,277
Accrued investment income	21,249	20,402
Premiums and other receivables, net	886,417	758,633
Deferred acquisition costs	145,155	160,531
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses	837,886	833,176
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	132,157	128,343
Income tax receivable	300	300
Due from affiliate	16,880	41,536
Premises and equipment, net	69,082	42,931
Intangible assets, net	371,104	348,898
Prepaid and other assets	43,859	41,184
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	1,783,533	1,755,624
Unearned premiums	1,288,024	1,192,499
Reinsurance payable	82,462	69,172
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	305,277	284,902
Deferred tax liability	7,043	12,247
Notes payable	446,244	491,537
Other liabilities	94,969	150,190
Non-controlling interest	$ 15,001	$ 22,840
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	150,000,000	150,000,000
Common stock, issued	105,714,916	105,554,331
Common stock, outstanding	105,714,916	105,554,331
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	2,365,000	2,365,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	2,365,000	2,365,000
Aggregate liquidation preference	$ 220,000	$ 220,000
Related party transactions
Premiums and other receivables, net	27,974	62,306
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses	37,412	42,774
Reinsurance payable	30,964	31,923
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	41,849	51,755
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, amortized cost	1,990,919	2,081,456
Equity securities, available-for-sale, cost	54,668	63,303
Securities pledged, amortized cost	126,482	54,955
Reciprocal Exchanges
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, amortized cost	255,013	244,069
Equity securities, available-for-sale, cost	588	1,501
Cash and cash equivalents	2,673	8,393
Accrued investment income	2,658	2,347
Premiums and other receivables, net	52,922	56,194
Deferred acquisition costs	0	23,803
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses	43,401	39,085
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	59,706	61,730
Income tax receivable	300	300
Due from affiliate	11,703	12,060
Premises and equipment, net	2,386	332
Intangible assets, net	32,638	4,825
Prepaid and other assets	187	93
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	137,093	132,392
Unearned premiums	143,194	146,186
Reinsurance payable	11,092	14,357
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	6,972	19,845
Deferred tax liability	23,716	32,724
Notes payable	0	45,476
Other liabilities	37,550	38,105
Non-controlling interest	$ 14,768	$ 22,619

Condensed Consolidated Statemen

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Premium income:
Gross premium written	$ 816,194	$ 643,455
Ceded premiums (related parties - $408 and $348, respectively)	(71,607)	(113,430)
Net premium written	744,587	530,025
Change in unearned premium	(89,667)	(50,860)
Net earned premium	654,920	479,165
Ceding commission income	(1,895)	5,080
Service and fee income	96,944	54,870
Net investment income	21,670	16,148
Net realized gain on investments	3,617	1,187
Other revenue	701	1,245
Total revenues	775,957	557,695
Expenses:
Loss and loss adjustment expense	409,050	306,686
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	112,899	89,885
General and administrative expenses	176,627	105,687
Interest expense	9,141	9,080
Total expenses	707,717	511,338
Income before provision for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	68,240	46,357
Provision for income taxes	18,083	8,387
Income before equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	50,157	37,970
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	6,682	4,958
Net income	56,839	42,928
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest	(12)	(160)
Net income attributable to National General Holdings Corp. (NGHC)	56,827	42,768
Dividends on preferred stock	(4,125)	(1,031)
Net income attributable to NGHC common stockholders	$ 52,702	$ 41,737
Earnings per common share:
Basic earnings per share (usd per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.45
Diluted earnings per share (usd per share)	0.49	0.43
Dividends declared per common share (usd per common share)	$ 0.03	$ 0.02
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	105,597,594	93,454,236
Diluted (in shares)	108,266,508	96,087,952
Net realized gain on investments:
Other-than-temporary impairment loss	$ 0	$ (1,016)
Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income	0	0
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	0	(1,016)
Other net realized gain on investments	3,617	2,203
Net realized gain on investments	$ 3,617	$ 1,187

Condensed Consolidated Stateme5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income Parenthetical - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Ceded premiums	$ 71,607	$ 113,430
Related party transactions
Ceded premiums	$ 408	$ 348

Condensed Consolidated Stateme6

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Net income	$ 56,839	$ 42,928
Foreign currency translation adjustment	866	1,024
Gross unrealized holding gain on securities, net of tax of $13,695 and $5,990 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively	25,433	14,355
Other-than-temporary impairment loss, net of tax of $0 and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively	0	1,016
Other net realized gain on investments, net of tax of ($1,266) and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively	(2,351)	(2,203)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	23,948	14,192
Comprehensive income	80,787	57,120
Less: Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest	(12)	(1,861)
Comprehensive income attributable to NGHC	$ 80,775	$ 55,259

Condensed Consolidated Stateme7

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Parenthetical - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Gross unrealized holding gain (loss) on securities, tax	$ 13,695	$ 5,990
Reclassification adjustments for Other-than-temporary impairment loss, tax	0	0
Reclassification adjustments for Other net realized (gain) loss on investments, tax	$ (1,266)	$ 0

Condensed Consolidated Stateme8

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Preferred Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Non-controlling Interest
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014		93,427,382	2,200,000
Beginning Balance, amount at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 1,073,450	$ 934	$ 55,000	$ 690,736	$ 292,832	$ 20,192	$ 13,756
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	42,928				42,768		160
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	1,024					1,024
Change in unrealized gain on investments, net of tax	13,168					11,467	1,701
Preferred stock dividends	(1,031)				(1,031)
Common stock dividends	(1,868)				(1,868)
Issuance of stock, shares			150,000
Issuance of stock	145,025		$ 150,000	(4,975)
Common stock issued under employee stock plans and exercises of stock options, shares		67,876
Common stock issued under employee stock plans and exercises of stock options, value	341	$ 1		340
Stock-based compensation	1,088			1,088
Ending Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2015		93,495,258	2,350,000
Ending Balance, amount at Mar. 31, 2015	1,274,125	$ 935	$ 205,000	687,189	332,701	32,683	15,617
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014		93,427,382	2,200,000
Beginning Balance, amount at Dec. 31, 2014	1,073,450	$ 934	$ 55,000	690,736	292,832	20,192	13,756
Ending Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015		105,554,331	2,365,000
Ending Balance, amount at Dec. 31, 2015	1,536,640	$ 1,056	$ 220,000	900,114	412,044	(19,414)	22,840
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Cumulative effect adjustment of change in accounting principle	(22,619)						(22,619)
Net income	56,839				56,827		12
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	866					866
Change in unrealized gain on investments, net of tax	23,082					23,082
Reciprocal Exchanges' equity on March 31, 2016, date of consolidation	14,768						14,768
Preferred stock dividends	(4,125)				(4,125)
Common stock dividends	(3,172)				(3,172)
Return of capital	(150)			(150)
Common stock issued under employee stock plans and exercises of stock options, shares		160,585
Common stock issued under employee stock plans and exercises of stock options, value	1,852	$ 1		1,851
Stock-based compensation	2,118			2,118
Ending Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2016		105,714,916	2,365,000
Ending Balance, amount at Mar. 31, 2016	$ 1,606,099	$ 1,057	$ 220,000	$ 903,933	$ 461,574	$ 4,534	$ 15,001

Condensed Consolidated Stateme9

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net income	$ 56,839	$ 42,928
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	8,856	7,956
Net amortization of premium on fixed maturities	1,174	1,188
Net amortization of discount on debt	182	2,043
Stock compensation expense	2,118	1,088
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	(6,682)	(4,958)
Other net realized gain on investments	3,617	(2,203)
Other-than-temporary impairment loss	0	1,016
Bad debt expense	6,959	5,823
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	1,547	(427)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accrued investment income	(2,655)	(257)
Premiums and other receivables	(113,845)	(147,734)
Deferred acquisition costs, net	(7,616)	(29,030)
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses	(370)	38,367
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	(5,838)	(50,158)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(2,705)	(4,618)
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	20,896	(10,529)
Unearned premiums	96,892	97,543
Unearned service contract and other revenue	15,838	21,194
Reinsurance payable	15,337	41,464
Accounts payable	(16,885)	(34,089)
Income tax payable	22,905	25,587
Deferred tax liability	(12,133)	(21,117)
Other liabilities	(54,666)	13,482
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	29,765	(5,441)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	(1,310)	(6,710)
Purchases of other investments	(129,012)	(1,556)
Decrease in cash due to deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges	(8,393)	0
Increase in cash due to consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges	2,673	0
Acquisition of consolidated subsidiaries, net of cash	0	(15,524)
Purchases of equity securities	(556)	0
Proceeds from sale of equity securities	8,749	0
Purchases of short-term investments	(2,651)	(48,209)
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments	1,739	36,917
Purchases of premises and equipment	(4,991)	(2,112)
Purchases of fixed maturities	(36,533)	(62,334)
Proceeds from sale and maturity of fixed maturities	76,487	106,724
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(93,798)	7,196
Cash flows from financing activities:
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, net	61,712	(46,804)
Notes payable repayments	0	(631)
Issuance of preferred stock, net (fees $0 and $4,975, respectively)	0	145,025
Exercises of stock options	1,407	341
Return of capital	(150)	0
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders	(4,125)	(1,031)
Dividends paid to common shareholders	(3,172)	(1,868)
Net cash provided by financing activities	55,672	95,032
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	833	(300)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(7,528)	96,487
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period	282,277	132,615
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period	274,749	229,102
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes	3,200	2,900
Cash paid for interest	1,962	31
Unsettled investment security purchases	25,010	0
Decrease in non-controlling interest due to deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges	22,619	0
Increase in non-controlling interest due to consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges	14,768	0
Preferred stock
Dividends Payable
Accrued stock dividends	4,125	1,031
Common stock
Dividends Payable
Accrued stock dividends	$ 3,172	$ 1,868

Condensed Consolidated Statem10

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Parenthetical - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Preferred stock
Cost of issuance of stock	$ 0	$ 4,975

Basis of Reporting

Basis of Reporting	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization	Basis of Reporting The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of National General Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries (the “Company” or “NGHC”) and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP” or “U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X as promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 , previously filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016 . The balance sheet at December 31, 2015 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2016 and the audited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015 , also include the accounts and operations of Adirondack Insurance Exchange, a New York reciprocal insurer, and New Jersey Skylands Insurance Association, a New Jersey reciprocal insurer (together with their subsidiaries, the “Reciprocal Exchanges” or "Exchanges"). The unaudited condensed financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2016 do not include the accounts and operations of the Reciprocal Exchanges as these entities did not meet the criteria for consolidation under FASB ASU 2015-02, "Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis," as of January 1, 2016, but met the criteria for consolidation as of March 31, 2016. As discussed in Note 2, “Recent Accounting Pronouncements,” ASU 2015-02 was adopted using a modified retrospective approach by recording a cumulative effect adjustment as of January 1, 2016. As a result, periods prior to the adoption were not impacted by the deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges. The Company does not own the Reciprocal Exchanges but manages their business operations through its wholly-owned management companies. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim period and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative, if annualized, of those to be expected for the full year. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. A detailed description of the Company’s significant accounting policies and management judgments is located in the audited consolidated financial statements, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC. All significant inter-company transactions and accounts have been eliminated in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements With the exception of those discussed below, there have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the three months ended March 31, 2016 , as compared to those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 , that are of significance, or potential significance, to the Company. In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-16, "Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share is More Akin to Debt or Equity (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)", to reduce diversity in practice in the accounting for hybrid financial instruments issued in the form of a share. The amendments in ASU 2014-16 do not change the current criteria in GAAP for determining when separation of certain embedded derivative features in a hybrid financial instrument is required. An entity will continue to evaluate whether the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative feature are clearly and closely related to those of the host contract, among other relevant criteria. ASU 2014-16 clarifies how current GAAP should be interpreted in evaluating the economic characteristics and risks of a host contract in a hybrid financial instrument that is issued in the form of a share. Specifically, ASU 2014-16 clarifies that an entity should consider all relevant terms and features-including the embedded derivative feature being evaluated for bifurcation-in evaluating the nature of the host contract. Furthermore, ASU 2014-16 clarifies that no single term or feature would necessarily determine the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract. Rather, the nature of the host contract depends upon the economic characteristics and risks of the entire hybrid financial instrument. In addition, the amendments in ASU 2014-16 clarify that, in evaluating the nature of a host contract, an entity should assess the substance of the relevant terms and features (that is, the relative strength of the debt-like or equity-like terms and features given the facts and circumstances) when considering how to weight those terms and features. The effects of initially adopting the amendments in ASU 2014-16 are to be applied on a modified retrospective basis to existing hybrid financial instruments issued in the form of a share as of the beginning of the fiscal year for which the amendments are effective. Retrospective application is permitted to all relevant prior periods. The amendments in ASU 2014-16 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company adopted ASU 2014-16 on January 1, 2016 and the implementation of the standard did not have an impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity. In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-01, "Income Statement-Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20) (simplifying income statement presentation by eliminating the concept of extraordinary items)”, as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. ASU No. 2015-01 eliminates from GAAP the concept of extraordinary items. Subtopic 225-20, Income Statement-Extraordinary and Unusual Items, required that an entity separately classify, present, and disclose extraordinary events and transactions. Previously, an event or transaction was presumed to be an ordinary and usual activity of the reporting entity unless evidence clearly supports its classification as an extraordinary item. If an event or transaction met the criteria for extraordinary classification, an entity was required to segregate the extraordinary item from the results of ordinary operations and show the item separately in the income statement, net of tax, after income from continuing operations. The entity also was required to disclose applicable income taxes and either present or disclose earnings-per-share data applicable to the extraordinary item. An entity has a choice of transition methods. It may apply the amendments in ASU 2015-01 either prospectively or retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The amendments in ASU 2015-01 are effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015. An entity has the option to adopt the changes earlier provided that the guidance is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company adopted ASU 2015-01 prospectively on January 1, 2016 and the implementation of the standard did not have an impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, "Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis" to address concerns that GAAP might require a reporting entity to consolidate another legal entity in situations in which the reporting entity's contractual rights do not give it the ability to act primarily on its own behalf, the reporting entity does not hold a majority of the legal entity's voting rights, or the reporting entity is not exposed to a majority of the legal entity's economic benefits or obligations. Specifically, the amendments: (1) modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities ("VIEs") or voting interest entities; (2) eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership; (3) affect the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships; and (4) provide a scope exception from consolidation guidance for reporting entities with interests in legal entities that are required to comply with or operate in accordance with requirements that are similar to those in Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 for registered money market funds. ASU 2015-02 amends certain areas in the consolidation analysis including: (i) the effect of related parties on the primary beneficiary determination; (ii) the evaluation of fees paid to a decision maker or a service provider as a variable interest; (iii) the effect of fee arrangements on the primary beneficiary determination; and (iv) certain investment funds. The amendments in ASU 2015-02 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of ASU 2015-02 on January 1, 2016 required the Company to evaluate whether its VIE’s met the amended criteria for consolidation at the earliest date of involvement unless certain reconsideration events existed. The Reciprocal Exchanges were evaluated based on the facts and circumstances that existed in September 2014 when the the Company acquired the managing entities for the Reciprocal Exchanges. As a result of the evaluation, the Company was not required to consolidate the Reciprocal Exchanges as of January 1, 2016 (the Reciprocal Exchanges had previously been included in the Company’s consolidated results). The Company adopted ASU 2015-02 using a modified retrospective approach by recording a cumulative effect adjustment as of January 1, 2016. The total NGHC stockholders’ equity was not affected by this change. On March 31, 2016, the Company purchased the surplus notes representing the obligation of the Reciprocal Exchanges from a related party for consideration of $88,900 (see Note 3, "Reciprocal Exchanges" for additional information). The Company has significant economic interest in the Reciprocal Exchanges due to its ownership of the surplus notes. In addition, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, earns fees from the Reciprocal Exchanges that are variable interests. The Company is the primary beneficiary because it, through its wholly-owned management companies, has both the power to direct the activities of the Reciprocal Exchanges that most significantly impact their economic performance and the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary that holds the surplus notes, would absorb more than an insignificant amount of expected losses or residual returns of the Reciprocal Exchanges. Hence, the Company is required to consolidate the Reciprocal Exchanges at March 31, 2016. In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-07, "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)", which provides guidance that removes the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient as well as limits certain disclosure requirements only to investments for which the entity elects to measure the fair value using that practical expedient. The updated guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and should be applied retrospectively for all periods presented. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2015-07 on January 1, 2016 and the implementation of the standard did not have an impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity. In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, "Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments" which applies to all entities that have reported provisional amounts for items in a business combination for which the accounting is incomplete by the end of the reporting period in which the combination occurs and during the measurement period have an adjustment to provisional amounts recognized. The amendments in ASU 2015-16 require that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The amendments in ASU 2015-16 require that the acquirer record, in the same period’s financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The amendments in ASU 2015-16 require an entity to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. The amendments in ASU 2015-16 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and should be applied prospectively to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the effective date with earlier application permitted for financial statements that have not been issued. The only disclosures required at transition will be the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle. An entity should disclose that information in the first annual period of adoption and in the interim periods within the first annual period if there is a measurement-period adjustment during the first annual period in which the changes are effective. The Company adopted ASU 2015-16 on January 1, 2016 and the effects of adoption will be limited to disclosures relating to adjustments for acquisitions to provisional amounts when identified during the measurement period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The implementation of the standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-07, "Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting" as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. The amendments in ASU 2016-07 eliminate the requirement that when an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence, an investor must adjust the investment, results of operations, and retained earnings retroactively on a step-by-step basis as if the equity method had been in effect during all previous periods that the investment had been held. The amendments require that the equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. Therefore, upon qualifying for the equity method of accounting, no retroactive adjustment of the investment is required. In addition, the amendments in ASU 2016-07 require that an entity that has an available-for-sale equity security that becomes qualified for the equity method of accounting recognize through earnings the unrealized holding gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income at the date the investment becomes qualified for use of the equity method. The amendments in ASU 2016-07 are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The amendments should be applied prospectively upon their effective date to increases in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence that result in the adoption of the equity method. Earlier application is permitted. No additional disclosures are required at transition. The adoption of ASU 2016-07 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations", which improves the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations by clarifying that: 1) an entity determines whether it is a principal or an agent for each specific good or service promised to the customer; 2) an entity determines the nature of each specific good or service; 3) when another party is involved in providing goods or services to a customer, an entity that is a principal obtains control of (a) a good or another asset from the other party that it then transfers to the customer; (b) a right to a service that will be performed by another party, which gives the entity the ability to direct that party to provide the service to the customer on the entity's behalf, or (c) a good or service from the other party that it combines with other goods or services to provide the specific good or service to the customer; and 4) the purpose of the indicators in paragraph 606-10-55-39 in Topic 606 is to support or assist in the assessment of control. The effective date and transition requirement for ASU 2016-08 are the same as the effective date and transition requirements of ASU 2014-09, which were deferred to the quarter ending March 31, 2018 by ASU 2015-14. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its results of operations, financial position or liquidity. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, "Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting" as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. The areas for simplification in ASU 2016-09 involve several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. Specifically, the amendments require: (1) All excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies (including tax benefits of dividends on share-based payment awards) should be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement. The tax effects of exercised or vested awards should be treated as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. An entity also should recognize excess tax benefits regardless of whether the benefit reduces taxes payable in the current period; (2) Excess tax benefits should be classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity; (3) An entity can make an entity-wide accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest (current GAAP) or account for forfeitures when they occur; (4) The threshold to qualify for equity classification permits withholding up to the maximum statutory tax rates in the applicable jurisdictions; and (5) Cash paid by an employer when directly withholding shares for tax withholding purposes should be classified as a financing activity. The amendments in ASU 2016-09 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted for any entity in any interim or annual period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. An entity that elects early adoption must adopt all of the amendments in the same period. Amendments related to the timing of when excess tax benefits are recognized, minimum statutory withholding requirements, and forfeitures, should be applied using a modified retrospective transition method by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the period in which the guidance is adopted. Amendments related to the presentation of employee taxes paid on the statement of cash flows when an employer withholds shares to meet the minimum statutory withholding requirement should be applied retrospectively. Amendments requiring recognition of excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies in the income statement should be applied prospectively. An entity may elect to apply the amendments related to the presentation of excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows using either a prospective transition method or a retrospective transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and disclosures and is currently unable to estimate the impact of adopting this guidance.

Reciprocal Exchanges

Reciprocal Exchanges	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Reciprocal Exchanges	Reciprocal Exchanges As of September 15 , 2014, t hrough its wholly-owned management companies, the Company manages the business operations of the Reciprocal Exchanges and has the ability to direct their activities. The Reciprocal Exchanges are insurance carriers organized as unincorporated associations. Each policyholder insured by the Reciprocal Exchanges shares risk with the other policyholders. In the event of dissolution, policyholders would share any residual unassigned surplus in the same proportion as the amount of insurance purchased but are not subject to assessment for any deficit in unassigned surplus of the Reciprocal Exchanges. The Company receives management fee income for the services provided to the Reciprocal Exchanges. The assets of the Reciprocal Exchanges can be used only to settle the obligations of the Reciprocal Exchanges and general creditors to their liabilities have no recourse to the Company. Effective March 31, 2016, Integon National Insurance Company, a subsidiary of the Company, purchased from subsidiaries of ACP Re Ltd. ("ACP Re"), a related party, the surplus notes that were issued by the Reciprocal Exchanges when they were originally capitalized. The purchase price of $88,900 was based on an independent third party valuation of the fair market value of the surplus notes. The obligation to repay principal and interest on the surplus notes is subordinated to the Reciprocal Exchanges’ other liabilities including obligations to policyholders and claimants for benefits under insurance policies. Principal and interest on the surplus notes are payable only with regulatory approval. The Company has no ownership interest in the Reciprocal Exchanges. Under ASU 2015-02, as a result of the Company's purchase of the surplus notes effective March 31, 2016, the Company determined that it holds a variable interest in each of the Reciprocal Exchanges. The Company would absorb more than an insignificant amount of the Reciprocal Exchanges expected losses or residual returns through its ownership of the surplus notes. In addition, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, earns fees from the Reciprocal Exchanges that are variable interests. Each of the Reciprocal Exchanges qualifies as a Variable Interest Entity ("VIE") because they do not have sufficient equity to finance their operations without the surplus notes. The policyholders of the Reciprocal Exchanges lack the ability to direct the activities of the Reciprocal Exchanges that have a significant impact on the Reciprocal Exchanges' economic performance. The Company is the primary beneficiary because it, through its wholly-owned management companies, has both the power to direct the activities of the Reciprocal Exchanges that most significantly impact their economic performance and the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary that holds surplus notes, would absorb more than an insignificant amount of expected losses or residual returns of the Reciprocal Exchanges. Accordingly, the Company consolidates these Reciprocal Exchanges as of March 31, 2016, and eliminates all intercompany balances and transactions with the Company. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2015-02 on January 1, 2016, the Company consolidated the Reciprocal Exchanges under the previous guidance. Upon adoption of ASU 2015-02, on January 1, 2016, the Company did not meet the requirements for consolidation under ASU 2015-02 as it did not hold a variable interest in the Reciprocal Exchanges. Hence, the operations of the Reciprocal Exchanges for the period ended March 31, 2016 are not included in the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. The consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges on March 31, 2016 is treated as a business combination with the assets, liabilities and non-controlling interest recognized at fair value at the date of consolidation. The Company has no ownership in the Reciprocal Exchanges. Hence, the difference between the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired represents the fair value of non-controlling interest acquired. The following table presents the balance sheet of the Reciprocal Exchanges as of March 31, 2016 : March 2016 Assets: Cash and investments $ 258,274 Accrued investment income 2,658 Premiums and other receivables, net 52,922 Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses 43,401 Prepaid reinsurance premiums 59,706 Income tax receivable 300 Due from affiliate 11,703 Premises and equipment, net 2,386 Intangible assets, net 32,638 Prepaid and other assets 187 Total assets $ 464,175 Liabilities: Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves $ 137,093 Unearned premiums 143,194 Reinsurance payable 11,982 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 6,972 Deferred tax liability 23,716 Notes payable 88,900 Other liabilities 37,550 Total liabilities 449,407 Stockholders’ equity: Non-controlling interest 14,768 Total stockholders’ equity 14,768 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 464,175 For the three months ended March 31, 2015 , the Reciprocal Exchanges recognized total revenues, total expenses and net income of $49,450 , $49,314 and $136 , respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 , the Company earned service and fee income from the Reciprocal Exchanges in the amount of $9,590 which is included in the Company's consolidated operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 , the Company earned service and fee income from the Reciprocal Exchanges in the amount of $8,578 . Such amount is eliminated in our consolidated earnings.

Investments

Investments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Investments	Investments (a) Available-for-Sale Securities The cost or amortized cost, fair value, and gross unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities were as follows: March 31, 2016 Cost or Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Fair Value Equity securities: Common stock $ 53,625 $ 1,656 $ (18,318 ) $ 36,963 Preferred stock 1,631 32 — 1,663 Fixed maturities: U.S. Treasury 23,268 1,440 — 24,708 States and political subdivision bonds 186,714 5,831 (174 ) 192,371 Foreign government 40,316 1,793 (106 ) 42,003 Corporate bonds 1,409,644 47,427 (33,096 ) 1,423,975 Residential mortgage-backed securities 361,004 11,013 (62 ) 371,955 Commercial mortgage-backed securities 119,878 2,143 (1,958 ) 120,063 Structured securities 231,590 1,472 (7,636 ) 225,426 Total $ 2,427,670 $ 72,807 $ (61,350 ) $ 2,439,127 Less: Securities pledged 126,482 2,615 — 129,097 Total net of Securities pledged $ 2,301,188 $ 70,192 $ (61,350 ) $ 2,310,030 NGHC $ 2,172,069 $ 72,807 $ (61,350 ) $ 2,183,526 Reciprocal Exchanges 255,601 — — 255,601 Total $ 2,427,670 $ 72,807 $ (61,350 ) $ 2,439,127 December 31, 2015 Cost or Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Fair Value Equity securities: Common stock $ 53,356 $ 569 $ (6,960 ) $ 46,965 Preferred stock 11,448 377 — 11,825 Fixed maturities: U.S. Treasury 19,348 1,052 (48 ) 20,352 Federal agencies 1,945 7 — 1,952 States and political subdivision bonds 193,017 4,516 (609 ) 196,924 Foreign government 31,383 31 (352 ) 31,062 Corporate bonds 1,375,336 22,224 (47,902 ) 1,349,658 Residential mortgage-backed securities 419,293 6,254 (978 ) 424,569 Commercial mortgage-backed securities 135,134 720 (3,649 ) 132,205 Structured securities 205,024 15 (4,347 ) 200,692 Total $ 2,445,284 $ 35,765 $ (64,845 ) $ 2,416,204 Less: Securities pledged 54,955 439 — 55,394 Total net of Securities pledged $ 2,390,329 $ 35,326 $ (64,845 ) $ 2,360,810 NGHC $ 2,199,714 $ 34,773 $ (58,826 ) $ 2,175,661 Reciprocal Exchanges 245,570 992 (6,019 ) 240,543 Total $ 2,445,284 $ 35,765 $ (64,845 ) $ 2,416,204 The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale fixed maturities and securities pledged, held as of March 31, 2016 , by contractual maturity, are shown in the table below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because some borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. NGHC Reciprocal Exchanges Total March 31, 2016 Cost or Amortized Cost Fair Value Cost or Amortized Cost Fair Value Cost or Amortized Cost Fair Value Due in one year or less $ 26,271 $ 24,965 $ — $ — $ 26,271 $ 24,965 Due after one year through five years 265,906 268,129 27,107 27,107 293,013 295,236 Due after five years through ten years 1,001,823 1,024,657 159,563 159,563 1,161,386 1,184,220 Due after ten years 373,458 366,659 37,403 37,403 410,861 404,062 Mortgage-backed securities 449,943 461,078 30,940 30,940 480,883 492,018 Total $ 2,117,401 $ 2,145,488 $ 255,013 $ 255,013 $ 2,372,414 $ 2,400,501 (b) Investment Income The components of net investment income consisted of the following: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Interest Cash and short-term investments $ 684 $ 5 Equity securities 333 75 Fixed maturities 19,739 15,006 Investment income 20,756 15,086 Investment expense (1,638 ) (1,212 ) Repurchase agreements interest expense (144 ) (70 ) Other income (1) 2,696 2,344 Net Investment Income $ 21,670 $ 16,148 NGHC $ 21,670 $ 14,109 Reciprocal Exchanges — 2,039 Net Investment Income $ 21,670 $ 16,148 (1 ) Includes interest income of $2,188 and $2,188 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively, under the ACP Re Credit Agreement (see Note 14, "Related Party Transactions"). (c) Realized Gains and Losses Proceeds from sales of equity securities and fixed maturities during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 were $81,805 and $53,402 , respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company recognized an other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") loss of $0 and $1,016 , respectively, on investments based on our qualitative and quantitative review. The tables below indicate the gross realized gains and losses (including any OTTI) for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 . Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Gross Gains Gross Losses Net Gains (Losses) Equity securities $ 442 $ (2 ) $ 440 Fixed maturities 4,199 (1,022 ) 3,177 Total gross realized gains and losses $ 4,641 $ (1,024 ) $ 3,617 NGHC $ 4,641 $ (1,024 ) $ 3,617 Total gross realized gains and losses $ 4,641 $ (1,024 ) $ 3,617 Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Gross Gains Gross Losses Net Gains (Losses) Fixed maturities $ 2,624 $ (421 ) $ 2,203 OTTI — (1,016 ) (1,016 ) Total gross realized gains and losses $ 2,624 $ (1,437 ) $ 1,187 NGHC $ 1,773 $ (1,279 ) $ 494 Reciprocal Exchanges 851 (158 ) 693 Total gross realized gains and losses $ 2,624 $ (1,437 ) $ 1,187 (d) Unrealized Gains and Losses Unrealized gains (losses) on investments as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 consisted of the following: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Net unrealized loss on common stock $ (16,662 ) $ (6,391 ) Net unrealized gain on preferred stock 32 377 Net unrealized gain (loss) on fixed maturities 28,087 (23,066 ) Net unrealized loss on other — (20 ) Deferred income tax (4,009 ) 10,185 Net unrealized gain (loss), net of deferred income tax $ 7,448 $ (18,915 ) NGHC $ 7,448 $ (15,634 ) Reciprocal Exchanges — (3,281 ) Net unrealized gain (loss), net of deferred income tax 7,448 (18,915 ) Non-controlling interest — 3,281 NGHC net unrealized gain (loss), net of deferred income tax $ 7,448 $ (15,634 ) Period Ended: NGHC change for the year-to-date period in net unrealized gain (loss), net of deferred income tax $ 23,082 $ (40,632 ) Non-controlling interest change for the year-to-date period in net unrealized gain (loss), net of deferred income tax $ — $ (3,964 ) (e) Gross Unrealized Losses The tables below summarize the gross unrealized losses on equity securities and fixed maturities by length of time the security has continuously been in an unrealized loss position as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 : Less Than 12 Months 12 Months or More Total March 31, 2016 Fair Unrealized No. of Fair Unrealized No. of Fair Unrealized Common stock $ 26,934 $ (18,280 ) 4 $ 139 $ (38 ) 3 $ 27,073 $ (18,318 ) States and political subdivision bonds 5,840 (95 ) 7 2,751 (79 ) 7 8,591 (174 ) Foreign government 15,259 (106 ) 1 — — — 15,259 (106 ) Corporate bonds 215,855 (19,902 ) 61 39,388 (13,194 ) 17 255,243 (33,096 ) Residential mortgage-backed securities 3,626 (60 ) 6 260 (2 ) 2 3,886 (62 ) Commercial mortgage-backed securities 51,685 (1,958 ) 20 — — — 51,685 (1,958 ) Structured securities 120,411 (7,636 ) 57 — — — 120,411 (7,636 ) Total $ 439,610 $ (48,037 ) 156 $ 42,538 $ (13,313 ) 29 $ 482,148 $ (61,350 ) NGHC $ 439,610 $ (48,037 ) 156 $ 42,538 $ (13,313 ) 29 $ 482,148 $ (61,350 ) Total $ 439,610 $ (48,037 ) 156 $ 42,538 $ (13,313 ) 29 $ 482,148 $ (61,350 ) Less Than 12 Months 12 Months or More Total December 31, 2015 Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses No. of Positions Held Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses No. of Positions Held Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Common stock $ 39,490 $ (6,932 ) 5 $ 130 $ (28 ) 2 $ 39,620 $ (6,960 ) U.S. Treasury 7,141 (48 ) 5 — — — 7,141 (48 ) States and political subdivision bonds 17,674 (501 ) 22 4,878 (108 ) 10 22,552 (609 ) Foreign government 21,322 (352 ) 4 — — — 21,322 (352 ) Corporate bonds 684,613 (37,919 ) 229 32,121 (9,983 ) 38 716,734 (47,902 ) Residential mortgage-backed securities 102,889 (919 ) 23 1,655 (59 ) 9 104,544 (978 ) Commercial mortgage-backed securities 66,222 (3,472 ) 30 2,364 (177 ) 2 68,586 (3,649 ) Structured securities 153,042 (4,347 ) 65 — — — 153,042 (4,347 ) Total $ 1,092,393 $ (54,490 ) 383 $ 41,148 $ (10,355 ) 61 $ 1,133,541 $ (64,845 ) NGHC $ 988,188 $ (50,599 ) 284 $ 28,691 $ (8,227 ) 34 $ 1,016,879 $ (58,826 ) Reciprocal Exchanges 104,205 (3,891 ) 99 12,457 (2,128 ) 27 116,662 (6,019 ) Total $ 1,092,393 $ (54,490 ) 383 $ 41,148 $ (10,355 ) 61 $ 1,133,541 $ (64,845 ) There were 185 and 444 securities at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , respectively, that account for the gross unrealized loss, none of which are deemed by the Company to be an OTTI. At March 31, 2016 , the Company determined that the unrealized losses on fixed maturities were primarily due to market interest rate and credit quality movements since their date of purchase. At March 31, 2016 , the Company determined that the unrealized losses on common stock were primarily due to market movements of equities in the energy transportation sector. Significant factors influencing the Company’s determination that none of these securities were OTTI included the magnitude of unrealized losses in relation to cost, the nature of the investment and management’s intent not to sell these securities and it being more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell these investments before anticipated recovery of fair value to the Company’s cost basis. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , of the $13,313 and $10,355 , respectively, of unrealized losses related to securities in unrealized loss positions for a period of twelve or more consecutive months, $5,022 and $8,466 , respectively, of those unrealized losses were related to securities in unrealized loss positions greater than or equal to 20% of amortized cost or cost. Those unrealized losses were evaluated based on factors such as discounted cash flows and near-term and long-term prospects of the issue or issuer and were determined to have adequate resources to fulfill contractual obligations. (f) Credit Quality of Investments The tables below summarize the credit quality of our fixed maturities, securities pledged and preferred securities as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , as rated by Standard & Poor’s. NGHC Reciprocal Exchanges March 31, 2016 Cost or Amortized Cost Fair Value Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities Cost or Amortized Cost Fair Value Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities U.S. Treasury $ 17,281 $ 18,721 0.9 % $ 5,987 $ 5,987 2.3 % AAA 406,900 420,832 19.6 % 28,594 28,594 11.2 % AA, AA+, AA- 352,194 361,387 16.8 % 28,010 28,010 11.0 % A, A+, A- 568,651 584,768 27.2 % 79,738 79,738 31.2 % BBB, BBB+, BBB- 625,805 636,464 29.7 % 105,475 105,475 41.3 % BB+ and lower 147,613 124,391 5.8 % 7,797 7,797 3.0 % Total $ 2,118,444 $ 2,146,563 100.0 % $ 255,601 $ 255,601 100.0 % NGHC Reciprocal Exchanges December 31, 2015 Cost or Amortized Cost Fair Value Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities Cost or Amortized Cost Fair Value Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities U.S. Treasury $ 13,416 $ 14,448 0.7 % $ 5,932 $ 5,904 2.5 % AAA 343,128 348,073 16.4 % 39,724 38,888 16.2 % AA, AA+, AA- 379,560 383,888 18.0 % 36,866 36,934 15.4 % A, A+, A- 501,409 508,884 23.9 % 50,612 50,153 20.8 % BBB, BBB+, BBB- 634,250 623,742 29.3 % 82,417 80,322 33.4 % BB+ and lower 274,594 249,660 11.7 % 30,020 28,343 11.7 % Total $ 2,146,357 $ 2,128,695 100.0 % $ 245,571 $ 240,544 100.0 % The tables below summarize the investment quality of our corporate bond holdings and industry concentrations as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 . March 31, 2016 AAA AA+, A+,A,A- BBB+, BB+ or Fair % of Corporate Bonds: Financial institutions 1.5 % 4.0 % 18.6 % 14.2 % 0.6 % $ 553,429 38.9 % Industrials — % 3.3 % 16.5 % 30.5 % 5.9 % 800,940 56.2 % Utilities/Other — % — % 1.1 % 2.6 % 1.2 % 69,606 4.9 % Total 1.5 % 7.3 % 36.2 % 47.3 % 7.7 % $ 1,423,975 100.0 % NGHC 1.5 % 6.6 % 31.1 % 40.1 % 7.2 % $ 1,231,552 86.5 % Reciprocal Exchanges — % 0.7 % 5.1 % 7.2 % 0.5 % 192,423 13.5 % Total 1.5 % 7.3 % 36.2 % 47.3 % 7.7 % $ 1,423,975 100.0 % December 31, 2015 AAA AA+, A+,A,A- BBB+, BB+ or Fair % of Corporate Bonds: Financial institutions — % 2.8 % 21.2 % 12.7 % 2.1 % $ 524,250 38.8 % Industrials — % 3.9 % 15.4 % 32.3 % 4.6 % 757,907 56.2 % Utilities/Other 0.4 % — % 0.4 % 3.4 % 0.8 % 67,501 5.0 % Total 0.4 % 6.7 % 37.0 % 48.4 % 7.5 % $ 1,349,658 100.0 % NGHC 0.4 % 6.1 % 33.9 % 42.7 % 6.3 % $ 1,206,442 89.4 % Reciprocal Exchanges — % 0.6 % 3.1 % 5.7 % 1.2 % 143,216 10.6 % Total 0.4 % 6.7 % 37.0 % 48.4 % 7.5 % $ 1,349,658 100.0 % (g) Restricted Cash and Investments The Company, in order to conduct business in certain states, is required to maintain letters of credit or assets on deposit to support state mandated regulatory requirements and certain third party agreements. The Company also utilizes trust accounts to collateralize business with its reinsurance counterparties. These assets held are primarily in the form of cash or certain high grade securities. The fair values of our restricted assets as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are as follows: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Restricted cash $ 11,647 $ 13,776 Restricted investments - fixed maturities, at fair value 41,971 40,174 Total $ 53,618 $ 53,950 (h) Other Investments The table below summarizes the composition of Other investments as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 : March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Limited partnerships, equity method $ 36,175 $ 5,691 Investments at cost or amortized cost 17,915 7,340 Total $ 54,090 $ 13,031 (i) Reverse Repurchase and Repurchase Agreements The Company enters into reverse repurchase and repurchase agreements, which are accounted for as either collateralized lending or borrowing transactions and are recorded at contract amounts, which approximate fair value. For the collateralized borrowing transactions (i.e., repurchase agreements), the Company receives cash or securities that it invests or holds in short-term or fixed income securities. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company had no collateralized lending transaction principal outstanding. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company had collateralized borrowing transaction principal outstanding of $114,196 and $52,484 , respectively, at interest rates of 0.75% and 0.80% , respectively. Interest expense associated with the repurchase borrowing agreements for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $144 and $70 , respectively. The Company had $129,097 and $55,394 of collateral pledged in support for these agreements as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , respectively. The table below summarizes the remaining contractual maturity of the Company's repurchase agreements as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 . March 31, 2016 Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Repurchase Agreements Overnight and Continuous Up to 30 days 30 - 90 days Greater Than 90 days Total Repurchase agreements: Residential mortgage-backed securities $ — $ 114,196 $ — $ — $ 114,196 Total Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value $ — $ 114,196 $ — $ — $ 114,196 December 31, 2015 Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Repurchase Agreements Overnight and Continuous Up to 30 days 30 - 90 days Greater Than 90 days Total Repurchase agreements: Residential mortgage-backed securities $ — $ 52,484 $ — $ — $ 52,484 Total Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value $ — $ 52,484 $ — $ — $ 52,484 Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (repurchase agreements), at contract value are accounted for as collateralized borrowing transactions and are recorded at their contracted repurchase amounts, plus accrued interest. Under repurchase agreements, the Company borrows cash from a counterparty at an agreed-upon interest rate for an agreed-upon time frame and the Company transfers either corporate debt securities or U.S. government or government agency securities (pledged collateral). For securities repurchase agreements, the cash received is typically invested in cash equivalents, short-term investments or fixed maturities, with the offsetting obligation to repay the loan included as a liability in the consolidated balance sheets. At the end of the agreement, the counterparty returns the collateral to the Company, and the Company, in turn, repays the loan amount along with the agreed-upon interest. There are potential risks associated with repurchase agreements and the related collateral pledged, including obligations arising from a decline in the market value of the collateral pledged. The Company is generally required to maintain collateral in the amount of 105.0% to 110.0% of the value of the securities we have sold with agreement to repurchase, which are subject to daily mark-to-market margining (i.e., if the collateral falls in value, a margin call can be triggered requiring the Company to pay cash or post extra securities to maintain the 105.0% to 110.0% threshold). Conversely, if the value of the Company’s collateral pledged appreciates in value there is credit risk that the lending counterparty could default and not return/sell the securities back. The Company minimizes the credit risk that counterparties might be unable to fulfill their contractual obligations by monitoring its counterparty exposure and related collateral pledged. Additionally, repurchase agreements are only transacted with pre-approved counterparties.

Fair Value of Financial Instrum

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Fair Value of Financial Instruments ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, provides a definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and requires expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. The standard applies when GAAP requires or allows assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value; therefore, it does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstance. The Company utilized a pricing service to estimate fair value measurements for approximately 100.0% of its fixed maturities. For investments that have quoted market prices in active markets, the Company uses the quoted market prices as fair value and includes these prices in the amounts disclosed in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company receives the quoted market prices from nationally recognized third-party pricing services (“pricing services”). When quoted market prices are unavailable, the Company utilizes a pricing service to determine an estimate of fair value. This pricing method is used, primarily, for fixed maturities. The fair value estimates provided by the pricing service are included in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. If the Company determines that the fair value estimate provided by the pricing service does not represent fair value or if quoted market prices and an estimate from pricing services are unavailable, the Company produces an estimate of fair value based on dealer quotations of the bid price for recent activity in positions with the same or similar characteristics to that being valued or through consensus pricing of a pricing service. Depending on the level of observable inputs, the Company will then determine if the estimate is in Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The following describes the valuation techniques used by the Company to determine the fair value of financial instruments held as of March 31, 2016 . Equity Securities ‑ The Company utilized a pricing service to estimate the fair value of the majority of its available for sale and trading equity securities. The pricing service utilizes market quotations for equity securities that have quoted market prices in active markets and their respective quoted prices are provided as fair value. The Company classifies the values of these equity securities as Level 1. The pricing service also provides fair value estimates for certain equity securities whose fair value is based on observable market information rather than market quotes. The Company classifies the value of these equity securities as Level 2. From time to time, the Company also holds certain equity securities that are issued by privately-held entities or direct equity investments that do not have an active market. The Company estimates the fair value of these securities primarily based on inputs such as third party broker quote, issuers' book value, market multiples, and other inputs. These equity securities are classified as Level 3 due to significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation. U.S. Treasury and Federal Agencies ‑ Comprised of primarily bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury, the Federal Home Loan Bank, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Government National Mortgage Association and the Federal National Mortgage Association. The fair values of U.S. government securities are based on quoted market prices in active markets, and are included in the Level 1 fair value hierarchy. The Company believes the market for U.S. Treasury securities is an actively traded market given the high level of daily trading volume. The fair values of U.S. government agency securities are priced using the spread above the risk-free yield curve. As the yields for the risk-free yield curve and the spreads for these securities are observable market inputs, the fair values of U.S. government agency securities are included in the Level 2 fair value hierarchy. States and Political Subdivision Bonds ‑ Comprised of bonds and auction rate securities issued by U.S. state and municipal entities or agencies. The fair values of municipal bonds are generally priced by pricing services. The pricing services typically use spreads obtained from broker-dealers, trade prices and the new issue market. As the significant inputs used to price the municipal bonds are observable market inputs, these are classified within Level 2. Municipal auction rate securities are reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheets at cost which approximates their fair value. Foreign Government ‑ Comprised of bonds issued by foreign governments, and are generally priced by pricing services. As the significant inputs used to price foreign government bonds are observable market inputs, the fair values of foreign government bonds are included in the Level 2 fair value hierarchy. Corporate Bonds ‑ Comprised of bonds issued by corporations and are generally priced by pricing services. The fair values of short-term corporate bonds are priced, by the pricing services, using the spread above the London Interbank Offering Rate ("LIBOR") yield curve and the fair value of long-term corporate bonds are priced using the spread above the risk-free yield curve. The spreads are sourced from broker-dealers, trade prices and the new issue market. Where pricing is unavailable from pricing services, the Company obtains non-binding quotes from broker-dealers. As the significant inputs used to price corporate bonds are observable market inputs, the fair values of corporate bonds are included in the Level 2 fair value hierarchy. Mortgage, Asset-backed and Structured Securities ‑ Comprised of commercial and residential mortgage-backed and structured securities. These securities are priced by independent pricing services and brokers. The pricing provider applies dealer quotes and other available trade information, prepayment speeds, yield curves and credit spreads to the valuation. As the significant inputs used to price are observable market inputs, the fair value of these securities are included in the Level 2 fair value hierarchy. Notes Payable - The amount reported in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets for these financial instruments represents the carrying value of the debt. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the current fair value of the Company's 7.625% Notes which are publicly traded was $97,160 and $98,240 , respectively, and is classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the current fair value of the Company's 6.75% Notes, which are not publicly traded, were $365,970 and $350,000 , respectively. At March 31, 2016 , the fair value of the Company’s 6.75% Notes was determined using market-based metrics and the magnitude and timing of contractual interest and principal payments. The fair value of the Company’s 6.75% Notes at December 31, 2015 was determined using the direct transaction method of the Market Approach. The Company executed an arm’s length private market transaction in the 6.75% Notes in the fourth quarter of 2015 which provided reasonably supportable indication of fair value for the 6.75% Notes as of December 31, 2015 . Non-direct market-based metrics and the magnitude and timing of contractual interest and principal payments were analyzed to support the indication of fair value provided by the direct transaction method of the Market Approach as of December 31, 2015 . As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the current fair value of the Company's Imperial Surplus Notes, which are not publicly traded, were $4,984 and $4,979 , respectively. The Imperial Surplus Notes were valued using the Black Derman-Toy interest rate lattice model. Effective March 31, 2016 , the Company purchased the Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes from ACP Re for an aggregate amount of approximately $88,900 . The purchase price was based on an independent third party valuation of the fair market value of the surplus notes. As of March 31, 2016 , the surplus notes receivable and surplus notes payable are eliminated upon consolidation. (See Note 14, "Related Party Transactions"). The Company's 6.75% Notes, Imperial Surplus Notes and Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 9, "Debt" for the carrying value of the Company's debt instruments. Contingent payments - represents the fair value of the contingent payments based on discounted cash flows under the Personal Lines Master Agreement (see Note 14, "Related Party Transactions") and the ARS and HST contingent payments (see Note 7, "Acquisitions"), and are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. In accordance with ASC 820, assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows: March 31, 2016 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets Equity securities: Common stock $ 36,963 $ — $ — $ 36,963 Preferred stock — 1,663 — 1,663 Fixed maturities: U.S. Treasury 24,708 — — 24,708 States and political subdivision bonds — 192,371 — 192,371 Foreign government — 42,003 — 42,003 Corporate bonds — 1,423,975 — 1,423,975 Residential mortgage-backed securities — 371,955 — 371,955 Commercial mortgage-backed securities — 120,063 — 120,063 Structured securities — 225,426 — 225,426 Short-term investments — 2,440 — 2,440 Total assets $ 61,671 $ 2,379,896 $ — $ 2,441,567 NGHC $ 55,685 $ 2,130,281 $ — $ 2,185,966 Reciprocal Exchanges 5,986 249,615 — 255,601 Total assets $ 61,671 $ 2,379,896 $ — $ 2,441,567 Liabilities Contingent payments $ — $ — $ 15,902 $ 15,902 Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 15,902 $ 15,902 NGHC $ — $ — $ 15,902 $ 15,902 Reciprocal Exchanges — — — — Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 15,902 $ 15,902 December 31, 2015 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets Equity securities: Common stock $ 46,965 $ — $ — $ 46,965 Preferred stock — 11,825 — 11,825 Fixed maturities: U.S. Treasury 20,352 — — 20,352 Federal agencies 1,952 — — 1,952 States and political subdivision bonds — 196,924 — 196,924 Foreign government — 31,062 — 31,062 Corporate bonds — 1,349,658 — 1,349,658 Residential mortgage-backed securities — 424,569 — 424,569 Commercial mortgage-backed securities — 132,205 — 132,205 Structured securities — 200,692 — 200,692 Short-term investments — 3,527 — 3,527 Total assets $ 69,269 $ 2,350,462 $ — $ 2,419,731 NGHC $ 61,413 $ 2,115,776 $ — $ 2,177,189 Reciprocal Exchanges 7,856 234,686 — 242,542 Total assets $ 69,269 $ 2,350,462 $ — $ 2,419,731 Liabilities Contingent payments $ — $ — $ 24,652 $ 24,652 Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 24,652 $ 24,652 NGHC $ — $ — $ 24,652 $ 24,652 Reciprocal Exchanges — — — — Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 24,652 $ 24,652 The following tables provide a summary of changes in fair value of the Company’s Level 3 financial assets and liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2015 : Balance as of Net income / loss Other comprehensive Purchases and Payments, sales and Net transfers Balance as of March 31, 2016 Contingent payments $ 24,652 $ 1,263 $ — $ — $ (10,013 ) $ — $ 15,902 Total liabilities $ 24,652 $ 1,263 $ — $ — $ (10,013 ) $ — $ 15,902 Balance as of Net income / loss Other comprehensive Purchases and Payments, sales and Net transfers Balance as of Common stock $ 34,389 $ — $ 2,526 $ — $ — $ (36,915 ) $ — Total assets $ 34,389 $ — $ 2,526 $ — $ — $ (36,915 ) $ — Contingent payments $ 23,499 $ 2,357 $ — $ 8,581 $ (9,785 ) $ — $ 24,652 Total liabilities $ 23,499 $ 2,357 $ — $ 8,581 $ (9,785 ) $ — $ 24,652 As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the fair value measurement for the Company's Level 3 ACP Re Contingent Payments of $7,321 and $16,071 , respectively, were valued based on discounted cash flows. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the fair value measurement for the Company's Level 3 ARS Contingent Payments and HST Contingent Payments of $4,081 and $4,500 , respectively, were valued based on estimated earnings and projected payouts. There have not been any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, or Level 2 and Level 3, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2016 . During the year ended December 31, 2015 , there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2. During the year ended December 31, 2015 , the Company transferred $36,915 out of Level 3 and into Level 1 due to the public offering of a previously privately-placed common stock investment. The Company's policy is to recognize transfers between levels as of the end of each reporting period, consistent with the date of determination of fair value. Other than Goodwill, the Company does not measure any assets or liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 . Goodwill is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 8, "Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net" for additional information on how the Company tested goodwill for impairment. The carrying value of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, premiums and other receivables, accrued interest and accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates fair value given the short-term nature of such items and are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The carrying value of the Company’s securities sold under agreements to repurchase approximates fair value given the short-term nature of the agreements and are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Equity Investments in Unconsoli

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries	Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries In 2010, the Company and AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (“AmTrust”) formed Tiger Capital LLC (“Tiger”) for the purposes of acquiring certain life settlement contracts whereby each holds a 50% ownership interests in Tiger. In 2011, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, American Capital Acquisition Investments, Ltd. (“ACAI”), formed AMT Capital Alpha, LLC (“AMT Alpha”) with AmTrust for the purposes of acquiring additional life settlement contracts. In March 2013, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with ACP Re to acquire 50% of the issued and outstanding shares of AMT Capital Holdings S.A. (“AMTCH”), a Luxembourg Societe Anonyme, for a cash contribution in the amount of $12,136 . ACP Re and the Company are majority owned and controlled by a common parent and the transaction was accounted for as between entities under common control. AMTCH’s primary purpose is to acquire certain life settlement contracts. AmTrust owns the remaining 50% of AMTCH. The Company accounts for AMTCH using the equity method of accounting. The Company’s 50% equity interest in AMTCH at the acquisition date was approximately $22,411 . The difference between the equity interest and consideration paid was recorded as additional paid-in capital of $10,275 . In December 2013, ACAI and AmTrust formed AMT Capital Holdings II S.A. (“AMTCH II”). The company is equally owned by both parties and was established for the purpose of acquiring additional life settlement contracts. A life settlement contract is a contract between the owner of a life insurance policy and a third party who obtains the ownership and beneficiary rights of the underlying life insurance policy. The Company, along with AmTrust, is obligated to pay premiums on these life insurance policies as they come due. A third party serves as the administrator for two of the life settlement contract portfolios, for which it receives an administrative fee. The third-party administrator is eligible to receive a percentage of profits after certain time and performance thresholds have been met. Tiger, AMT Alpha, AMTCH and AMTCH II (collectively “LSC Entities”) are considered to be VIEs, for which the Company is not a primary beneficiary. In determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the Company considered qualitative and quantitative factors, including, but not limited to, activities that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and which party controls such activities. The Company does not have the ability to direct the activities of the LSC Entities that most significantly impact its economic performance. The Company’s maximum exposure to a loss as a result of its involvement with the unconsolidated VIE is limited to its recorded investment plus additional capital commitments. The Company uses the equity method of accounting to account for its investments in the LSC Entities. The Company currently has a fifty percent ownership interest in the LSC Entities. AmTrust owns the remaining fifty percent interest in the LSC Entities. The following tables present the investment activity in the LSC Entities. Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Balance at beginning of the period $ 153,661 $ 146,089 Contributions — 565 Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries 4,828 5,118 Change in equity method investments 4,828 5,683 Balance at end of the period $ 158,489 $ 151,772 The following tables summarize total assets, total liabilities and members' equity as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and the results of operations for the Company’s unconsolidated equity method investment in the LSC Entities for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 . Condensed balance sheet data March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Investments in life settlement contracts, at fair value $ 294,573 $ 264,001 Total assets 336,703 334,026 Total liabilities 19,725 26,704 Members' equity 316,978 307,322 NGHC's 50% ownership interest $ 158,489 $ 153,661 Three Months Ended March 31, Condensed results of operations 2016 2015 Revenue, net of commission $ 11,359 $ 12,078 Total expenses 1,703 1,842 Net income $ 9,656 $ 10,236 NGHC's 50% ownership interest $ 4,828 $ 5,118 The LSC Entities account for investments in life settlements in accordance with ASC 325-30, "Investments in Insurance Contracts", which states that an investor shall elect to account for its investments in life settlement contracts by using either the investment method or the fair value method. The election is made on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is irrevocable. The LSC Entities have elected to account for these policies using the fair value method. The fair value of life settlement contracts as well as life settlement profit commission liability is based on information available to the LSC Entities at the end of the reporting period. The LSC Entities consider the following factors in their fair value estimates: cost at date of purchase, recent purchases and sales of similar investments (if available and applicable), financial standing of the issuer, changes in economic conditions affecting the issuer, maintenance cost, premiums, benefits, standard actuarially developed mortality tables and life expectancy reports prepared by nationally recognized and independent third party medical underwriters. The LSC Entities estimate the fair value of a life insurance policy by applying an investment discount rate based on the cost of funding their life settlement contracts as compared to returns on investments in asset classes with comparable credit quality, which the LSC Entities have determined to be 7.5% to the expected cash flow generated by the policies in the life settlement portfolio (death benefits less premium payments), net of policy specific adjustments and reserves. In order to confirm the integrity of their calculation of fair value, the LSC Entities, quarterly, retain an independent third-party actuary to verify that the actuarial modeling used by the LSC Entities to determine fair value was performed correctly and that the valuation, as determined through the LSC Entities’ actuarial modeling, is consistent with other methodologies. The LSC Entities consider this information in their assessment of the reasonableness of the life expectancy and discount rate inputs used in the valuation of these investments. The LSC Entities adjust the standard mortality for each insured for the insured’s life expectancy based on reviews of the insured’s medical records and the independent life expectancy report based thereon. The LSC Entities establish policy specific reserves for the following uncertainties: improvements in mortality, the possibility that the high net worth individuals represented in their portfolios may have access to better health care, the volatility inherent in determining the life expectancy of insureds with significant reported health impairments, the possibility that the issuer of the policy or a third party will contest the payment of the death benefit payable to the LSC Entities, and the future expenses related to the administration of the portfolio. The application of the investment discount rate to the expected cash flow generated by the portfolio, net of the policy specific reserves, yields the fair value of the portfolio. The effective discount rate reflects the relationship between the fair value and the expected cash flow gross of these reserves. The following summarizes data utilized in estimating the fair value of the portfolio of life insurance policies as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and, only includes data for policies to which the LSC Entities assigned value at those dates: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Average age of insured 82.2 years 82.0 years Average life expectancy, months (1) 110 114 Average face amount per policy $ 6,538 $ 6,564 Effective discount rate (2) 13.9 % 13.7 % (1) Standard life expectancy as adjusted for specific circumstances. (2) Effective Discount Rate ("EDR") is the LSC Entities' estimated internal rate of return on its life settlement contract portfolio and is determined from the gross expected cash flows and valuation of the portfolio. The valuation of the portfolio is calculated net of all reserves using a 7.5% discount rate. The EDR is inclusive of the reserves and the gross expected cash flows of the portfolio. The LSC Entities anticipate that the EDR's range is between 12.5% and 17.5% and reflects the uncertainty that exists surrounding the information available as of the reporting date. As the accuracy and reliability of information improves (declines), the EDR will decrease (increase). The LSC Entities' assumptions are, by their nature, inherently uncertain and the effect of changes in estimates may be significant. The fair value measurements used in estimating the present value calculation are derived from valuation techniques generally used in the industry that include inputs for the asset that are not based on observable market data. The extent to which the fair value could reasonably vary in the near term has been quantified by evaluating the effect of changes in significant underlying assumptions used to estimate the fair value amount. If the life expectancies were increased or decreased by 4 months and the discount factors were increased or decreased by 1% while all other variables were held constant, the carrying value of the investment in life insurance policies would increase or (decrease) by the unaudited amounts summarized below as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 : Change in life expectancy Plus 4 Months Minus 4 Months Investment in life policies: March 31, 2016 $ (37,524 ) $ 42,046 December 31, 2015 $ (37,697 ) $ 40,997 Change in discount rate (1) Plus 1% Minus 1% Investment in life policies: March 31, 2016 $ (26,783 ) $ 29,775 December 31, 2015 $ (26,558 ) $ 29,644 (1) Discount rate is a present value calculation that considers legal risk, credit risk and liquidity risk and is a component of EDR. The Company and AmTrust are committed to providing additional capital support to the LSC Entities to keep the life settlement policies in-force. The Company and AmTrust, each, are committed to provide 50% of the additional required capital. Below is a summary of total premiums to be paid for each of the five succeeding fiscal years to keep the existing life insurance policies in force as of March 31, 2016 . The actual capital commitment may differ from the amounts shown based on policy lapses and terminations, death benefits received and other operating cash flows of the LSC Entities: Premiums Due on Life Settlement Contracts 2016 $ 65,789 2017 42,672 2018 41,771 2019 41,026 2020 37,998 Thereafter 464,343 Total $ 693,599 In August 2011, the Company formed 800 Superior, LLC with AmTrust, for the purposes of acquiring an office building in Cleveland, Ohio. The cost of the building was approximately $7,500 . AmTrust has been appointed managing member of 800 Superior, LLC. The Company and AmTrust each have a 50% ownership interest in 800 Superior, LLC for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. Additionally, in 2012, the Company entered into an office lease with 800 Superior, LLC, which as of March 31, 2016 , was approximately 156,176 square feet. The lease period is for 15 years and the Company paid 800 Superior, LLC $683 and $664 in rent for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. The Company’s equity interest in 800 Superior, LLC as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was $1,690 and $1,720 , respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) from 800 Superior, LLC of $(30) and $(191) , respectively. (See Note 14, "Related Party Transactions"). In September 2012, the Company formed East Ninth & Superior, LLC and 800 Superior NMTC Investment Fund II, LLC with AmTrust (collectively “East Ninth & Superior”). The Company and AmTrust each have a 50% ownership interest in East Ninth and Superior, LLC and a 24.5% ownership interest in 800 Superior NMTC Investment Fund II, LLC for which the Company is not a primary beneficiary. The Company’s equity interest in East Ninth & Superior as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was $4,157 and $4,139 , respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) from East Ninth & Superior of $18 and $32 , respectively. In February 2015, the Company invested $9,714 in North Dearborn Building Company, L.P. (“North Dearborn”), a limited partnership that owns an office building in Chicago, Illinois. AmTrust is also a limited partner in North Dearborn, and the general partner is NA Advisors GP LLC (“NA Advisors”), an entity controlled by Michael Karfunkel and managed by an unrelated third party. The Company and AmTrust each received a 45% limited partnership interest in North Dearborn for their respective $9,714 investments, while NA Advisors invested approximately $2,200 and holds a 10% general partnership interest and a 10% profit interest, which NA Advisors pays to the unrelated third party manager. North Dearborn appointed NA Advisors as the general manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the office building. North Dearborn is considered to be a VIE, for which the Company is not a primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for North Dearborn using the equity method of accounting. The Company's total exposure to loss is limited to its equity investment. The Company’s equity interest in North Dearborn as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was $11,661 and $9,862 , respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) from North Dearborn of $674 and $0 , respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company made contributions of $1,125 and $0 , respectively. (See Note 14, "Related Party Transactions"). In August 2015, the Company formed 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC with AmTrust, for the purposes of acquiring an office building in Dallas, Texas. The cost of the building was approximately $21,000 . AmTrust has been appointed managing member of 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC. The Company and AmTrust each have a 50% ownership interest in 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC. The Company accounts for 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC using the equity method of accounting. Additionally, in March 2016, the Company entered into a lease agreement with 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC for approximately 81,822 square feet. The lease period is for 12 years and the Company paid 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC $130 in rent for the three months ended March 31, 2016 . The Company’s equity interest in 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was $10,450 and $10,559 , respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 , the Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) from 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC of $(149) . For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company made contributions of $40 . (See Note 14, "Related Party Transactions"). In August 2015, the Company invested $53,715 in Illinois Center Building, L.P. (“Illinois Center”), a limited partnership that owns an office building in Chicago, Illinois. AmTrust and ACP Re Group, Inc. ("ACP Re Group") are also limited partners in Illinois Center and the general partner is NA Advisors. The Company and AmTrust each received a 37.5% limited partnership interest in Illinois Center for their respective $53,715 investments, while ACP Re Group invested $21,486 for its 15.0% limited partnership interest. NA Advisors invested $14,324 and holds a 10.0% general partnership interest and a 10.0% profit interest, which NA Advisors pays to the unrelated third party manager. Illinois Center appointed NA Advisors as the general manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the office building. Illinois Center is considered to be a VIE, for which the Company is not a primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for Illinois Center using the equity method of accounting. The Company's total exposure to loss is limited to its equity investment. The Company’s equity interest in Illinois Center as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was $56,347 and $55,007 , respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 , the Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) from Illinois Center of $1,340 . (See Note 14, "Related Party Transactions").

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisitions	Acquisitions On October 1, 2015, the Company closed on a master transaction agreement with QBE Investments (North America), Inc. (“QBE Parent”) and its subsidiary, QBE Holdings, Inc. (together with QBE Parent, “QBE”), pursuant to which the Company acquired QBE’s lender-placed insurance business (“LPI Business”), including certain of QBE’s affiliates engaged in the LPI Business. The transaction included the acquisition of certain assets, including loan-tracking systems and technology, client servicing accounts, intellectual property, and vendor relationships, as well as the assumption of the related insurance liabilities in a reinsurance transaction through which the Company received the loss reserves, unearned premium reserves, and invested assets. The aggregate consideration for the transaction was approximately $95,726 , subject to certain adjustments. The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date: October 2015 Assets Cash and invested assets $ 290,262 Premium receivable 129,524 Premises and equipment 1,540 Intangible assets 61,645 Other assets 1,013 Total Assets 483,984 Liabilities Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves 102,913 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 64,168 Unearned premiums 245,827 Total Liabilities 412,908 Net assets purchased 71,076 Purchase price 95,726 Goodwill recorded $ 24,650 The goodwill and intangible assets related to the acquisition of the LPI Business were assigned to the Property and Casualty segment. Goodwill of $24,650 is deductible for tax purposes. Intangible assets acquired in the acquisition of the LPI Business consisted of Agent/Customer relationships of $50,000 , Proprietary technology of $10,000 and Other of $1,645 , with weighted average amortization lives of 15 , 10 and 7 years, respectively. The increase in goodwill of $4,924 from December 31, 2015 to March 31, 2016 was related to the increase in the fair value of the provisional amounts recorded for Accounts payable and accrued expenses and the decrease in Premium receivable, Premises and equipment, and Other assets since the initial accounting is in the process of being completed. As a result of this acquisition, the Company recorded $111,997 of gross premium written and $8,243 of service and fee income related to the LPI Business for the three months ended March 31, 2016 . On October 1, 2015, the Company closed its acquisition of certain business lines and assets from Assurant Health, which is a business segment of Assurant, Inc. As part of the transaction, the Company acquired the small group self-funded and supplemental product lines, as well as North Star Marketing, a proprietary small group sales channel. The purchase price was an aggregate cash payment of $14,000 . The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date: October 2015 Assets Cash and invested assets $ 43,448 Premium receivable 16,440 Intangible assets 10,493 Total Assets 70,381 Liabilities Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves 66,344 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 281 Unearned premiums 2,505 Deferred tax liability 3,887 Other liabilities 678 Total Liabilities 73,695 Net assets purchased (3,314 ) Purchase price 14,000 Goodwill recorded $ 17,314 The goodwill and intangible assets related to the acquisition of the business lines and assets from Assurant Health were assigned to the Accident and Health segment. Goodwill of $7,288 is deductible for tax purposes. The increase in goodwill of $2,205 from December 31, 2015 to March 31, 2016 was related to the decrease in the fair value of the provisional amounts recorded for Premium receivable since the initial accounting is in the process of being completed. As a result of this acquisition, the Company recorded $50,875 of gross premium written and $15,140 of service and fee income for the three months ended March 31, 2016 . On April 1, 2015, the Company closed on the acquisition of Assigned Risk Solutions Ltd. ("ARS"), a New Jersey based managing general agency that services assigned risk, personal auto, and commercial lines of business, for a purchase price of approximately $48,000 in cash and potential future earnout payments ("ARS Contingent Payments"). The fair value of the ARS Contingent Payments was $4,081 at both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 . Goodwill recorded on the acquisition of ARS was $14,600 . No goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. On January 23, 2015, the Company closed on the acquisition of Healthcare Solutions Team, LLC (“HST”), an Illinois based healthcare insurance general agency. The Company paid approximately $15,000 on the acquisition date and agreed to pay potential future earnout payments ("HST Contingent Payments") based on the overall profitability of HST and the business underwritten by the Company's insurance subsidiaries which is produced by HST. The fair value of the HST Contingent Payments was $4,500 at both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 . Goodwill recorded on the acquisition of HST was $4,555 . The goodwill of $4,555 is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. No individual acquisition or acquisitions in the aggregate were materially significant that required any pro forma financial information.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets,

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net	Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net Goodwill Goodwill is calculated as the excess of purchase price over the net fair value of assets acquired. The Company performs an annual impairment analysis to identify potential goodwill impairment and measures the amount of a goodwill impairment loss to be recognized. This annual test is performed during the fourth quarter of each year, or more frequently, if events or circumstances change in a way that requires the Company to perform the impairment analysis on an interim basis. Goodwill impairment testing requires an evaluation of the estimated fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. An impairment charge is recorded if the estimated fair value is less than the carrying amount of the reporting unit. Intangible Assets Intangible assets consist of finite and indefinite life assets. Finite life intangible assets include customer and producer relationships and trademarks. Insurance company licenses and managements contracts are considered indefinite life intangible assets subject to annual impairment testing. The composition of goodwill and intangible assets at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 consisted of the following: March 31, 2016 Gross Balance Accumulated Amortization Net Value Useful Life Trademarks $ 900 $ — $ 900 5 years Loss reserve discount 15,089 13,363 1,726 7 years Agent/Customer relationships 148,419 21,895 126,524 11 - 17 years Affinity partners 800 454 346 11 years Renewal rights 26,100 7,937 18,163 7 years Value in policies-in-force 28,638 — 28,638 1 year Property technology 11,800 758 11,042 3 - 10 years Management contracts 118,600 — 118,600 indefinite life State licenses 65,165 — 65,165 indefinite life Goodwill 119,553 — 119,553 indefinite life Total $ 535,064 $ 44,407 $ 490,657 NGHC $ 502,426 $ 44,407 $ 458,019 Reciprocal Exchanges 32,638 — 32,638 Total $ 535,064 $ 44,407 $ 490,657 December 31, 2015 Gross Balance Accumulated Amortization Net Value Useful Life Trademarks $ 8,200 $ 6,744 $ 1,456 5 years Loss reserve discount 15,089 12,779 2,310 7 years Agent/Customer relationships 148,419 18,562 129,857 11 - 17 years Affinity partners 800 436 364 11 years Renewal rights 26,100 6,375 19,725 7 years Proprietary technology 11,800 379 11,421 3 - 10 years Management contracts 118,600 — 118,600 indefinite life State licenses 65,165 — 65,165 indefinite life Goodwill 112,414 — 112,414 indefinite life Total $ 506,587 $ 45,275 $ 461,312 NGHC $ 501,187 $ 44,700 $ 456,487 Reciprocal Exchanges 5,400 575 4,825 Total $ 506,587 $ 45,275 $ 461,312 Goodwill and intangible assets are subject to annual impairment testing or on an interim basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a reporting unit may not be recoverable. No goodwill and intangible assets impairments were recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 . Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized under the straight-line method, except for loss reserve discounts, which the Company amortizes using an accelerated method, which approximates underlying claim payments. The Company also uses the accelerated method of amortization for affinity partners and agents’ relationships based on the estimated attrition of those relationships. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company amortized approximately $5,607 and $4,819 , respectively, related to its intangible assets with a finite life, which includes amortization relating to intangibles owned by the Reciprocal Exchanges of $2,252 for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the next five years and thereafter is: Year ending NGHC Reciprocal Total 2016 (remaining nine months) $ 16,213 $ 21,573 $ 37,786 2017 19,597 7,287 26,884 2018 15,101 126 15,227 2019 13,855 126 13,981 2020 11,839 126 11,965 2021 10,414 32 10,446 Thereafter 71,050 — 71,050 $ 158,069 $ 29,270 $ 187,339

Debt

Debt	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	Debt 7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055 On August 18, 2015, the Company sold $100,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 7.625% subordinated notes due 2055 (the “ 7.625% Notes”) in a public offering. The net proceeds the Company received from the issuance was approximately $96,550 , after deducting the underwriting discount, commissions and expenses. The 7.625% Notes bear interest at a rate equal to 7.625% per year, payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2015. The 7.625% Notes are the Company’s subordinated unsecured obligations and rank (i) senior in right of payment to any future junior subordinated debt, (ii) equal in right of payment with any unsecured, subordinated debt that the Company incurs in the future that ranks equally with the 7.625% Notes, and (iii) subordinate in right of payment to any of the Company’s existing and future senior debt, including amounts outstanding under the Company’s revolving credit facility, the Company’s 6.75% Notes and certain of the Company’s other obligations. In addition, the 7.625% Notes are structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness, liabilities and other obligations of the Company’s subsidiaries. The 7.625% Notes mature on September 15, 2055, unless earlier redeemed or purchased by the Company. Interest expense on the 7.625% Notes for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $1,880 . The indenture contains customary covenants, such as reporting of annual and quarterly financial results, and restrictions on certain mergers and consolidations. The indenture also includes covenants relating to the incurrence of debt if the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio would exceed 0.35 to 1.00 , a limitation on liens, a limitation on the disposition of stock of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries and a limitation on transactions with certain of the Company’s affiliates. The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants contained in the indenture as of March 31, 2016 . 6.75% Notes due 2024 On May 23, 2014, the Company sold $250,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 6.75% notes due 2024 (the “ 6.75% Notes”) to certain purchasers in a private placement. The net proceeds the Company received from the issuance was approximately $245,000 , after deducting the issuance expenses. The 6.75% Notes bear interest at a rate equal to 6.75% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2014. The 6.75% Notes are the Company’s general unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with its other existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness and senior in right of payment to any of its indebtedness that is contractually subordinated to the 6.75% Notes. The 6.75% Notes are also effectively subordinated to any of the Company’s existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness and are structurally subordinated to the existing and future indebtedness of the Company’s subsidiaries (including trade payables). The 6.75% Notes mature on May 15, 2024, unless earlier redeemed or purchased by the Company. On October 8, 2015 , the Company sold an additional $100,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 6.75% Notes to certain purchasers in a private placement. The additional 6.75% Notes bear interest at a rate equal to 6.75% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2015 . The additional 6.75% Notes mature on May 15, 2024 , unless earlier redeemed or purchased by the Company. The net proceeds the Company received from the issuance was approximately $98,850 , after deducting the estimated issuance expenses payable by the Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the issuance for general corporate purposes, including strategic acquisitions and to support its current and future policy writings. The additional 6.75% Notes were issued under the same indenture as the original 6.75% Notes. Interest expense on the 6.75% Notes for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $5,825 and $4,223 , respectively. The indenture contains customary covenants, such as reporting of annual and quarterly financial results, and restrictions on certain mergers and consolidations. The indenture also includes covenants relating to the incurrence of debt if the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio would exceed 0.35 to 1.00 , a limitation on liens, a limitation on the disposition of stock of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries and a limitation on transactions with certain of the Company’s affiliates. The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants contained in the indenture as of March 31, 2016 . Revolving Credit Agreements Credit Agreement On May 30, 2014, the Company entered into a $135,000 credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, KeyBank National Association as Syndication Agent, and Associated Bank, National Association and First Niagara Bank, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents. The credit facility was a revolving credit facility with a letter of credit sublimit of $10,000 and an expansion feature not to exceed $50,000 . The Credit Agreement had a maturity date of May 30, 2018. All of the commitments to extend credit under the Credit Agreement were terminated pursuant to the terms of the New Credit Agreement dated January 25, 2016 . New Credit Agreement On January 25, 2016 , the Company entered into a $225,000 credit agreement (the “New Credit Agreement”), among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, KeyBank National Association as Syndication Agent, and Associated Bank, National Association and First Niagara Bank, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents, and the various lending institutions party thereto. The credit facility is a revolving credit facility with a letter of credit sublimit of $25,000 and an expansion feature not to exceed $50,000 . Proceeds of borrowings under the New Credit Agreement may be used for working capital, acquisitions and general corporate purposes. The New Credit Agreement has a maturity date of January 25, 2020 . The New Credit Agreement contains certain restrictive covenants customary for facilities of this type (subject to negotiated exceptions and baskets), including restrictions on indebtedness, liens, acquisitions and investments, restricted payments and dispositions. There are also financial covenants that require the Company to maintain a minimum consolidated net worth, a maximum consolidated leverage ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, a minimum risk-based capital and a minimum statutory surplus. The New Credit Agreement also provides for customary events of default, with grace periods where customary, including failure to pay principal when due, failure to pay interest or fees within three business days after becoming due, failure to comply with covenants, breaches of representations and warranties, default under certain other indebtedness, certain insolvency or receivership events affecting the Company and its subsidiaries, the occurrence of certain material judgments, or a change in control of the Company. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an event of default, the administrative agent, upon the request of the requisite percentage of the lenders, may terminate the obligations of the lenders to make loans and to issue letters of credit under the New Credit Agreement, declare the Company’s obligations under the New Credit Agreement to become immediately due and payable and/or exercise any and all remedies and other rights under the New Credit Agreement. Borrowings under the New Credit Agreement bear interest at either the Alternate Base Rate ("ABR") or LIBOR. ABR borrowings (which are borrowings bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the ABR) under the New Credit Agreement will bear interest at (x) the greatest of (a) the prime rate in effect on such day, (b) the federal funds effective rate on such day plus 0.5 percent or (c) the adjusted LIBOR for a one-month interest period on such day plus 1 percent . Eurodollar borrowings under the New Credit Agreement will bear interest at the adjusted LIBOR for the interest period in effect. Fees payable by the Company under the New Credit Agreement include a letter of credit participation fee (the margin applicable to Eurodollar borrowings), a letter of credit fronting fee with respect to each letter of credit ( 0.125% ) and a commitment fee on the available commitments of the lenders (a range of 0.20% to 0.30% based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio, and which rate was 0.25% as of March 31, 2016 ). The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants under the New Credit Agreement as of March 31, 2016 . As of March 31, 2016 there was no outstanding balance on the line of credit and there was no interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2016 . Imperial-related Debt The Company's subsidiary, Imperial Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, is the issuer of $5,000 principal amount of Surplus Notes due 2034 ("Imperial Surplus Notes"). The notes bear interest at an annual rate equal to LIBOR plus 4.05% , payable quarterly. The notes are redeemable by the Company at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount. Interest expense on the Imperial Surplus Notes for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $57 and $54 , respectively. Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes The Reciprocal Exchanges issued surplus notes ("Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes") when they were originally capitalized. The obligation to repay principal and interest on these surplus notes is subordinated to the Reciprocal Exchanges’ other liabilities, including obligations to policyholders and claimants for benefits under insurance policies. Principal and interest on these surplus notes are payable only with regulatory approval. Interest expense on the Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was $3,696 , which includes amortization of $2,043 . Effective March 31, 2016 , the Company purchased the Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes from subsidiaries of ACP Re for an aggregate amount of approximately $88,900 . The purchase price was based on an independent third party valuation of the fair market value of the surplus notes. As of March 31, 2016 , the surplus notes receivable and surplus notes payable are eliminated upon consolidation. (See Note 14, "Related Party Transactions"). Maturities of the Company's debt for the five years subsequent to March 31, 2016 are as follows: 2016 (remaining nine months) 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Thereafter Total 7.625% Notes $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 100,000 $ 100,000 6.75% Notes — — — — — — 350,000 350,000 Imperial Surplus Notes — — — — — — 5,000 5,000 Total principal amount of debt $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 455,000 $ 455,000 Less: Unamortized debt issuance costs and unamortized discount (8,756 ) Carrying amount of debt $ 446,244

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	Earnings Per Share The following is a summary of the elements used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per common share: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Net income attributable to common NGHC stockholders $ 52,702 $ 41,737 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic 105,597,594 93,454,236 Potentially dilutive securities: Share options 2,185,923 2,183,251 Restricted stock units 482,991 450,465 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted 108,266,508 96,087,952 Basic earnings per share attributable to NGHC common stockholders $ 0.50 $ 0.45 Diluted earnings per share attributable to NGHC common stockholders $ 0.49 $ 0.43 As of March 31, 2016 and 2015 , 1,730,056 and 2,464,917 share options, respectively, were excluded from diluted earnings per common share as they were anti-dilutive.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Share-Based Compensation	Share-Based Compensation The Company currently has two equity incentive plans (the “Plans”). The Plans authorize up to an aggregate of 7,435,000 shares of Company stock for awards of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units ("RSUs"), unrestricted stock and other performance awards. The aggregate number of shares of common stock for which awards may be issued may not exceed 7,435,000 shares, subject to the authority of the Company’s Board of Directors to adjust this amount in the event of a consolidation, reorganization, stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or similar transaction affecting the Company’s common stock. As of March 31, 2016 , 1,610,078 shares of Company common stock remained available for grants under the Plans. The Company recognizes compensation expense under ASC 718-10-25 for its share-based payments based on the fair value of the awards. The Company grants stock options at exercise prices equal to the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the dates the options are granted. The options have a maximum term of ten years from the date of grant and vest primarily in equal annual installments over a range of one to five years following the date of grant for employee options. If a participant’s employment relationship ends, the participant’s vested awards will remain exercisable for the shorter of a period of 30 days or the period ending on the latest date on which such award could have been exercisable. The fair value of each option grant is separately estimated for each grant date. The fair value of each option is amortized into compensation expense on a straight-line basis between the grant date for the award and each vesting date. The Company has estimated the fair value of all stock option awards as of the date of the grant by applying the Black-Scholes-Merton multiple-option pricing valuation model. The application of this valuation model involves assumptions that are judgmental and highly sensitive in the determination of compensation expense. The Company grants RSUs with a grant date value equal to the closing stock price of the Company’s stock on the dates the units are granted and the RSUs generally vest over a period of three or four years. A summary of the Company’s stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 is shown below: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Shares Weighted Shares Weighted Outstanding at beginning of period 4,123,809 $ 9.31 5,110,593 $ 8.88 Granted — — — — Forfeited — — — — Exercised (139,199 ) 7.56 (67,876 ) 4.85 Outstanding at end of period 3,984,610 $ 9.37 5,042,717 $ 8.93 No options were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 . The Company had approximately $7,616 and $9,069 of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , respectively. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , all option grants outstanding had an approximate weighted average remaining life of 6.7 and 6.8 years, respectively. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , options exercisable had an approximate weighted average remaining life of 6.4 and 6.7 years, respectively. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , there were 2,785,419 and 2,686,762 exercisable shares with a weighted average exercise price of $8.78 and $8.31 , respectively. The intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $1,805 and $925 , respectively. The intrinsic value of stock options that were outstanding as of March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $48,676 and $49,250 , respectively. The intrinsic value of stock options that were exercisable as of March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $31,602 and $15,716 , respectively. Cash received from options exercised was $1,407 and $341 during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. A summary of the Company's RSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 is shown below: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 RSUs Weighted RSUs Weighted Non-vested at beginning of period 362,674 $ 19.16 327,555 $ 17.44 Granted 158,792 19.99 127,910 18.75 Vested (21,386 ) 18.57 — — Forfeited — — (5,000 ) 18.02 Withheld (1) (14,589 ) 18.57 — — Non-vested at end of period 485,491 $ 19.48 450,465 $ 17.75 (1) Represents shares withheld by the Company to satisfy income tax withholding liability and exercise price in connection with RSU vesting. Compensation expense for all share-based compensation under ASC 718-10-30 was $2,118 and $1,088 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively.

Service and Fee Income

Service and Fee Income	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Service and Fee Income [Abstract]
Service and Fee Income	Service and Fee Income The following table summarizes service and fee income by category: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Installment fees $ 8,468 $ 8,125 Commission revenue 23,857 14,242 General agent fees 17,961 16,127 Late payment fees 3,180 2,946 Group health administrative fees 18,860 2,789 Finance and processing fees 18,584 9,481 Lender service fees 4,080 — Other 1,954 1,160 Total $ 96,944 $ 54,870

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The Company files a consolidated Federal income tax return. The Reciprocal Exchanges are not included in the Company's consolidated tax return as the Company does not have an ownership interest in the Reciprocal Exchanges, and they are not a part of the consolidated tax sharing agreement. The Company uses the estimated annual effective tax rate method as prescribed under ASC 740, "Income Taxes". Certain items, including those deemed to be unusual, infrequent or that cannot be reliably estimated, are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate. In these cases, the actual tax expense or benefit is reported in the same period as the related item. Certain tax effects are also not reflected in the estimated annual effective tax rate, primarily certain changes in the realizability of deferred tax assets and uncertain tax positions. The Company establishes deferred tax liabilities equal to approximately 30% of the unutilized statutory equalization reserves carried at its Luxembourg reinsurance companies. The deferred tax liability is adjusted each reporting period based primarily on amounts ceded to the Luxembourg reinsurer under the intercompany reinsurance agreements. As the income or loss of the Luxembourg entity is primarily from intercompany activity, the impact on the consolidated pre-tax income for the consolidated group is generally zero. Accordingly, the reduction of the deferred tax liability for the utilization of equalization reserves creates a deferred tax benefit reflected in the income tax provision in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. As there is no net effect on the consolidated pre-tax income from the intercompany reinsurance activity, the deferred tax benefit related to these transactions reduces the consolidated effective tax rate of the Company. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company had approximately $39,837 and $45,927 , respectively, of unutilized equalization reserves and an associated deferred tax liability of approximately $11,951 and $13,778 , respectively. The following table is a reconciliation of the difference in the Company’s income tax expense compared to the statutory rate of 35% : Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 NGHC Total NGHC Reciprocal Exchanges Total Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries $ 68,240 $ 68,240 $ 46,253 $ 104 $ 46,357 Tax at Federal statutory rate 35% $ 23,884 $ 23,884 $ 16,189 $ 36 $ 16,225 Tax effects resulting from: Exempt foreign income (1,905 ) (1,905 ) (3,062 ) — (3,062 ) Statutory equalization reserves (1,827 ) (1,827 ) (9,929 ) — (9,929 ) Other, net (2,069 ) (2,069 ) 5,221 (68 ) 5,153 Total income tax reported $ 18,083 $ 18,083 $ 8,419 $ (32 ) $ 8,387 Effective tax rate 26.5 % 26.5 % 18.2 % (30.8 )% 18.1 % The Company’s consolidated effective tax rate increased by 8.4% from 18.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2015 to 26.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 . This increase was primarily driven by a decrease in statutory equalization reserves utilized and exempt foreign income. As permitted by ASC 740, "Income Taxes", the Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in its income tax provision. The Company does not have any unrecognized tax benefits and, therefore, has not recorded any unrecognized tax benefits, or any related interest and penalties, as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 . No interest or penalties have been recorded by the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 . The Company does not anticipate any significant changes to its total unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months. All tax liabilities are payable to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and various state and local taxing agencies. Excluding the Reciprocal Exchanges, the Company’s subsidiaries are currently open to audit by the IRS for the years ended December 31, 2012 and thereafter for Federal tax purposes. Excluding the Reciprocal Exchanges, for state and local tax purposes, the Company is open to audit for tax years ended December 31, 2011 forward, depending on jurisdiction.

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	Related Party Transactions The significant shareholder of the Company has an ownership interest in AmTrust, Maiden Holdings Ltd. (“Maiden”) and ACP Re. The Company provides and receives services from these related entities as follows: Agreements with AmTrust and Affiliated Entities Asset Management Agreement Pursuant to an Asset Management Agreement among NGHC and AII Insurance Management Limited (“AIIM”), a subsidiary of AmTrust, the Company pays AIIM a fee for managing the Company’s investment portfolio. Pursuant to the asset management agreement, AIIM provides investment management services for a quarterly fee of 0.05% of the average value of assets under management if the average value of the account for the previous calendar quarter is less than or equal to $1 billion , and 0.0375% of the average value of assets under management if the average value of the account for the previous calendar quarter is greater than $1 billion . Following the initial one -year term, the agreement may be terminated upon 30 days written notice by either party. The amounts charged for such expenses were $343 and $552 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , there was a payable to AIIM related to these services in the amount of $2,150 and $1,909 , respectively. Master Services Agreement AmTrust provides postage and billing services to the Company for premiums written on the Company’s new policy system pursuant to a Master Services Agreement with National General Management Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The agreement is effective for ten years from the acceptance of all phases of the initial work statement and can be automatically renewed thereafter for subsequent five -year terms. The agreement is cancellable for material breach of contract that is not cured within thirty days, if either party fails to perform obligations under contract, if either party is declared bankrupt or insolvent, and in the event of a proposed change of control by either party to a competitor. The services are charged on a work-per-piece basis and are billed to the Company at cost. The Company has the right to audit the books and records as appropriate. AmTrust also provides the Company information technology development services in connection with the development of a policy management system at cost pursuant to a Master Services Agreement with National General Management Corp. In addition, as consideration for a license for the Company to use that system, AmTrust receives a license fee in the amount of 1.25% of gross premium of NGHC and its affiliates written on the system plus the costs for support services. In 2014, AmTrust also began providing the Company services in managing the premium receipts from its lockbox facilities at a fixed cost per item processed. The Company recorded expenses and capitalized costs related to the Master Services Agreement of $10,276 and $8,062 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , there was a payable related to the services received under this agreement in the amount of $36,302 and $30,122 , respectively. Reinsurance Agreements On July 1, 2012, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, Integon National, entered into an agreement with an AmTrust subsidiary, Risk Services, LLC (“RSL”). RSL provides certain consulting and marketing services to promote the Company’s captive insurance program to potential agents. RSL receives 1.5% of all net premiums written generated to the program. The amounts charged for such fees for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 were $58 and $37 , respectively. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , there was a payable for these services in the amount of $39 and $34 , respectively. On March 22, 2012, Integon National entered into a reinsurance agreement with an AmTrust subsidiary, Agent Alliance Reinsurance Company (“AARC”), whereby the Company cedes 25% of the business written by certain agents who are members of the Company’s captive agent program along with 25% of any related losses. The Company receives a ceding commission of 25% of the associated ceded premiums. Each party may terminate the agreement by providing 90 days written notice. On January 1, 2013, the Company entered into a quota share agreement with Wesco Insurance Company (“Wesco”), a subsidiary of AmTrust, to assume 100% of the accident and health business written before January 1, 2013. The Company reinsures 100% of the existing obligations with respect to the accident and health program, including a loss portfolio transfer of 100% of loss and LAE reserves and unearned premium as of the effective date in exchange for an amount equal to 100% of the loss and LAE reserves and unearned premium reserves related to the existing contracts and 100% of the business fronted by Wesco on behalf of the Company after the effective date less the fronted ceded commission of 5% of premiums written, plus the related fronting acquisition costs and fronting inuring reinsurance costs, both meaning the actual costs paid by Wesco to the third parties with respect to those transactions. The amounts related to these reinsurance treaties are as follows: March 31, 2016 Recoverable (Payable) on Paid and Unpaid Losses and LAE Commission Receivable Premium Receivable (Payable) Wesco $ — $ — $ — AARC 815 124 (408 ) December 31, 2015 Recoverable (Payable) on Paid and Unpaid Losses and LAE Commission Receivable Premium Receivable (Payable) Wesco $ (45 ) $ — $ — AARC 829 107 (395 ) Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Assumed (Ceded) Earned Premiums Commission Income Assumed (Ceded) Losses and LAE Wesco $ — $ — $ (26 ) AARC (408 ) 112 (190 ) Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Assumed (Ceded) Earned Premiums Commission Income Assumed (Ceded) Losses and LAE Wesco $ 152 $ 199 $ 705 AARC (348 ) 98 (216 ) NGHC Quota Share Agreement The Company participated in a quota share reinsurance treaty with the related entities listed below whereby it ceded 50% of the total net earned premiums and net incurred losses and LAE on business with effective dates after March 1, 2010 (“NGHC Quota Share”). On August 1, 2013, the Company provided notice to parties of the NGHC Quota Share agreement that it was terminating the agreement. The Company no longer cedes any net earned premiums and net incurred losses and LAE on business with effective dates after July 31, 2013. The termination was on a run-off basis, meaning the Company continued to cede 50% of the net premiums and the related net losses with respect to policies in force as of July 31, 2013 through the expiration of such policies, the last of which expired on July 31, 2014. The NGHC Quota Share provided that the reinsurers pay a provisional ceding commission equal to 32.5% of ceded earned premium, net of premiums ceded by the Company for inuring reinsurance, subject to adjustment. The ceding commission is subject to adjustment to a maximum of 34.5% if the loss ratio for the reinsured business is 60.0% or less and a minimum of 30.5% if the loss ratio is 64.5% or greater. Effective October 1, 2012, the parties amended the NGHC Quota Share to decrease the provisional ceding commission from 32.5% to 32.0% of ceded earned premium, net of premiums ceded by the Company for inuring reinsurance, subject to adjustment. The ceding commission is subject to adjustment to a minimum of 30.0% (changed from 30.5% ), if the loss ratio is 64.5% or greater. The Company believes that the terms, conditions and pricing of the NGHC Quota Share were determined by arm's length negotiations and reflect market terms and conditions. The percentage breakdown by reinsurer of such 50% is as follows: Name of Insurer Quota Share Percentage ACP Re 15% Maiden Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Maiden 25% Technology Insurance Company, a subsidiary of AmTrust 10% The amounts related to this reinsurance treaty are as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Ceded Earned Premiums Ceding Commission Income (Expense) Ceded Losses and LAE ACP Re $ — $ (605 ) $ (1,795 ) Maiden Insurance Company — (1,008 ) (2,992 ) Technology Insurance Company — (403 ) (1,197 ) Total $ — $ (2,016 ) $ (5,984 ) Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Ceded Earned Premiums Ceding Commission Income Ceded Losses and LAE ACP Re $ — $ 198 $ 487 Maiden Insurance Company — 331 824 Technology Insurance Company — 132 311 Total $ — $ 661 $ 1,622 March 31, 2016 Reinsurance Recoverable on Paid and Unpaid Losses and LAE Ceded Commission Payable Ceded Premium Payable ACP Re $ 18,045 $ — $ 9,629 Maiden Insurance Company 25,115 — 16,049 Technology Insurance Company 9,627 — 6,419 Total $ 52,787 $ — $ 32,097 December 31, 2015 Reinsurance Recoverable on Paid and Unpaid Losses and LAE Ceded Commission Payable Ceded Premium Payable ACP Re $ 17,298 $ — $ 9,025 Maiden Insurance Company 28,830 — 15,041 Technology Insurance Company 11,532 — 6,016 Total $ 57,660 $ — $ 30,082 The Company nets the ceded commission receivable against ceded premium payable in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as the NGHC Quota Share Agreement allows for net settlement. The agreement also stipulates that if the Company would be denied full statutory credit for reinsurance ceded pursuant to the credit for reinsurance laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction, the reinsurers will secure an amount equal to that obligation through a letter of credit; assets held in trust for the benefit of the Company or cash. ACP Re and Maiden Insurance Company held assets in trust in the amount of $18,121 and $24,050 , respectively, as of March 31, 2016 and $18,677 and $30,797 , respectively, as of December 31, 2015 . The Company and AmTrust have formed the LSC Entities for the purposes of acquiring certain life settlement contracts. For further discussion on the LSC Entities' arrangements (see Note 6, “Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries”). 800 Superior, LLC As described in Note 6, "Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries", the Company formed 800 Superior, LLC along with AmTrust, whereby each entity owns a 50% interest. In 2012, the Company also entered into a lease agreement with 800 Superior, LLC for a period of 15 years whereby the Company leases as of March 31, 2016 approximately 156,176 square feet. The Company paid 800 Superior, LLC $683 and $664 in rent for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. The Company’s equity interest in 800 Superior, LLC as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was $1,690 and $1,720 , respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) from 800 Superior, LLC of $(30) and $(191) , respectively. For more information on the 800 Superior, LLC related party transactions, see Note 16, "Related Party Transactions - 800 Superior, LLC" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 . East Ninth & Superior, LLC In September 2012, the Company formed East Ninth & Superior. The Company and AmTrust each have a 50% ownership interest in East Ninth and Superior, LLC and a 24.5% ownership interest in 800 Superior NMTC Investment Fund II, LLC for which the Company is not a primary beneficiary. The Company’s equity interest in East Ninth & Superior as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was $4,157 and $4,139 , respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) from East Ninth & Superior of $18 and $32 , respectively. North Dearborn Building Company, L.P. In February 2015, the Company invested $9,714 in North Dearborn, a limited partnership that owns an office building in Chicago, Illinois. AmTrust is also a limited partner in North Dearborn, and the general partner is NA Advisors, an entity controlled by Michael Karfunkel and managed by an unrelated third party. The Company and AmTrust each received a 45% limited partnership interest in North Dearborn for their respective $9,714 investments, while NA Advisors invested approximately $2,200 and holds a 10% general partnership interest and a 10% profit interest, which NA Advisors pays to the unrelated third party manager. North Dearborn appointed NA Advisors as the general manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the office building. North Dearborn is considered to be a VIE, for which the Company is not a primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for North Dearborn using the equity method of accounting. The Company's total exposure to loss is limited to its equity investment. The Company’s equity interest in North Dearborn as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was $11,661 and $9,862 , respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) from North Dearborn of $674 and $0 , respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company made contributions of $1,125 and $0 , respectively. 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC In August 2015, the Company formed 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC with AmTrust, for the purposes of acquiring an office building in Dallas, Texas. The cost of the building was approximately $21,000 . AmTrust has been appointed managing member of 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC. The Company and AmTrust each have a 50% ownership interest in 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC. The Company accounts for 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC using the equity method of accounting. In March 2016, the Company also entered into a lease agreement with 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC for a period of 12 years whereby the Company leased approximately 81,822 square feet. The Company paid 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC $130 in rent for the three months ended March 31, 2016 . The Company’s equity interest in 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was $10,450 and $10,559 , respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 , the Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) from 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC of $(149) . For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company made contributions of $40 . Illinois Center Building, L.P. In August 2015, the Company invested $53,715 in Illinois Center, a limited partnership that owns an office building in Chicago, Illinois. AmTrust and ACP Re Group are also limited partners in Illinois Center and the general partner is NA Advisors. The Company and AmTrust each received a 37.5% limited partnership interest in Illinois Center for their respective $53,715 investments, while ACP Re Group invested $21,486 for its 15.0% limited partnership interest. NA Advisors invested $14,324 and holds a 10.0% general partnership interest and a 10.0% profit interest, which NA Advisors pays to the unrelated third party manager. Illinois Center appointed NA Advisors as the general manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the office building. Illinois Center is considered to be a VIE, for which the Company is not a primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for Illinois Center using the equity method of accounting. The Company's total exposure to loss is limited to its equity investment. The Company’s equity interest in Illinois Center as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was $56,347 and $55,007 , respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 , the Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) from Illinois Center of $1,340 . Agreements with ACP Re and Affiliated Entities In connection with the acquisition of Tower Group International, Ltd. ("Tower") by ACP Re, the Company entered into the agreements described below. Personal Lines Master Agreement On July 23, 2014, the Company and ACP Re entered into the Amended and Restated Personal Lines Master Agreement (the "Master Agreement"). The Master Agreement provided for the implementation of the various transactions associated with the acquisition of Tower by ACP Re. In addition, the Master Agreement requires the Company to pay ACP Re contingent consideration in the form of a three -year earnout (the "Contingent Payments") of 3% of gross premium written of the Tower personal lines business written or assumed by the Company following the Merger. The Contingent Payments are subject to a maximum of $30,000 , in the aggregate, over the three -year period. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the fair value for the remaining ACP Re Contingent Payments were $7,321 and $16,071 , respectively. PL Reinsurance Agreement and the Personal Lines Cut-Through Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement Integon National entered into the Personal Lines Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement (the "PL Reinsurance Agreement"), with Tower’s ten statutory insurance companies (collectively, the “Tower Companies”), pursuant to which Integon National reinsures 100% of all losses under the Tower Companies’ new and renewal personal lines business written after September 15, 2014. The ceding commission payable by Integon National under the PL Reinsurance Agreement is equal to the sum of (i) reimbursement of the Tower Companies’ acquisition costs in respect of the business covered, including commission payable to National General Insurance Marketing, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company (“NGIM”), pursuant to the PL MGA Agreement (as defined below), and premium taxes and (ii) 2% of gross premium written (net of cancellations and return premiums) collected pursuant to the PL MGA Agreement. In connection with the execution of the PL Reinsurance Agreement, the Personal Lines Cut-Through Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement, dated January 3, 2014, by and among the Tower Companies and Integon National (the “Cut-Through Reinsurance Agreement”), was terminated on a run-off basis, with the reinsurance of all policies reinsured under such agreement remaining in effect. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , there was a net receivable due from the Tower Companies of $11,762 and $46,565 , respectively. As a result of the PL Reinsurance Agreement and the Cut-Through Reinsurance Agreement, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company assumed $5,677 and $76,045 , respectively, of premium from the Tower Companies and recorded $280 and $24,815 , respectively, of ceding commission expense. Additionally, during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company earned premium of $23,891 and $86,643 , respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses of $22,026 and $45,806 , respectively, under these reinsurance agreements. PL MGA Agreement NGIM produces and manages all new and renewal personal lines business of the Tower Companies pursuant to a Personal Lines Managing General Agency Agreement (the "PL MGA Agreement"). As described above, all post-September 15, 2014 personal lines business written by the Tower Companies is reinsured by Integon National pursuant to the PL Reinsurance Agreement. The Tower Companies pay NGIM a 10% commission on all business written pursuant to the PL MGA Agreement. All payments by the Tower Companies to NGIM pursuant to the PL MGA Agreement are netted out of the ceding commission payable by Integon National to the Tower Companies pursuant to the PL Reinsurance Agreement. During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company recorded $570 and $5,583 , respectively, of commission income, as a result of the PL MGA Agreement. PL Administrative Services Agreement National General Management Corp., a subsidiary of the Company ("NGMC"), the Tower Companies and an affiliated company, CastlePoint Reinsurance Company, Ltd (“CP Re”), entered into the Personal Lines LPTA Administrative Services Agreement (the "PL Administrative Agreement"), pursuant to which NGMC administers the run-off of CP Re’s and the Tower Companies’ personal lines business written prior to September 15, 2014 at cost. CP Re and the Tower Companies reimburse NGMC for its actual costs, including costs incurred in connection with claims operations, out-of-pocket expenses, costs incurred in connection with any required modifications to NGMC's claims systems and an allocated portion of the claims service expenses paid by Integon National to the Tower Companies pursuant to the Cut-Through Reinsurance Agreement. As a result of the PL Administrative Agreement, the Company was reimbursed $25,153 and $932 during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , there was a receivable related to the PL Administrative Agreement of $4,232 and $11,795 , respectively. Stop-Loss and Retrocession Agreements National General Re, Ltd., a subsidiary of the Company (“NG Re Ltd.”), along with AmTrust International Insurance, Ltd., an affiliate of the Company (“AII”), as reinsurers, entered into a $250,000 Aggregate Stop Loss Reinsurance Agreement (the "Stop-Loss Agreement") with CP Re. NG Re Ltd. and AII also entered into an Aggregate Stop Loss Retrocession Contract (the "Retrocession Agreement") with ACP Re pursuant to which ACP Re is obligated to reinsure the full amount of any payments that NG Re Ltd. and AII are obligated to make to CP Re under the Stop-Loss Agreement. Pursuant to the Stop-Loss Agreement, each of NG Re Ltd. and AII provide, severally, $125,000 of stop loss coverage with respect to the run-off of the Tower business written on or before September 15, 2014. The reinsurers’ obligation to indemnify CP Re under the Stop-Loss Agreement will be triggered only at such time as CP Re’s ultimate paid net loss related to the run-off of the pre-September 15, 2014 Tower business exceeds a retention equal to the Tower Companies’ loss and loss adjustment reserves and unearned premium reserves as of September 15, 2014, which, the parties to the Loss Portfolio Transfer Agreement have agreed will be established upon reevaluation as of December 31, 2015. CP Re will pay AII and NG Re Ltd. total premium of $56,000 on the fifth anniversary of the Stop-Loss Agreement. The premium payable by NG Re Ltd. and AII to ACP Re pursuant to the Retrocession Agreement will be $56,000 in the aggregate, less a ceding commission of 5.5% to be retained by NG Re Ltd. and AII. The Company will record this reinsurance transaction under the deposit method of accounting. Credit Agreement On September 15, 2014, NG Re Ltd. entered into a credit agreement (the “ACP Re Credit Agreement”) by and among AmTrust, as Administrative Agent, ACP Re and London Acquisition Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of ACP Re, as the borrowers (collectively, the “Borrowers”), ACP Re Holdings, LLC, as Guarantor, and AII and NG Re Ltd., as Lenders, pursuant to which the Lenders made a $250,000 loan ( $125,000 made by each Lender) to the Borrowers on the terms and conditions contained within the ACP Re Credit Agreement. The ACP Re Credit Agreement has a maturity date of September 15, 2021. Outstanding principal under the ACP Re Credit Agreement bears interest at a fixed annual rate of seven percent ( 7% ), payable semi-annually on the last day of January and July. The obligations of the Borrowers are secured by (i) a first-priority pledge of 100% of the stock of ACP Re and certain of ACP Re’s U.S. subsidiaries and 65% of the stock of certain of ACP Re’s foreign subsidiaries and (ii) a first-priority lien on the assets of the Borrowers and Guarantor and certain of the assets of ACP Re’s subsidiaries (other than the Tower Companies). The Company recorded interest income of $2,188 and $2,188 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively, under the ACP Re Credit Agreement. Surplus Notes of the Reciprocal Exchanges The Reciprocal Exchanges issued the Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes when they were originally capitalized. The obligation to repay principal and interest on the Reciprocal Exchanges’ Surplus Notes is subordinated to the Reciprocal Exchanges’ other liabilities. Principal and interest on the Reciprocal Exchanges’ Surplus Notes are payable only with regulatory approval. Effective March 31, 2016 , the Company purchased the Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes from subsidiaries of ACP Re for an aggregate amount of approximately $88,900 . The purchase price was based on an independent third party valuation of the fair market value of the surplus notes. As of March 31, 2016 , the surplus notes receivable and the surplus notes payable are eliminated upon consolidation. (See Note 9, "Debt"). Investments In the first quarter of 2016, NG Re Ltd. purchased from Tower entities four investments for an aggregate amount of $30,111 . AIBD Health Plan On September 1, 2012, the Company purchased The Association Benefits Solution companies, a group of companies affiliated with the accident and health insurance industry. As part of the purchase, the Company is now affiliated with AIBD Health Plan which is a welfare benefit plan for several member groups. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company had a receivable of $5,418 and $5,418 , respectively. Also, as part of this plan, the Company utilizes an employer trust to administer additional claims. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company had a receivable to the employer trust in the amount of $876 and $2,950 , respectively.

Segment Information

Segment Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Information	Segment Information The Company currently operates two business segments, Property and Casualty and Accident and Health. The “Corporate and Other” column represents the activities of the holding company, as well as income from the Company’s investment portfolio. The Company evaluates segment performance based on segment profit separately from the results of our investment portfolio. Other operating expenses allocated to the segments are called General and Administrative expenses which are allocated on an actual basis except salaries and benefits where management’s judgment is applied. In determining total assets by segment, the Company identifies those assets that are attributable to a particular segment such as deferred acquisition cost, reinsurance recoverable, goodwill, intangible assets and prepaid reinsurance while the remaining assets are allocated to Corporate and Other. The Property and Casualty segment, which includes the Reciprocal Exchanges and the Management Companies, reports the management fees earned by NGHC from the Reciprocal Exchanges for underwriting, investment management and other services as service and fee income for the Company. The effects of these transactions between NGHC and the Reciprocal Exchanges are eliminated in consolidation to derive consolidated net income. The following tables summarize the underwriting results of the Company’s operating segments: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Property and Casualty Accident and Health Corporate and Other Total Underwriting revenue: Gross premium written $ 661,337 $ 154,857 $ — $ 816,194 Ceded premiums (60,563 ) (11,044 ) — (71,607 ) Net premium written 600,774 143,813 — 744,587 Change in unearned premium (46,726 ) (42,941 ) — (89,667 ) Net earned premium 554,048 100,872 — 654,920 Ceding commission income (2,264 ) 369 — (1,895 ) Service and fee income 63,488 33,456 — 96,944 Total underwriting revenue 615,272 134,697 — 749,969 Underwriting expenses: Loss and loss adjustment expense 332,659 76,391 — 409,050 Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses 91,659 21,240 — 112,899 General and administrative expenses 144,694 31,933 — 176,627 Total underwriting expenses 569,012 129,564 — 698,576 Underwriting income 46,260 5,133 — 51,393 Net investment income — — 21,670 21,670 Net realized gains on investments — — 3,617 3,617 Other revenue — — 701 701 Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries — — 6,682 6,682 Interest expense — — (9,141 ) (9,141 ) Provision for income taxes — — (18,083 ) (18,083 ) Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest — — (12 ) (12 ) Net income (loss) attributable NGHC $ 46,260 $ 5,133 $ 5,434 $ 56,827 NGHC $ 46,260 $ 5,133 $ 5,434 $ 56,827 Net income (loss) attributable NGHC $ 46,260 $ 5,133 $ 5,434 $ 56,827 Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Property and Casualty Accident and Health Corporate and Other Total Underwriting revenue: Gross premium written $ 568,098 $ 75,357 $ — $ 643,455 Ceded premiums (105,201 ) (8,229 ) — (113,430 ) Net premium written 462,897 67,128 — 530,025 Change in unearned premium (14,907 ) (35,953 ) — (50,860 ) Net earned premium 447,990 31,175 — 479,165 Ceding commission income 4,798 282 — 5,080 Service and fee income 37,451 17,419 — 54,870 Total underwriting revenue 490,239 48,876 — 539,115 Underwriting expenses: Loss and loss adjustment expense 286,583 20,103 — 306,686 Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses 78,593 11,292 — 89,885 General and administrative expenses 91,540 14,147 — 105,687 Total underwriting expenses 456,716 45,542 — 502,258 Underwriting income 33,523 3,334 — 36,857 Net investment income — — 16,148 16,148 Net realized gains on investments — — 1,187 1,187 Other revenue — — 1,245 1,245 Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries — — 4,958 4,958 Interest expense — — (9,080 ) (9,080 ) Provision for income taxes — — (8,387 ) (8,387 ) Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest — — (160 ) (160 ) Net income attributable NGHC $ 33,523 $ 3,334 $ 5,911 $ 42,768 NGHC $ 32,454 $ 3,334 $ 6,980 $ 42,768 Reciprocal Exchanges 1,069 — (1,069 ) — Net income attributable NGHC $ 33,523 $ 3,334 $ 5,911 $ 42,768 The following tables summarize the financial position of the Company's operating segments as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 : March 31, 2016 Property and Casualty Accident and Health Corporate and Other Total Premiums and other receivables, net $ 731,639 $ 154,778 $ — $ 886,417 Deferred acquisition costs 141,371 3,784 — 145,155 Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses 831,573 6,313 — 837,886 Prepaid reinsurance premiums 132,157 — — 132,157 Goodwill and Intangible assets, net 398,976 91,681 — 490,657 Prepaid and other assets 10,001 27,533 6,325 43,859 Corporate and other assets — — 3,248,110 3,248,110 Total assets $ 2,245,717 $ 284,089 $ 3,254,435 $ 5,784,241 December 31, 2015 Property and Casualty Accident and Health Corporate and Other Total Premiums and other receivables, net $ 684,857 $ 73,776 $ — $ 758,633 Deferred acquisition costs 153,767 6,764 — 160,531 Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses 832,593 583 — 833,176 Prepaid reinsurance premiums 128,343 — — 128,343 Goodwill and Intangible assets, net 366,021 95,291 — 461,312 Prepaid and other assets 19,914 17,504 3,766 41,184 Corporate and other assets — — 3,180,213 3,180,213 Total assets $ 2,185,495 $ 193,918 $ 3,183,979 $ 5,563,392 The following table shows an analysis of the Company's gross and net premiums written and net earned premium by geographical location for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 : Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 NGHC Total NGHC Reciprocal Total Gross premium written - North America $ 749,536 $ 749,536 $ 528,071 $ 61,237 $ 589,308 Gross premium written - Europe 66,658 66,658 54,147 — 54,147 Total $ 816,194 $ 816,194 $ 582,218 $ 61,237 $ 643,455 Net premium written - North America $ 342,588 $ 342,588 $ 201,660 $ 18,637 $ 220,297 Net premium written - Bermuda 312,706 312,706 230,413 — 230,413 Net premium written - Europe 89,293 89,293 79,315 — 79,315 Total $ 744,587 $ 744,587 $ 511,388 $ 18,637 $ 530,025 Net earned premium - North America $ 295,935 $ 295,935 $ 166,177 $ 41,896 $ 208,073 Net earned premium - Bermuda 312,706 312,706 227,722 — 227,722 Net earned premium - Europe 46,279 46,279 43,370 — 43,370 Total $ 654,920 $ 654,920 $ 437,269 $ 41,896 $ 479,165 The following tables show an analysis of the Company's gross premium written, net premium written and net earned premium by product type for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 : Three Months Ended March 31, Gross Premium Written 2016 2015 Property and Casualty Personal Auto $ 385,198 $ 338,276 Homeowners 70,301 85,683 RV/Packaged 39,603 37,550 Commercial Auto 50,151 41,346 Lender-placed insurance 111,997 — Other 4,087 4,006 Property and Casualty Total $ 661,337 $ 506,861 Accident and Health Total 154,857 75,357 NGHC Total $ 816,194 $ 582,218 Reciprocal Exchanges Personal Auto $ — $ 17,691 Homeowners — 41,613 Other — 1,933 Reciprocal Exchanges Total $ — $ 61,237 Total $ 816,194 $ 643,455 Three Months Ended March 31, Net Premium Written 2016 2015 Property and Casualty Personal Auto $ 335,326 $ 295,243 Homeowners 65,876 70,390 RV/Packaged 39,456 36,894 Commercial Auto 44,993 37,993 Lender-placed insurance 111,997 — Other 3,126 3,740 Property and Casualty Total $ 600,774 $ 444,260 Accident and Health Total 143,813 67,128 NGHC Total $ 744,587 $ 511,388 Reciprocal Exchanges Personal Auto $ — $ 16,606 Homeowners — (36 ) Other — 2,067 Reciprocal Exchanges Total $ — $ 18,637 Total $ 744,587 $ 530,025 Three Months Ended March 31, Net Earned Premium 2016 2015 Property and Casualty Personal Auto $ 271,997 $ 267,531 Homeowners 74,439 64,123 RV/Packaged 37,519 35,976 Commercial Auto 43,844 34,622 Lender-placed insurance 122,806 — Other 3,443 3,842 Property and Casualty Total $ 554,048 $ 406,094 Accident and Health Total 100,872 31,175 NGHC Total $ 654,920 $ 437,269 Reciprocal Exchanges Personal Auto $ — $ 22,930 Homeowners — 17,716 Other — 1,250 Reciprocal Exchanges Total $ — $ 41,896 Total $ 654,920 $ 479,165

Reciprocal Exchanges (Tables)

Reciprocal Exchanges (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Schedule Of Variable Interest Entity Balance Sheet	The following table presents the balance sheet of the Reciprocal Exchanges as of March 31, 2016 : March 2016 Assets: Cash and investments $ 258,274 Accrued investment income 2,658 Premiums and other receivables, net 52,922 Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses 43,401 Prepaid reinsurance premiums 59,706 Income tax receivable 300 Due from affiliate 11,703 Premises and equipment, net 2,386 Intangible assets, net 32,638 Prepaid and other assets 187 Total assets $ 464,175 Liabilities: Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves $ 137,093 Unearned premiums 143,194 Reinsurance payable 11,982 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 6,972 Deferred tax liability 23,716 Notes payable 88,900 Other liabilities 37,550 Total liabilities 449,407 Stockholders’ equity: Non-controlling interest 14,768 Total stockholders’ equity 14,768 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 464,175

Investments (Tables)

Investments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities	The cost or amortized cost, fair value, and gross unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities were as follows: March 31, 2016 Cost or Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Fair Value Equity securities: Common stock $ 53,625 $ 1,656 $ (18,318 ) $ 36,963 Preferred stock 1,631 32 — 1,663 Fixed maturities: U.S. Treasury 23,268 1,440 — 24,708 States and political subdivision bonds 186,714 5,831 (174 ) 192,371 Foreign government 40,316 1,793 (106 ) 42,003 Corporate bonds 1,409,644 47,427 (33,096 ) 1,423,975 Residential mortgage-backed securities 361,004 11,013 (62 ) 371,955 Commercial mortgage-backed securities 119,878 2,143 (1,958 ) 120,063 Structured securities 231,590 1,472 (7,636 ) 225,426 Total $ 2,427,670 $ 72,807 $ (61,350 ) $ 2,439,127 Less: Securities pledged 126,482 2,615 — 129,097 Total net of Securities pledged $ 2,301,188 $ 70,192 $ (61,350 ) $ 2,310,030 NGHC $ 2,172,069 $ 72,807 $ (61,350 ) $ 2,183,526 Reciprocal Exchanges 255,601 — — 255,601 Total $ 2,427,670 $ 72,807 $ (61,350 ) $ 2,439,127 December 31, 2015 Cost or Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Fair Value Equity securities: Common stock $ 53,356 $ 569 $ (6,960 ) $ 46,965 Preferred stock 11,448 377 — 11,825 Fixed maturities: U.S. Treasury 19,348 1,052 (48 ) 20,352 Federal agencies 1,945 7 — 1,952 States and political subdivision bonds 193,017 4,516 (609 ) 196,924 Foreign government 31,383 31 (352 ) 31,062 Corporate bonds 1,375,336 22,224 (47,902 ) 1,349,658 Residential mortgage-backed securities 419,293 6,254 (978 ) 424,569 Commercial mortgage-backed securities 135,134 720 (3,649 ) 132,205 Structured securities 205,024 15 (4,347 ) 200,692 Total $ 2,445,284 $ 35,765 $ (64,845 ) $ 2,416,204 Less: Securities pledged 54,955 439 — 55,394 Total net of Securities pledged $ 2,390,329 $ 35,326 $ (64,845 ) $ 2,360,810 NGHC $ 2,199,714 $ 34,773 $ (58,826 ) $ 2,175,661 Reciprocal Exchanges 245,570 992 (6,019 ) 240,543 Total $ 2,445,284 $ 35,765 $ (64,845 ) $ 2,416,204
Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity	The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale fixed maturities and securities pledged, held as of March 31, 2016 , by contractual maturity, are shown in the table below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because some borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. NGHC Reciprocal Exchanges Total March 31, 2016 Cost or Amortized Cost Fair Value Cost or Amortized Cost Fair Value Cost or Amortized Cost Fair Value Due in one year or less $ 26,271 $ 24,965 $ — $ — $ 26,271 $ 24,965 Due after one year through five years 265,906 268,129 27,107 27,107 293,013 295,236 Due after five years through ten years 1,001,823 1,024,657 159,563 159,563 1,161,386 1,184,220 Due after ten years 373,458 366,659 37,403 37,403 410,861 404,062 Mortgage-backed securities 449,943 461,078 30,940 30,940 480,883 492,018 Total $ 2,117,401 $ 2,145,488 $ 255,013 $ 255,013 $ 2,372,414 $ 2,400,501
Investment Income	The components of net investment income consisted of the following: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Interest Cash and short-term investments $ 684 $ 5 Equity securities 333 75 Fixed maturities 19,739 15,006 Investment income 20,756 15,086 Investment expense (1,638 ) (1,212 ) Repurchase agreements interest expense (144 ) (70 ) Other income (1) 2,696 2,344 Net Investment Income $ 21,670 $ 16,148 NGHC $ 21,670 $ 14,109 Reciprocal Exchanges — 2,039 Net Investment Income $ 21,670 $ 16,148 (1 ) Includes interest income of $2,188 and $2,188 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively, under the ACP Re Credit Agreement (see Note 14, "Related Party Transactions").
Realized Gains and Losses	The tables below indicate the gross realized gains and losses (including any OTTI) for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 . Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Gross Gains Gross Losses Net Gains (Losses) Equity securities $ 442 $ (2 ) $ 440 Fixed maturities 4,199 (1,022 ) 3,177 Total gross realized gains and losses $ 4,641 $ (1,024 ) $ 3,617 NGHC $ 4,641 $ (1,024 ) $ 3,617 Total gross realized gains and losses $ 4,641 $ (1,024 ) $ 3,617 Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Gross Gains Gross Losses Net Gains (Losses) Fixed maturities $ 2,624 $ (421 ) $ 2,203 OTTI — (1,016 ) (1,016 ) Total gross realized gains and losses $ 2,624 $ (1,437 ) $ 1,187 NGHC $ 1,773 $ (1,279 ) $ 494 Reciprocal Exchanges 851 (158 ) 693 Total gross realized gains and losses $ 2,624 $ (1,437 ) $ 1,187
Unrealized Gains and Losses	Unrealized gains (losses) on investments as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 consisted of the following: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Net unrealized loss on common stock $ (16,662 ) $ (6,391 ) Net unrealized gain on preferred stock 32 377 Net unrealized gain (loss) on fixed maturities 28,087 (23,066 ) Net unrealized loss on other — (20 ) Deferred income tax (4,009 ) 10,185 Net unrealized gain (loss), net of deferred income tax $ 7,448 $ (18,915 ) NGHC $ 7,448 $ (15,634 ) Reciprocal Exchanges — (3,281 ) Net unrealized gain (loss), net of deferred income tax 7,448 (18,915 ) Non-controlling interest — 3,281 NGHC net unrealized gain (loss), net of deferred income tax $ 7,448 $ (15,634 ) Period Ended: NGHC change for the year-to-date period in net unrealized gain (loss), net of deferred income tax $ 23,082 $ (40,632 ) Non-controlling interest change for the year-to-date period in net unrealized gain (loss), net of deferred income tax $ — $ (3,964 )
Gross Unrealized Losses	The tables below summarize the gross unrealized losses on equity securities and fixed maturities by length of time the security has continuously been in an unrealized loss position as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 : Less Than 12 Months 12 Months or More Total March 31, 2016 Fair Unrealized No. of Fair Unrealized No. of Fair Unrealized Common stock $ 26,934 $ (18,280 ) 4 $ 139 $ (38 ) 3 $ 27,073 $ (18,318 ) States and political subdivision bonds 5,840 (95 ) 7 2,751 (79 ) 7 8,591 (174 ) Foreign government 15,259 (106 ) 1 — — — 15,259 (106 ) Corporate bonds 215,855 (19,902 ) 61 39,388 (13,194 ) 17 255,243 (33,096 ) Residential mortgage-backed securities 3,626 (60 ) 6 260 (2 ) 2 3,886 (62 ) Commercial mortgage-backed securities 51,685 (1,958 ) 20 — — — 51,685 (1,958 ) Structured securities 120,411 (7,636 ) 57 — — — 120,411 (7,636 ) Total $ 439,610 $ (48,037 ) 156 $ 42,538 $ (13,313 ) 29 $ 482,148 $ (61,350 ) NGHC $ 439,610 $ (48,037 ) 156 $ 42,538 $ (13,313 ) 29 $ 482,148 $ (61,350 ) Total $ 439,610 $ (48,037 ) 156 $ 42,538 $ (13,313 ) 29 $ 482,148 $ (61,350 ) Less Than 12 Months 12 Months or More Total December 31, 2015 Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses No. of Positions Held Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses No. of Positions Held Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Common stock $ 39,490 $ (6,932 ) 5 $ 130 $ (28 ) 2 $ 39,620 $ (6,960 ) U.S. Treasury 7,141 (48 ) 5 — — — 7,141 (48 ) States and political subdivision bonds 17,674 (501 ) 22 4,878 (108 ) 10 22,552 (609 ) Foreign government 21,322 (352 ) 4 — — — 21,322 (352 ) Corporate bonds 684,613 (37,919 ) 229 32,121 (9,983 ) 38 716,734 (47,902 ) Residential mortgage-backed securities 102,889 (919 ) 23 1,655 (59 ) 9 104,544 (978 ) Commercial mortgage-backed securities 66,222 (3,472 ) 30 2,364 (177 ) 2 68,586 (3,649 ) Structured securities 153,042 (4,347 ) 65 — — — 153,042 (4,347 ) Total $ 1,092,393 $ (54,490 ) 383 $ 41,148 $ (10,355 ) 61 $ 1,133,541 $ (64,845 ) NGHC $ 988,188 $ (50,599 ) 284 $ 28,691 $ (8,227 ) 34 $ 1,016,879 $ (58,826 ) Reciprocal Exchanges 104,205 (3,891 ) 99 12,457 (2,128 ) 27 116,662 (6,019 ) Total $ 1,092,393 $ (54,490 ) 383 $ 41,148 $ (10,355 ) 61 $ 1,133,541 $ (64,845 )
Credit Quality of Investments	The tables below summarize the credit quality of our fixed maturities, securities pledged and preferred securities as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , as rated by Standard & Poor’s. NGHC Reciprocal Exchanges March 31, 2016 Cost or Amortized Cost Fair Value Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities Cost or Amortized Cost Fair Value Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities U.S. Treasury $ 17,281 $ 18,721 0.9 % $ 5,987 $ 5,987 2.3 % AAA 406,900 420,832 19.6 % 28,594 28,594 11.2 % AA, AA+, AA- 352,194 361,387 16.8 % 28,010 28,010 11.0 % A, A+, A- 568,651 584,768 27.2 % 79,738 79,738 31.2 % BBB, BBB+, BBB- 625,805 636,464 29.7 % 105,475 105,475 41.3 % BB+ and lower 147,613 124,391 5.8 % 7,797 7,797 3.0 % Total $ 2,118,444 $ 2,146,563 100.0 % $ 255,601 $ 255,601 100.0 % NGHC Reciprocal Exchanges December 31, 2015 Cost or Amortized Cost Fair Value Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities Cost or Amortized Cost Fair Value Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities U.S. Treasury $ 13,416 $ 14,448 0.7 % $ 5,932 $ 5,904 2.5 % AAA 343,128 348,073 16.4 % 39,724 38,888 16.2 % AA, AA+, AA- 379,560 383,888 18.0 % 36,866 36,934 15.4 % A, A+, A- 501,409 508,884 23.9 % 50,612 50,153 20.8 % BBB, BBB+, BBB- 634,250 623,742 29.3 % 82,417 80,322 33.4 % BB+ and lower 274,594 249,660 11.7 % 30,020 28,343 11.7 % Total $ 2,146,357 $ 2,128,695 100.0 % $ 245,571 $ 240,544 100.0 % The tables below summarize the investment quality of our corporate bond holdings and industry concentrations as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 . March 31, 2016 AAA AA+, A+,A,A- BBB+, BB+ or Fair % of Corporate Bonds: Financial institutions 1.5 % 4.0 % 18.6 % 14.2 % 0.6 % $ 553,429 38.9 % Industrials — % 3.3 % 16.5 % 30.5 % 5.9 % 800,940 56.2 % Utilities/Other — % — % 1.1 % 2.6 % 1.2 % 69,606 4.9 % Total 1.5 % 7.3 % 36.2 % 47.3 % 7.7 % $ 1,423,975 100.0 % NGHC 1.5 % 6.6 % 31.1 % 40.1 % 7.2 % $ 1,231,552 86.5 % Reciprocal Exchanges — % 0.7 % 5.1 % 7.2 % 0.5 % 192,423 13.5 % Total 1.5 % 7.3 % 36.2 % 47.3 % 7.7 % $ 1,423,975 100.0 % December 31, 2015 AAA AA+, A+,A,A- BBB+, BB+ or Fair % of Corporate Bonds: Financial institutions — % 2.8 % 21.2 % 12.7 % 2.1 % $ 524,250 38.8 % Industrials — % 3.9 % 15.4 % 32.3 % 4.6 % 757,907 56.2 % Utilities/Other 0.4 % — % 0.4 % 3.4 % 0.8 % 67,501 5.0 % Total 0.4 % 6.7 % 37.0 % 48.4 % 7.5 % $ 1,349,658 100.0 % NGHC 0.4 % 6.1 % 33.9 % 42.7 % 6.3 % $ 1,206,442 89.4 % Reciprocal Exchanges — % 0.6 % 3.1 % 5.7 % 1.2 % 143,216 10.6 % Total 0.4 % 6.7 % 37.0 % 48.4 % 7.5 % $ 1,349,658 100.0 %
Restricted Cash and Investments	The fair values of our restricted assets as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are as follows: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Restricted cash $ 11,647 $ 13,776 Restricted investments - fixed maturities, at fair value 41,971 40,174 Total $ 53,618 $ 53,950
Other Investments	The table below summarizes the composition of Other investments as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 : March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Limited partnerships, equity method $ 36,175 $ 5,691 Investments at cost or amortized cost 17,915 7,340 Total $ 54,090 $ 13,031
Contractual Maturity of Repurchase Agreements	The table below summarizes the remaining contractual maturity of the Company's repurchase agreements as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 . March 31, 2016 Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Repurchase Agreements Overnight and Continuous Up to 30 days 30 - 90 days Greater Than 90 days Total Repurchase agreements: Residential mortgage-backed securities $ — $ 114,196 $ — $ — $ 114,196 Total Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value $ — $ 114,196 $ — $ — $ 114,196 December 31, 2015 Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Repurchase Agreements Overnight and Continuous Up to 30 days 30 - 90 days Greater Than 90 days Total Repurchase agreements: Residential mortgage-backed securities $ — $ 52,484 $ — $ — $ 52,484 Total Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value $ — $ 52,484 $ — $ — $ 52,484

Fair Value of Financial Instr28

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping	In accordance with ASC 820, assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows: March 31, 2016 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets Equity securities: Common stock $ 36,963 $ — $ — $ 36,963 Preferred stock — 1,663 — 1,663 Fixed maturities: U.S. Treasury 24,708 — — 24,708 States and political subdivision bonds — 192,371 — 192,371 Foreign government — 42,003 — 42,003 Corporate bonds — 1,423,975 — 1,423,975 Residential mortgage-backed securities — 371,955 — 371,955 Commercial mortgage-backed securities — 120,063 — 120,063 Structured securities — 225,426 — 225,426 Short-term investments — 2,440 — 2,440 Total assets $ 61,671 $ 2,379,896 $ — $ 2,441,567 NGHC $ 55,685 $ 2,130,281 $ — $ 2,185,966 Reciprocal Exchanges 5,986 249,615 — 255,601 Total assets $ 61,671 $ 2,379,896 $ — $ 2,441,567 Liabilities Contingent payments $ — $ — $ 15,902 $ 15,902 Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 15,902 $ 15,902 NGHC $ — $ — $ 15,902 $ 15,902 Reciprocal Exchanges — — — — Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 15,902 $ 15,902 December 31, 2015 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets Equity securities: Common stock $ 46,965 $ — $ — $ 46,965 Preferred stock — 11,825 — 11,825 Fixed maturities: U.S. Treasury 20,352 — — 20,352 Federal agencies 1,952 — — 1,952 States and political subdivision bonds — 196,924 — 196,924 Foreign government — 31,062 — 31,062 Corporate bonds — 1,349,658 — 1,349,658 Residential mortgage-backed securities — 424,569 — 424,569 Commercial mortgage-backed securities — 132,205 — 132,205 Structured securities — 200,692 — 200,692 Short-term investments — 3,527 — 3,527 Total assets $ 69,269 $ 2,350,462 $ — $ 2,419,731 NGHC $ 61,413 $ 2,115,776 $ — $ 2,177,189 Reciprocal Exchanges 7,856 234,686 — 242,542 Total assets $ 69,269 $ 2,350,462 $ — $ 2,419,731 Liabilities Contingent payments $ — $ — $ 24,652 $ 24,652 Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 24,652 $ 24,652 NGHC $ — $ — $ 24,652 $ 24,652 Reciprocal Exchanges — — — — Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 24,652 $ 24,652
Schedule of Changes in Fair Value of Financial Assets	The following tables provide a summary of changes in fair value of the Company’s Level 3 financial assets and liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2015 : Balance as of Net income / loss Other comprehensive Purchases and Payments, sales and Net transfers Balance as of March 31, 2016 Contingent payments $ 24,652 $ 1,263 $ — $ — $ (10,013 ) $ — $ 15,902 Total liabilities $ 24,652 $ 1,263 $ — $ — $ (10,013 ) $ — $ 15,902 Balance as of Net income / loss Other comprehensive Purchases and Payments, sales and Net transfers Balance as of Common stock $ 34,389 $ — $ 2,526 $ — $ — $ (36,915 ) $ — Total assets $ 34,389 $ — $ 2,526 $ — $ — $ (36,915 ) $ — Contingent payments $ 23,499 $ 2,357 $ — $ 8,581 $ (9,785 ) $ — $ 24,652 Total liabilities $ 23,499 $ 2,357 $ — $ 8,581 $ (9,785 ) $ — $ 24,652

Equity Investments in Unconso29

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries (Tables) - LSC Entities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment Information	The following tables present the investment activity in the LSC Entities. Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Balance at beginning of the period $ 153,661 $ 146,089 Contributions — 565 Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries 4,828 5,118 Change in equity method investments 4,828 5,683 Balance at end of the period $ 158,489 $ 151,772 The following tables summarize total assets, total liabilities and members' equity as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and the results of operations for the Company’s unconsolidated equity method investment in the LSC Entities for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 . Condensed balance sheet data March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Investments in life settlement contracts, at fair value $ 294,573 $ 264,001 Total assets 336,703 334,026 Total liabilities 19,725 26,704 Members' equity 316,978 307,322 NGHC's 50% ownership interest $ 158,489 $ 153,661 Three Months Ended March 31, Condensed results of operations 2016 2015 Revenue, net of commission $ 11,359 $ 12,078 Total expenses 1,703 1,842 Net income $ 9,656 $ 10,236 NGHC's 50% ownership interest $ 4,828 $ 5,118
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information	If the life expectancies were increased or decreased by 4 months and the discount factors were increased or decreased by 1% while all other variables were held constant, the carrying value of the investment in life insurance policies would increase or (decrease) by the unaudited amounts summarized below as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 : Change in life expectancy Plus 4 Months Minus 4 Months Investment in life policies: March 31, 2016 $ (37,524 ) $ 42,046 December 31, 2015 $ (37,697 ) $ 40,997 Change in discount rate (1) Plus 1% Minus 1% Investment in life policies: March 31, 2016 $ (26,783 ) $ 29,775 December 31, 2015 $ (26,558 ) $ 29,644 (1) Discount rate is a present value calculation that considers legal risk, credit risk and liquidity risk and is a component of EDR. The following summarizes data utilized in estimating the fair value of the portfolio of life insurance policies as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and, only includes data for policies to which the LSC Entities assigned value at those dates: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Average age of insured 82.2 years 82.0 years Average life expectancy, months (1) 110 114 Average face amount per policy $ 6,538 $ 6,564 Effective discount rate (2) 13.9 % 13.7 %
Schedule Of Premiums To Be Paid To Keep Existing Life Insurance Policies In Force	The actual capital commitment may differ from the amounts shown based on policy lapses and terminations, death benefits received and other operating cash flows of the LSC Entities: Premiums Due on Life Settlement Contracts 2016 $ 65,789 2017 42,672 2018 41,771 2019 41,026 2020 37,998 Thereafter 464,343 Total $ 693,599

Acquisitions (Tables)

Acquisitions (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Lender-placed insurance
Business Acquisition
Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition	The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date: October 2015 Assets Cash and invested assets $ 290,262 Premium receivable 129,524 Premises and equipment 1,540 Intangible assets 61,645 Other assets 1,013 Total Assets 483,984 Liabilities Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves 102,913 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 64,168 Unearned premiums 245,827 Total Liabilities 412,908 Net assets purchased 71,076 Purchase price 95,726 Goodwill recorded $ 24,650
Assurant Health
Business Acquisition
Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition	The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date: October 2015 Assets Cash and invested assets $ 43,448 Premium receivable 16,440 Intangible assets 10,493 Total Assets 70,381 Liabilities Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves 66,344 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 281 Unearned premiums 2,505 Deferred tax liability 3,887 Other liabilities 678 Total Liabilities 73,695 Net assets purchased (3,314 ) Purchase price 14,000 Goodwill recorded $ 17,314

Goodwill and Intangible Asset31

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Intangible Assets and Goodwill	The composition of goodwill and intangible assets at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 consisted of the following: March 31, 2016 Gross Balance Accumulated Amortization Net Value Useful Life Trademarks $ 900 $ — $ 900 5 years Loss reserve discount 15,089 13,363 1,726 7 years Agent/Customer relationships 148,419 21,895 126,524 11 - 17 years Affinity partners 800 454 346 11 years Renewal rights 26,100 7,937 18,163 7 years Value in policies-in-force 28,638 — 28,638 1 year Property technology 11,800 758 11,042 3 - 10 years Management contracts 118,600 — 118,600 indefinite life State licenses 65,165 — 65,165 indefinite life Goodwill 119,553 — 119,553 indefinite life Total $ 535,064 $ 44,407 $ 490,657 NGHC $ 502,426 $ 44,407 $ 458,019 Reciprocal Exchanges 32,638 — 32,638 Total $ 535,064 $ 44,407 $ 490,657 December 31, 2015 Gross Balance Accumulated Amortization Net Value Useful Life Trademarks $ 8,200 $ 6,744 $ 1,456 5 years Loss reserve discount 15,089 12,779 2,310 7 years Agent/Customer relationships 148,419 18,562 129,857 11 - 17 years Affinity partners 800 436 364 11 years Renewal rights 26,100 6,375 19,725 7 years Proprietary technology 11,800 379 11,421 3 - 10 years Management contracts 118,600 — 118,600 indefinite life State licenses 65,165 — 65,165 indefinite life Goodwill 112,414 — 112,414 indefinite life Total $ 506,587 $ 45,275 $ 461,312 NGHC $ 501,187 $ 44,700 $ 456,487 Reciprocal Exchanges 5,400 575 4,825 Total $ 506,587 $ 45,275 $ 461,312
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense	The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the next five years and thereafter is: Year ending NGHC Reciprocal Total 2016 (remaining nine months) $ 16,213 $ 21,573 $ 37,786 2017 19,597 7,287 26,884 2018 15,101 126 15,227 2019 13,855 126 13,981 2020 11,839 126 11,965 2021 10,414 32 10,446 Thereafter 71,050 — 71,050 $ 158,069 $ 29,270 $ 187,339

Debt (Tables)

Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt	Maturities of the Company's debt for the five years subsequent to March 31, 2016 are as follows: 2016 (remaining nine months) 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Thereafter Total 7.625% Notes $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 100,000 $ 100,000 6.75% Notes — — — — — — 350,000 350,000 Imperial Surplus Notes — — — — — — 5,000 5,000 Total principal amount of debt $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 455,000 $ 455,000 Less: Unamortized debt issuance costs and unamortized discount (8,756 ) Carrying amount of debt $ 446,244

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	The following is a summary of the elements used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per common share: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Net income attributable to common NGHC stockholders $ 52,702 $ 41,737 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic 105,597,594 93,454,236 Potentially dilutive securities: Share options 2,185,923 2,183,251 Restricted stock units 482,991 450,465 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted 108,266,508 96,087,952 Basic earnings per share attributable to NGHC common stockholders $ 0.50 $ 0.45 Diluted earnings per share attributable to NGHC common stockholders $ 0.49 $ 0.43

Share-Based Compensation (Table

Share-Based Compensation (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity	A summary of the Company’s stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 is shown below: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Shares Weighted Shares Weighted Outstanding at beginning of period 4,123,809 $ 9.31 5,110,593 $ 8.88 Granted — — — — Forfeited — — — — Exercised (139,199 ) 7.56 (67,876 ) 4.85 Outstanding at end of period 3,984,610 $ 9.37 5,042,717 $ 8.93
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock Units Award Activity	A summary of the Company's RSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 is shown below: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 RSUs Weighted RSUs Weighted Non-vested at beginning of period 362,674 $ 19.16 327,555 $ 17.44 Granted 158,792 19.99 127,910 18.75 Vested (21,386 ) 18.57 — — Forfeited — — (5,000 ) 18.02 Withheld (1) (14,589 ) 18.57 — — Non-vested at end of period 485,491 $ 19.48 450,465 $ 17.75 (1) Represents shares withheld by the Company to satisfy income tax withholding liability and exercise price in connection with RSU vesting.

Service and Fee Income (Tables)

Service and Fee Income (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Service and Fee Income [Abstract]
Schedule of Service and Fee Income	The following table summarizes service and fee income by category: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Installment fees $ 8,468 $ 8,125 Commission revenue 23,857 14,242 General agent fees 17,961 16,127 Late payment fees 3,180 2,946 Group health administrative fees 18,860 2,789 Finance and processing fees 18,584 9,481 Lender service fees 4,080 — Other 1,954 1,160 Total $ 96,944 $ 54,870

Income Taxes (Tables)

Income Taxes (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation	The following table is a reconciliation of the difference in the Company’s income tax expense compared to the statutory rate of 35% : Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 NGHC Total NGHC Reciprocal Exchanges Total Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries $ 68,240 $ 68,240 $ 46,253 $ 104 $ 46,357 Tax at Federal statutory rate 35% $ 23,884 $ 23,884 $ 16,189 $ 36 $ 16,225 Tax effects resulting from: Exempt foreign income (1,905 ) (1,905 ) (3,062 ) — (3,062 ) Statutory equalization reserves (1,827 ) (1,827 ) (9,929 ) — (9,929 ) Other, net (2,069 ) (2,069 ) 5,221 (68 ) 5,153 Total income tax reported $ 18,083 $ 18,083 $ 8,419 $ (32 ) $ 8,387 Effective tax rate 26.5 % 26.5 % 18.2 % (30.8 )% 18.1 %

Related Party Transactions (Tab

Related Party Transactions (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Schedule of Reinsurance Treaties	The amounts related to these reinsurance treaties are as follows: March 31, 2016 Recoverable (Payable) on Paid and Unpaid Losses and LAE Commission Receivable Premium Receivable (Payable) Wesco $ — $ — $ — AARC 815 124 (408 ) December 31, 2015 Recoverable (Payable) on Paid and Unpaid Losses and LAE Commission Receivable Premium Receivable (Payable) Wesco $ (45 ) $ — $ — AARC 829 107 (395 ) Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Assumed (Ceded) Earned Premiums Commission Income Assumed (Ceded) Losses and LAE Wesco $ — $ — $ (26 ) AARC (408 ) 112 (190 ) Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Assumed (Ceded) Earned Premiums Commission Income Assumed (Ceded) Losses and LAE Wesco $ 152 $ 199 $ 705 AARC (348 ) 98 (216 ) The amounts related to this reinsurance treaty are as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Ceded Earned Premiums Ceding Commission Income (Expense) Ceded Losses and LAE ACP Re $ — $ (605 ) $ (1,795 ) Maiden Insurance Company — (1,008 ) (2,992 ) Technology Insurance Company — (403 ) (1,197 ) Total $ — $ (2,016 ) $ (5,984 ) Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Ceded Earned Premiums Ceding Commission Income Ceded Losses and LAE ACP Re $ — $ 198 $ 487 Maiden Insurance Company — 331 824 Technology Insurance Company — 132 311 Total $ — $ 661 $ 1,622
Schedule of Percentage Participation by Reinsurer	The percentage breakdown by reinsurer of such 50% is as follows: Name of Insurer Quota Share Percentage ACP Re 15% Maiden Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Maiden 25% Technology Insurance Company, a subsidiary of AmTrust 10%
Schedule of Effects of Recoveries of Acquisition Costs from Reinsured Contracts	March 31, 2016 Reinsurance Recoverable on Paid and Unpaid Losses and LAE Ceded Commission Payable Ceded Premium Payable ACP Re $ 18,045 $ — $ 9,629 Maiden Insurance Company 25,115 — 16,049 Technology Insurance Company 9,627 — 6,419 Total $ 52,787 $ — $ 32,097 December 31, 2015 Reinsurance Recoverable on Paid and Unpaid Losses and LAE Ceded Commission Payable Ceded Premium Payable ACP Re $ 17,298 $ — $ 9,025 Maiden Insurance Company 28,830 — 15,041 Technology Insurance Company 11,532 — 6,016 Total $ 57,660 $ — $ 30,082

Segment Information (Tables)

Segment Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment	The following tables summarize the underwriting results of the Company’s operating segments: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Property and Casualty Accident and Health Corporate and Other Total Underwriting revenue: Gross premium written $ 661,337 $ 154,857 $ — $ 816,194 Ceded premiums (60,563 ) (11,044 ) — (71,607 ) Net premium written 600,774 143,813 — 744,587 Change in unearned premium (46,726 ) (42,941 ) — (89,667 ) Net earned premium 554,048 100,872 — 654,920 Ceding commission income (2,264 ) 369 — (1,895 ) Service and fee income 63,488 33,456 — 96,944 Total underwriting revenue 615,272 134,697 — 749,969 Underwriting expenses: Loss and loss adjustment expense 332,659 76,391 — 409,050 Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses 91,659 21,240 — 112,899 General and administrative expenses 144,694 31,933 — 176,627 Total underwriting expenses 569,012 129,564 — 698,576 Underwriting income 46,260 5,133 — 51,393 Net investment income — — 21,670 21,670 Net realized gains on investments — — 3,617 3,617 Other revenue — — 701 701 Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries — — 6,682 6,682 Interest expense — — (9,141 ) (9,141 ) Provision for income taxes — — (18,083 ) (18,083 ) Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest — — (12 ) (12 ) Net income (loss) attributable NGHC $ 46,260 $ 5,133 $ 5,434 $ 56,827 NGHC $ 46,260 $ 5,133 $ 5,434 $ 56,827 Net income (loss) attributable NGHC $ 46,260 $ 5,133 $ 5,434 $ 56,827 Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Property and Casualty Accident and Health Corporate and Other Total Underwriting revenue: Gross premium written $ 568,098 $ 75,357 $ — $ 643,455 Ceded premiums (105,201 ) (8,229 ) — (113,430 ) Net premium written 462,897 67,128 — 530,025 Change in unearned premium (14,907 ) (35,953 ) — (50,860 ) Net earned premium 447,990 31,175 — 479,165 Ceding commission income 4,798 282 — 5,080 Service and fee income 37,451 17,419 — 54,870 Total underwriting revenue 490,239 48,876 — 539,115 Underwriting expenses: Loss and loss adjustment expense 286,583 20,103 — 306,686 Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses 78,593 11,292 — 89,885 General and administrative expenses 91,540 14,147 — 105,687 Total underwriting expenses 456,716 45,542 — 502,258 Underwriting income 33,523 3,334 — 36,857 Net investment income — — 16,148 16,148 Net realized gains on investments — — 1,187 1,187 Other revenue — — 1,245 1,245 Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries — — 4,958 4,958 Interest expense — — (9,080 ) (9,080 ) Provision for income taxes — — (8,387 ) (8,387 ) Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest — — (160 ) (160 ) Net income attributable NGHC $ 33,523 $ 3,334 $ 5,911 $ 42,768 NGHC $ 32,454 $ 3,334 $ 6,980 $ 42,768 Reciprocal Exchanges 1,069 — (1,069 ) — Net income attributable NGHC $ 33,523 $ 3,334 $ 5,911 $ 42,768 The following tables summarize the financial position of the Company's operating segments as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 : March 31, 2016 Property and Casualty Accident and Health Corporate and Other Total Premiums and other receivables, net $ 731,639 $ 154,778 $ — $ 886,417 Deferred acquisition costs 141,371 3,784 — 145,155 Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses 831,573 6,313 — 837,886 Prepaid reinsurance premiums 132,157 — — 132,157 Goodwill and Intangible assets, net 398,976 91,681 — 490,657 Prepaid and other assets 10,001 27,533 6,325 43,859 Corporate and other assets — — 3,248,110 3,248,110 Total assets $ 2,245,717 $ 284,089 $ 3,254,435 $ 5,784,241 December 31, 2015 Property and Casualty Accident and Health Corporate and Other Total Premiums and other receivables, net $ 684,857 $ 73,776 $ — $ 758,633 Deferred acquisition costs 153,767 6,764 — 160,531 Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses 832,593 583 — 833,176 Prepaid reinsurance premiums 128,343 — — 128,343 Goodwill and Intangible assets, net 366,021 95,291 — 461,312 Prepaid and other assets 19,914 17,504 3,766 41,184 Corporate and other assets — — 3,180,213 3,180,213 Total assets $ 2,185,495 $ 193,918 $ 3,183,979 $ 5,563,392
Revenue from External Customers by Geographic Areas	The following table shows an analysis of the Company's gross and net premiums written and net earned premium by geographical location for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 : Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 NGHC Total NGHC Reciprocal Total Gross premium written - North America $ 749,536 $ 749,536 $ 528,071 $ 61,237 $ 589,308 Gross premium written - Europe 66,658 66,658 54,147 — 54,147 Total $ 816,194 $ 816,194 $ 582,218 $ 61,237 $ 643,455 Net premium written - North America $ 342,588 $ 342,588 $ 201,660 $ 18,637 $ 220,297 Net premium written - Bermuda 312,706 312,706 230,413 — 230,413 Net premium written - Europe 89,293 89,293 79,315 — 79,315 Total $ 744,587 $ 744,587 $ 511,388 $ 18,637 $ 530,025 Net earned premium - North America $ 295,935 $ 295,935 $ 166,177 $ 41,896 $ 208,073 Net earned premium - Bermuda 312,706 312,706 227,722 — 227,722 Net earned premium - Europe 46,279 46,279 43,370 — 43,370 Total $ 654,920 $ 654,920 $ 437,269 $ 41,896 $ 479,165
Revenue from External Customers by Product Type	The following tables show an analysis of the Company's gross premium written, net premium written and net earned premium by product type for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 : Three Months Ended March 31, Gross Premium Written 2016 2015 Property and Casualty Personal Auto $ 385,198 $ 338,276 Homeowners 70,301 85,683 RV/Packaged 39,603 37,550 Commercial Auto 50,151 41,346 Lender-placed insurance 111,997 — Other 4,087 4,006 Property and Casualty Total $ 661,337 $ 506,861 Accident and Health Total 154,857 75,357 NGHC Total $ 816,194 $ 582,218 Reciprocal Exchanges Personal Auto $ — $ 17,691 Homeowners — 41,613 Other — 1,933 Reciprocal Exchanges Total $ — $ 61,237 Total $ 816,194 $ 643,455 Three Months Ended March 31, Net Premium Written 2016 2015 Property and Casualty Personal Auto $ 335,326 $ 295,243 Homeowners 65,876 70,390 RV/Packaged 39,456 36,894 Commercial Auto 44,993 37,993 Lender-placed insurance 111,997 — Other 3,126 3,740 Property and Casualty Total $ 600,774 $ 444,260 Accident and Health Total 143,813 67,128 NGHC Total $ 744,587 $ 511,388 Reciprocal Exchanges Personal Auto $ — $ 16,606 Homeowners — (36 ) Other — 2,067 Reciprocal Exchanges Total $ — $ 18,637 Total $ 744,587 $ 530,025 Three Months Ended March 31, Net Earned Premium 2016 2015 Property and Casualty Personal Auto $ 271,997 $ 267,531 Homeowners 74,439 64,123 RV/Packaged 37,519 35,976 Commercial Auto 43,844 34,622 Lender-placed insurance 122,806 — Other 3,443 3,842 Property and Casualty Total $ 554,048 $ 406,094 Accident and Health Total 100,872 31,175 NGHC Total $ 654,920 $ 437,269 Reciprocal Exchanges Personal Auto $ — $ 22,930 Homeowners — 17,716 Other — 1,250 Reciprocal Exchanges Total $ — $ 41,896 Total $ 654,920 $ 479,165

Recent Accounting Pronounceme39

Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes | Surplus Notes
Entity
Payments to acquire notes receivable	$ 88,900

Reciprocal Exchanges Balance Sh

Reciprocal Exchanges Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Entity
Accrued investment income	$ 21,249	$ 20,402
Premiums and other receivables, net	886,417	758,633
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses	837,886	833,176
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	132,157	128,343
Income tax receivable	300	300
Due from affiliate	16,880	41,536
Premises and equipment, net	69,082	42,931
Intangible assets, net	371,104	348,898
Prepaid and other assets	43,859	41,184
Total Assets	5,784,241	5,563,392
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	1,783,533	1,755,624
Unearned premiums	1,288,024	1,192,499
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	305,277	284,902
Deferred tax liability	7,043	12,247
Other liabilities	94,969	150,190
Total Liabilities	4,178,142	4,026,752
Non-controlling interest	15,001	22,840
Total Liabilities and Equity	5,784,241	5,563,392
Reciprocal Exchanges
Entity
Cash and investments	258,274
Accrued investment income	2,658	2,347
Premiums and other receivables, net	52,922	56,194
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses	43,401	39,085
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	59,706	61,730
Income tax receivable	300	300
Due from affiliate	11,703	12,060
Premises and equipment, net	2,386	332
Intangible assets, net	32,638	4,825
Prepaid and other assets	187	93
Total Assets	464,175
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	137,093	132,392
Unearned premiums	143,194	146,186
Reinsurance payable	11,982
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	6,972	19,845
Deferred tax liability	23,716	32,724
Notes payable	88,900
Other liabilities	37,550	38,105
Total Liabilities	449,407
Non-controlling interest	14,768	$ 22,619
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 464,175

Reciprocal Exchanges (Details)

Reciprocal Exchanges (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Entity
Total revenues	$ 775,957	$ 557,695
Total expenses	707,717	511,338
Net income	56,839	42,928
Service and fee income	96,944	54,870
Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes | Surplus Notes
Entity
Payments to acquire notes receivable	88,900
Reciprocal Exchanges
Entity
Total revenues		49,450
Total expenses		49,314
Net income		136
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Entity
Service and fee income	$ 9,590	$ 8,578

Investments - Available-for-sal

Investments - Available-for-sale Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cost or Amortized Cost
Total	$ 2,427,670	$ 2,445,284
Total net of Securities pledged	2,301,188	2,390,329
Gross Unrealized Gains
Total	72,807	35,765
Total net of Securities pledged	70,192	35,326
Gross Unrealized Losses
Total	(61,350)	(64,845)
Total net of Securities pledged	(61,350)	(64,845)
Fair Value
Total	2,439,127	2,416,204
Total net of Securities pledged	2,310,030	2,360,810
Common stock
Cost or Amortized Cost
Equity securities	53,625	53,356
Gross Unrealized Gains
Equity securities	1,656	569
Gross Unrealized Losses
Equity securities	(18,318)	(6,960)
Fair Value
Equity securities	36,963	46,965
Preferred stock
Cost or Amortized Cost
Equity securities	1,631	11,448
Gross Unrealized Gains
Equity securities	32	377
Gross Unrealized Losses
Equity securities	0	0
Fair Value
Equity securities	1,663	11,825
U.S. Treasury
Cost or Amortized Cost
Fixed maturities	23,268	19,348
Gross Unrealized Gains
Fixed maturities	1,440	1,052
Gross Unrealized Losses
Fixed maturities	0	(48)
Fair Value
Fixed maturities	24,708	20,352
Federal agencies
Cost or Amortized Cost
Fixed maturities		1,945
Gross Unrealized Gains
Fixed maturities		7
Gross Unrealized Losses
Fixed maturities		0
Fair Value
Fixed maturities		1,952
States and political subdivision bonds
Cost or Amortized Cost
Fixed maturities	186,714	193,017
Gross Unrealized Gains
Fixed maturities	5,831	4,516
Gross Unrealized Losses
Fixed maturities	(174)	(609)
Fair Value
Fixed maturities	192,371	196,924
Foreign government
Cost or Amortized Cost
Fixed maturities	40,316	31,383
Gross Unrealized Gains
Fixed maturities	1,793	31
Gross Unrealized Losses
Fixed maturities	(106)	(352)
Fair Value
Fixed maturities	42,003	31,062
Corporate bonds
Cost or Amortized Cost
Fixed maturities	1,409,644	1,375,336
Gross Unrealized Gains
Fixed maturities	47,427	22,224
Gross Unrealized Losses
Fixed maturities	(33,096)	(47,902)
Fair Value
Fixed maturities	1,423,975	1,349,658
Residential mortgage-backed securities
Cost or Amortized Cost
Fixed maturities	361,004	419,293
Gross Unrealized Gains
Fixed maturities	11,013	6,254
Gross Unrealized Losses
Fixed maturities	(62)	(978)
Fair Value
Fixed maturities	371,955	424,569
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Cost or Amortized Cost
Fixed maturities	119,878	135,134
Gross Unrealized Gains
Fixed maturities	2,143	720
Gross Unrealized Losses
Fixed maturities	(1,958)	(3,649)
Fair Value
Fixed maturities	120,063	132,205
Structured securities
Cost or Amortized Cost
Fixed maturities	231,590	205,024
Gross Unrealized Gains
Fixed maturities	1,472	15
Gross Unrealized Losses
Fixed maturities	(7,636)	(4,347)
Fair Value
Fixed maturities	225,426	200,692
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Cost or Amortized Cost
Equity securities	54,668	63,303
Fixed maturities	1,990,919	2,081,456
Total	2,172,069	2,199,714
Less: Securities pledged	126,482	54,955
Gross Unrealized Gains
Total	72,807	34,773
Less: Securities pledged	2,615	439
Gross Unrealized Losses
Total	(61,350)	(58,826)
Less: Securities pledged	0	0
Fair Value
Equity securities	38,038	57,216
Fixed maturities	2,016,391	2,063,051
Total	2,183,526	2,175,661
Less: Securities pledged	129,097	55,394
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | U.S. Treasury
Cost or Amortized Cost
Total	17,281	13,416
Fair Value
Total	18,721	14,448
Reciprocal Exchanges
Cost or Amortized Cost
Equity securities	588	1,501
Fixed maturities	255,013	244,069
Total	255,601	245,570
Gross Unrealized Gains
Total	0	992
Gross Unrealized Losses
Total	0	(6,019)
Fair Value
Equity securities	588	1,574
Fixed maturities	255,013	238,969
Total	255,601	240,543
Reciprocal Exchanges | U.S. Treasury
Cost or Amortized Cost
Total	5,987	5,932
Fair Value
Total	$ 5,987	$ 5,904

Investments - Available-for-s43

Investments - Available-for-sale and Securities Pledged Maturities (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Cost or Amortized Cost
Due in one year or less	$ 26,271
Due after one year through five years	293,013
Due after five years through ten years	1,161,386
Due after ten years	410,861
Mortgage-backed securities	480,883
Fixed maturities, including securities pledged	2,372,414
Fair Value
Due in one year or less	24,965
Due after one year through five years	295,236
Due after five years through ten years	1,184,220
Due after ten years	404,062
Mortgage-backed securities	492,018
Fixed maturities, including securities pledged	2,400,501
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Cost or Amortized Cost
Due in one year or less	26,271
Due after one year through five years	265,906
Due after five years through ten years	1,001,823
Due after ten years	373,458
Mortgage-backed securities	449,943
Fixed maturities, including securities pledged	2,117,401
Fair Value
Due in one year or less	24,965
Due after one year through five years	268,129
Due after five years through ten years	1,024,657
Due after ten years	366,659
Mortgage-backed securities	461,078
Fixed maturities, including securities pledged	2,145,488
Reciprocal Exchanges
Cost or Amortized Cost
Due in one year or less	0
Due after one year through five years	27,107
Due after five years through ten years	159,563
Due after ten years	37,403
Mortgage-backed securities	30,940
Fixed maturities, including securities pledged	255,013
Fair Value
Due in one year or less	0
Due after one year through five years	27,107
Due after five years through ten years	159,563
Due after ten years	37,403
Mortgage-backed securities	30,940
Fixed maturities, including securities pledged	$ 255,013

Investments - Investment Income

Investments - Investment Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Net Investment Income
Investment Income	$ 20,756	$ 15,086
Investment expense	(1,638)	(1,212)
Repurchase agreements interest expense	(144)	(70)
Other income (1)	2,696	2,344
Net investment income	21,670	16,148
Cash and short-term investments
Net Investment Income
Investment Income	684	5
Equity securities
Net Investment Income
Investment Income	333	75
Fixed maturities
Net Investment Income
Investment Income	19,739	15,006
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Net Investment Income
Net investment income	21,670	14,109
Reciprocal Exchanges
Net Investment Income
Net investment income	0	2,039
Affiliated Entity | ACP Re
Net Investment Income
(1) Interest income, related party	$ 2,188	$ 2,188

Investments - Realized Gains an

Investments - Realized Gains and Losses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	$ 13,313		$ 10,355
Proceeds from sales of equity securities and fixed maturities	81,805	$ 53,402
Other-than-temporary impairment loss	0	(1,016)
Equity securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Gross Gains	442
Gross Losses	(2)
Net Gains (Losses)	440
Fixed maturities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Gross Gains	4,199	2,624
Gross Losses	(1,022)	(421)
Net Gains (Losses)	3,177	2,203
Total gross realized gains and losses
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Gross Gains	4,641	2,624
Gross Losses	(1,024)	(1,437)
Net Gains (Losses)	3,617	1,187
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	13,313		8,227
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Total gross realized gains and losses
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Gross Gains	4,641	1,773
Gross Losses	(1,024)	(1,279)
Net Gains (Losses)	$ 3,617	494
Reciprocal Exchanges
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss			$ 2,128
Reciprocal Exchanges | Total gross realized gains and losses
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Gross Gains		851
Gross Losses		(158)
Net Gains (Losses)		$ 693

Investments - Unrealized Gains

Investments - Unrealized Gains and Losses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Net unrealized gain (loss), net of deferred income tax	$ 7,448		$ (18,915)
Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of deferred income tax	23,082	$ 13,168
Non-controlling interest
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Net unrealized gain (loss), net of deferred income tax	0		3,281
Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of deferred income tax		$ 1,701
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Net unrealized gain (loss), net of deferred income tax	7,448		(15,634)
Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of deferred income tax	23,082		(40,632)
Reciprocal Exchanges
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Net unrealized gain (loss), net of deferred income tax	0		(3,281)
Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of deferred income tax	0		(3,964)
Common stock
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, gross	(16,662)		(6,391)
Preferred stock
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, gross	32		377
Fixed maturities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, gross	28,087		(23,066)
Other
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, gross	0		(20)
Investments
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Deferred income tax	$ (4,009)		$ 10,185

Investments - Gross Unrealized

Investments - Gross Unrealized Losses (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)security	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)security
Fair Market Value
Less Than 12 Months	$ 439,610	$ 1,092,393
12 Months or More	42,538	41,148
Total	482,148	1,133,541
Unrealized Losses
Less Than 12 Months	(48,037)	(54,490)
12 Months or More	(13,313)	(10,355)
Total	$ (61,350)	$ (64,845)
No. of Positions Held
Less Than 12 Months | security	156	383
12 Months or More | security	29	61
Number of securities with gross unrealized loss | security	185	444
20% of amortized cost or cost	20.00%
Unrealized losses related to securities with unrealized loss position greater than or equal to 20% of amortized cost or cost	$ 5,022	$ 8,466
Common stock
Fair Market Value
Less Than 12 Months	26,934	39,490
12 Months or More	139	130
Total	27,073	39,620
Unrealized Losses
Less Than 12 Months	(18,280)	(6,932)
12 Months or More	(38)	(28)
Total	$ (18,318)	$ (6,960)
No. of Positions Held
Less Than 12 Months | security	4	5
12 Months or More | security	3	2
U.S. Treasury
Fair Market Value
Less Than 12 Months		$ 7,141
12 Months or More		0
Total		7,141
Unrealized Losses
Less Than 12 Months		(48)
12 Months or More		0
Total		$ (48)
No. of Positions Held
Less Than 12 Months | security		5
12 Months or More | security		0
States and political subdivision bonds
Fair Market Value
Less Than 12 Months	$ 5,840	$ 17,674
12 Months or More	2,751	4,878
Total	8,591	22,552
Unrealized Losses
Less Than 12 Months	(95)	(501)
12 Months or More	(79)	(108)
Total	$ (174)	$ (609)
No. of Positions Held
Less Than 12 Months | security	7	22
12 Months or More | security	7	10
Foreign government
Fair Market Value
Less Than 12 Months	$ 15,259	$ 21,322
12 Months or More	0	0
Total	15,259	21,322
Unrealized Losses
Less Than 12 Months	(106)	(352)
12 Months or More	0	0
Total	$ (106)	$ (352)
No. of Positions Held
Less Than 12 Months | security	1	4
12 Months or More | security	0	0
Corporate bonds
Fair Market Value
Less Than 12 Months	$ 215,855	$ 684,613
12 Months or More	39,388	32,121
Total	255,243	716,734
Unrealized Losses
Less Than 12 Months	(19,902)	(37,919)
12 Months or More	(13,194)	(9,983)
Total	$ (33,096)	$ (47,902)
No. of Positions Held
Less Than 12 Months | security	61	229
12 Months or More | security	17	38
Residential mortgage-backed securities
Fair Market Value
Less Than 12 Months	$ 3,626	$ 102,889
12 Months or More	260	1,655
Total	3,886	104,544
Unrealized Losses
Less Than 12 Months	(60)	(919)
12 Months or More	(2)	(59)
Total	$ (62)	$ (978)
No. of Positions Held
Less Than 12 Months | security	6	23
12 Months or More | security	2	9
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Fair Market Value
Less Than 12 Months	$ 51,685	$ 66,222
12 Months or More	0	2,364
Total	51,685	68,586
Unrealized Losses
Less Than 12 Months	(1,958)	(3,472)
12 Months or More	0	(177)
Total	$ (1,958)	$ (3,649)
No. of Positions Held
Less Than 12 Months | security	20	30
12 Months or More | security	0	2
Structured securities
Fair Market Value
Less Than 12 Months	$ 120,411	$ 153,042
12 Months or More	0	0
Total	120,411	153,042
Unrealized Losses
Less Than 12 Months	(7,636)	(4,347)
12 Months or More	0	0
Total	$ (7,636)	$ (4,347)
No. of Positions Held
Less Than 12 Months | security	57	65
12 Months or More | security	0	0
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Fair Market Value
Less Than 12 Months	$ 439,610	$ 988,188
12 Months or More	42,538	28,691
Total	482,148	1,016,879
Unrealized Losses
Less Than 12 Months	(48,037)	(50,599)
12 Months or More	(13,313)	(8,227)
Total	$ (61,350)	$ (58,826)
No. of Positions Held
Less Than 12 Months | security	156	284
12 Months or More | security	29	34
Reciprocal Exchanges
Fair Market Value
Less Than 12 Months		$ 104,205
12 Months or More		12,457
Total		116,662
Unrealized Losses
Less Than 12 Months		(3,891)
12 Months or More		(2,128)
Total		$ (6,019)
No. of Positions Held
Less Than 12 Months | security		99
12 Months or More | security		27

Investments - Credit Quality of

Investments - Credit Quality of Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 2,427,670	$ 2,445,284
Total	2,439,127	2,416,204
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	2,172,069	2,199,714
Total	2,183,526	2,175,661
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Fixed Maturity And Preferred Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	2,118,444	2,146,357
Total	$ 2,146,563	$ 2,128,695
Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Stock Securities	100.00%	100.00%
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | U.S. Treasury
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 17,281	$ 13,416
Total	$ 18,721	$ 14,448
Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Stock Securities	0.90%	0.70%
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Fixed-Maturities and Preferred Securities, Excluding US Treasury Securities | Standard & Poor's, AAA Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 406,900	$ 343,128
Total	$ 420,832	$ 348,073
Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Stock Securities	19.60%	16.40%
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Fixed-Maturities and Preferred Securities, Excluding US Treasury Securities | Standard & Poor's, AA, AA Plus, and AA Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 352,194	$ 379,560
Total	$ 361,387	$ 383,888
Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Stock Securities	16.80%	18.00%
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Fixed-Maturities and Preferred Securities, Excluding US Treasury Securities | Standard & Poor's, A, A Plus, and A Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 568,651	$ 501,409
Total	$ 584,768	$ 508,884
Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Stock Securities	27.20%	23.90%
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Fixed-Maturities and Preferred Securities, Excluding US Treasury Securities | Standard & Poor's, BBB, BBB Plus, and BBB Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 625,805	$ 634,250
Total	$ 636,464	$ 623,742
Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Stock Securities	29.70%	29.30%
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Fixed-Maturities and Preferred Securities, Excluding US Treasury Securities | Standard & Poor's, BB Plus and Lower Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 147,613	$ 274,594
Total	$ 124,391	$ 249,660
Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Stock Securities	5.80%	11.70%
Reciprocal Exchanges
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 255,601	$ 245,570
Total	255,601	240,543
Reciprocal Exchanges | Fixed Maturity And Preferred Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	255,601	245,571
Total	$ 255,601	$ 240,544
Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Stock Securities	100.00%	100.00%
Reciprocal Exchanges | U.S. Treasury
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 5,987	$ 5,932
Total	$ 5,987	$ 5,904
Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Stock Securities	2.30%	2.50%
Reciprocal Exchanges | Fixed-Maturities and Preferred Securities, Excluding US Treasury Securities | Standard & Poor's, AAA Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 28,594	$ 39,724
Total	$ 28,594	$ 38,888
Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Stock Securities	11.20%	16.20%
Reciprocal Exchanges | Fixed-Maturities and Preferred Securities, Excluding US Treasury Securities | Standard & Poor's, AA, AA Plus, and AA Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 28,010	$ 36,866
Total	$ 28,010	$ 36,934
Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Stock Securities	11.00%	15.40%
Reciprocal Exchanges | Fixed-Maturities and Preferred Securities, Excluding US Treasury Securities | Standard & Poor's, A, A Plus, and A Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 79,738	$ 50,612
Total	$ 79,738	$ 50,153
Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Stock Securities	31.20%	20.80%
Reciprocal Exchanges | Fixed-Maturities and Preferred Securities, Excluding US Treasury Securities | Standard & Poor's, BBB, BBB Plus, and BBB Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 105,475	$ 82,417
Total	$ 105,475	$ 80,322
Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Stock Securities	41.30%	33.40%
Reciprocal Exchanges | Fixed-Maturities and Preferred Securities, Excluding US Treasury Securities | Standard & Poor's, BB Plus and Lower Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 7,797	$ 30,020
Total	$ 7,797	$ 28,343
Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Stock Securities	3.00%	11.70%

Investments - Investment Qualit

Investments - Investment Quality Summary (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Total	$ 2,439,127	$ 2,416,204
Corporate Debt Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Total	$ 1,423,975	$ 1,349,658
Percentage Of Corporate Bonds Portfolio	100.00%	100.00%
Corporate Debt Securities | Standard & Poor's, AAA Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	1.50%	0.40%
Corporate Debt Securities | Standard & Poor's, AA, AA Plus, and AA Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	7.30%	6.70%
Corporate Debt Securities | Standard & Poor's, A, A Plus, and A Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	36.20%	37.00%
Corporate Debt Securities | Standard & Poor's, BBB, BBB Plus, and BBB Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	47.30%	48.40%
Corporate Debt Securities | Standard & Poor's, BB Plus and Lower Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	7.70%	7.50%
Corporate Debt Securities | Financial Institutions
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Total	$ 553,429	$ 524,250
Percentage Of Corporate Bonds Portfolio	38.90%	38.80%
Corporate Debt Securities | Financial Institutions | Standard & Poor's, AAA Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	1.50%	0.00%
Corporate Debt Securities | Financial Institutions | Standard & Poor's, AA, AA Plus, and AA Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	4.00%	2.80%
Corporate Debt Securities | Financial Institutions | Standard & Poor's, A, A Plus, and A Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	18.60%	21.20%
Corporate Debt Securities | Financial Institutions | Standard & Poor's, BBB, BBB Plus, and BBB Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	14.20%	12.70%
Corporate Debt Securities | Financial Institutions | Standard & Poor's, BB Plus and Lower Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	0.60%	2.10%
Corporate Debt Securities | Industrials
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Total	$ 800,940	$ 757,907
Percentage Of Corporate Bonds Portfolio	56.20%	56.20%
Corporate Debt Securities | Industrials | Standard & Poor's, AAA Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	0.00%	0.00%
Corporate Debt Securities | Industrials | Standard & Poor's, AA, AA Plus, and AA Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	3.30%	3.90%
Corporate Debt Securities | Industrials | Standard & Poor's, A, A Plus, and A Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	16.50%	15.40%
Corporate Debt Securities | Industrials | Standard & Poor's, BBB, BBB Plus, and BBB Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	30.50%	32.30%
Corporate Debt Securities | Industrials | Standard & Poor's, BB Plus and Lower Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	5.90%	4.60%
Corporate Debt Securities | Utilities And Other
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Total	$ 69,606	$ 67,501
Percentage Of Corporate Bonds Portfolio	4.90%	5.00%
Corporate Debt Securities | Utilities And Other | Standard & Poor's, AAA Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	0.00%	0.40%
Corporate Debt Securities | Utilities And Other | Standard & Poor's, AA, AA Plus, and AA Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	0.00%	0.00%
Corporate Debt Securities | Utilities And Other | Standard & Poor's, A, A Plus, and A Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	1.10%	0.40%
Corporate Debt Securities | Utilities And Other | Standard & Poor's, BBB, BBB Plus, and BBB Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	2.60%	3.40%
Corporate Debt Securities | Utilities And Other | Standard & Poor's, BB Plus and Lower Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	1.20%	0.80%
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Total	$ 2,183,526	$ 2,175,661
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Corporate Debt Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Total	$ 1,231,552	$ 1,206,442
Percentage Of Corporate Bonds Portfolio	86.50%	89.40%
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Corporate Debt Securities | Standard & Poor's, AAA Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	1.50%	0.40%
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Corporate Debt Securities | Standard & Poor's, AA, AA Plus, and AA Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	6.60%	6.10%
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Corporate Debt Securities | Standard & Poor's, A, A Plus, and A Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	31.10%	33.90%
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Corporate Debt Securities | Standard & Poor's, BBB, BBB Plus, and BBB Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	40.10%	42.70%
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Corporate Debt Securities | Standard & Poor's, BB Plus and Lower Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	7.20%	6.30%
Reciprocal Exchanges
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Total	$ 255,601	$ 240,543
Reciprocal Exchanges | Corporate Debt Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Total	$ 192,423	$ 143,216
Percentage Of Corporate Bonds Portfolio	13.50%	10.60%
Reciprocal Exchanges | Corporate Debt Securities | Standard & Poor's, AAA Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	0.00%	0.00%
Reciprocal Exchanges | Corporate Debt Securities | Standard & Poor's, AA, AA Plus, and AA Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	0.70%	0.60%
Reciprocal Exchanges | Corporate Debt Securities | Standard & Poor's, A, A Plus, and A Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	5.10%	3.10%
Reciprocal Exchanges | Corporate Debt Securities | Standard & Poor's, BBB, BBB Plus, and BBB Minus Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	7.20%	5.70%
Reciprocal Exchanges | Corporate Debt Securities | Standard & Poor's, BB Plus and Lower Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Investments, Credit Quality, Percentage Of Portfolio	0.50%	1.20%

Investments - Restricted Cash a

Investments - Restricted Cash and Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Restricted cash	$ 11,647	$ 13,776
Restricted investments - fixed maturities, at fair value	41,971	40,174
Total	$ 53,618	$ 53,950

Investments - Other Investments

Investments - Other Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Limited partnerships, equity method
Investment
Other investments	$ 36,175	$ 5,691
Investments at cost or amortized cost
Investment
Other investments	17,915	7,340
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Investment
Other investments	$ 54,090	$ 13,031

Investments - Reverse Repurchas

Investments - Reverse Repurchase and Repurchase Agreements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Collateralized lending transactions	$ 0		$ 0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	$ 114,196		$ 52,484
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, interest rate	0.75%
Repurchase agreements interest expense	$ (144)	$ (70)
Maximum
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, interest rate			0.80%
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Collateral pledged in support of repurchase agreements	$ 129,097		$ 55,394

Investments - Contractual Matur

Investments - Contractual Maturity Information Regarding Repurchase Agreements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value	$ 114,196	$ 52,484
Overnight and Continuous
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value	0	0
Up to 30 days
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value	114,196	52,484
30 - 90 days
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value	0	0
Greater Than 90 days
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value	0	0
Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value	114,196	52,484
Residential mortgage-backed securities | Overnight and Continuous
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value	0	0
Residential mortgage-backed securities | Up to 30 days
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value	114,196	52,484
Residential mortgage-backed securities | 30 - 90 days
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value	0	0
Residential mortgage-backed securities | Greater Than 90 days
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value	$ 0	$ 0
Minimum
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase
Amount of collateral required	105.00%
Maximum
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase
Amount of collateral required	110.00%

Fair Value of Financial Instr54

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Percentage of investments priced by service	100.00%
7.625% Subordinated Notes | Senior Notes
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Interest rate on debt	7.625%
7.625% Subordinated Notes | Senior Notes | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Current fair value of notes	$ 97,160	$ 98,240
6.75% Notes | Senior Notes
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Interest rate on debt	6.75%	6.75%
6.75% Notes | Senior Notes | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Current fair value of notes	$ 365,970	$ 350,000
Imperial Surplus Notes | Senior Notes | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Current fair value of notes	4,984	4,979
Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes | Surplus Notes
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Payments to acquire notes receivable	88,900
Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Contingent payments	15,902	24,652
Recurring | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Contingent payments	0	0
Recurring | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Contingent payments	15,902	24,652
Tower International | ACP Re | Affiliated Entity
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Contingent payments	7,321	16,071
Assigned Risk Solutions Ltd. (ARS)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Contingent payments	4,081	4,081
Healthcare Solutions Team, LLC (HST)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Contingent payments	$ 4,500	$ 4,500

Fair Value of Financial Instr55

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	$ 2,439,127	$ 2,416,204
Common stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Equity securities	36,963	46,965
Preferred stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Equity securities	1,663	11,825
U.S. Treasury
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	24,708	20,352
Federal agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities		1,952
States and political subdivision bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	192,371	196,924
Foreign government
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	42,003	31,062
Corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	1,423,975	1,349,658
Residential mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	371,955	424,569
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	120,063	132,205
Structured securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	225,426	200,692
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Equity securities	38,038	57,216
Fixed maturities	2,016,391	2,063,051
Short-term investments	2,440	1,528
Total	2,183,526	2,175,661
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | U.S. Treasury
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	18,721	14,448
Reciprocal Exchanges
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Equity securities	588	1,574
Fixed maturities	255,013	238,969
Short-term investments	0	1,999
Total	255,601	240,543
Reciprocal Exchanges | U.S. Treasury
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	5,987	5,904
Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	2,441,567	2,419,731
Contingent payments	15,902	24,652
Recurring | Common stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Equity securities	36,963	46,965
Recurring | Preferred stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Equity securities	1,663	11,825
Recurring | U.S. Treasury
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	24,708	20,352
Recurring | Federal agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities		1,952
Recurring | States and political subdivision bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	192,371	196,924
Recurring | Foreign government
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	42,003	31,062
Recurring | Corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	1,423,975	1,349,658
Recurring | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	371,955	424,569
Recurring | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	120,063	132,205
Recurring | Structured securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	225,426	200,692
Recurring | Short-term investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Short-term investments	2,440	3,527
Recurring | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	61,671	69,269
Contingent payments	0	0
Recurring | Level 1 | Common stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Equity securities	36,963	46,965
Recurring | Level 1 | Preferred stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Equity securities	0	0
Recurring | Level 1 | U.S. Treasury
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	24,708	20,352
Recurring | Level 1 | Federal agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities		1,952
Recurring | Level 1 | States and political subdivision bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	0	0
Recurring | Level 1 | Foreign government
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	0	0
Recurring | Level 1 | Corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	0	0
Recurring | Level 1 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	0	0
Recurring | Level 1 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	0	0
Recurring | Level 1 | Structured securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	0	0
Recurring | Level 1 | Short-term investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Short-term investments	0	0
Recurring | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	2,379,896	2,350,462
Contingent payments	0	0
Recurring | Level 2 | Common stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Equity securities	0	0
Recurring | Level 2 | Preferred stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Equity securities	1,663	11,825
Recurring | Level 2 | U.S. Treasury
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	0	0
Recurring | Level 2 | Federal agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities		0
Recurring | Level 2 | States and political subdivision bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	192,371	196,924
Recurring | Level 2 | Foreign government
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	42,003	31,062
Recurring | Level 2 | Corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	1,423,975	1,349,658
Recurring | Level 2 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	371,955	424,569
Recurring | Level 2 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	120,063	132,205
Recurring | Level 2 | Structured securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	225,426	200,692
Recurring | Level 2 | Short-term investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Short-term investments	2,440	3,527
Recurring | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	0	0
Contingent payments	15,902	24,652
Recurring | Level 3 | Common stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Equity securities	0	0
Recurring | Level 3 | Preferred stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Equity securities	0	0
Recurring | Level 3 | U.S. Treasury
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	0	0
Recurring | Level 3 | Federal agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities		0
Recurring | Level 3 | States and political subdivision bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	0	0
Recurring | Level 3 | Foreign government
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	0	0
Recurring | Level 3 | Corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	0	0
Recurring | Level 3 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	0	0
Recurring | Level 3 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	0	0
Recurring | Level 3 | Structured securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Fixed maturities	0	0
Recurring | Level 3 | Short-term investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Short-term investments	0	0
Recurring | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	2,185,966	2,177,189
Contingent payments	15,902	24,652
Recurring | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	55,685	61,413
Contingent payments	0	0
Recurring | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	2,130,281	2,115,776
Contingent payments	0	0
Recurring | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	0	0
Contingent payments	15,902	24,652
Recurring | Reciprocal Exchanges
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	255,601	242,542
Contingent payments	0	0
Recurring | Reciprocal Exchanges | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	5,986	7,856
Contingent payments	0	0
Recurring | Reciprocal Exchanges | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	249,615	234,686
Contingent payments	0	0
Recurring | Reciprocal Exchanges | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	0	0
Contingent payments	$ 0	$ 0

Fair Value of Financial Instr56

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Changes in Fair Value of Level 3 Financial Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Balance as of		$ 0	$ 34,389
Net income / loss		0
Other comprehensive income (loss)		2,526
Purchases and issuances		0
Payments, sales and settlements		0
Net transfers into (out of) Level 3		(36,915)
Net income / loss	$ 1,263	2,357
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Purchases and issuances	0	8,581
Payments, sales and settlements	(10,013)	(9,785)
Net transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0
Balance as of	15,902	24,652	23,499
Liability
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Net income / loss	1,263	2,357
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Purchases and issuances	0	8,581
Payments, sales and settlements	(10,013)	(9,785)
Net transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0
Balance as of	$ 15,902	24,652	23,499
Common stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Balance as of		0	$ 34,389
Net income / loss		0
Other comprehensive income (loss)		2,526
Purchases and issuances		0
Payments, sales and settlements		0
Net transfers into (out of) Level 3		$ (36,915)

Equity Investments in Unconso57

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries - Investment Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	$ 6,682	$ 4,958
VIE, Not primary beneficiary | LSC Entities
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Beginning balance	153,661	146,089
Contributions	0	565
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	4,828	5,118
Change in equity method investments	4,828	5,683
Ending balance	$ 158,489	$ 151,772

Equity Investments in Unconso58

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries - Balance Sheet (Details) - VIE, Not primary beneficiary - LSC Entities - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Investments in life settlement contracts at fair value	$ 294,573	$ 264,001
Total assets	336,703	334,026
Total liabilities	19,725	26,704
Members' equity	316,978	307,322
NGHC's 50% ownership interest	$ 158,489	$ 153,661	$ 151,772	$ 146,089

Equity Investments in Unconso59

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries - Results of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
NGHC's 50% ownership interest	$ 6,682	$ 4,958
VIE, Not primary beneficiary | LSC Entities
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Revenue, net of commission	11,359	12,078
Total expenses	1,703	1,842
Net income (loss)	9,656	10,236
NGHC's 50% ownership interest	$ 4,828	$ 5,118

Equity Investments in Unconso60

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries - Fair Value Quantitative Information (Details) - VIE, Not primary beneficiary - LSC Entities - $ / policy $ / policy in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Average age of insured	82 years 2 months	82 years
Average life expectancy, months	110 months	114 months
Average face amount per policy	6,538	6,564
Effective discount rate	13.90%	13.70%
Investment discount rate	7.50%
Minimum
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Effective discount rate	12.50%
Maximum
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Effective discount rate	17.50%

Equity Investments in Unconso61

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries - Increase (Decrease) in Carrying Value of Investment in Life Insurance Policies (Details) - LSC Entities - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Change in life expectancy plus 4 months	$ 37,524	$ (37,697)
Change in life expectancy minus 4 months	42,046	40,997
Change in discount rate plus 1%	26,783	(26,558)
Change in discount rate minus 1%	$ 29,775	$ 29,644

Equity Investments in Unconso62

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries - Premiums Due on Life Settlement Contracts (Details) - LSC Entities $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Premiums Due on Life Settlement Contracts
2,016	$ 65,789
2,017	42,672
2,018	41,771
2,019	41,026
2,020	37,998
Thereafter	464,343
Total	$ 693,599

Equity Investments in Unconso63

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries - LSC Entities (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 28, 2013	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2010
VIE, Not primary beneficiary | Tiger Capital LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage						50.00%
VIE, Not primary beneficiary | AMT Capital Holdings S.A.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%
Contributions	$ 12,136
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	22,411
Equity Method Investment, Difference Between Equity Interest And Consideration Paid	$ 10,275
VIE, Not primary beneficiary | LSC Entities
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		50.00%
Contributions		$ 0	$ 565
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries		$ 158,489	$ 151,772	$ 153,661	$ 146,089
Additional required capital to keep life settlement policies in-force		50.00%
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. | Tiger Capital LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage						50.00%
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. | AMT Capital Holdings S.A.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. | LSC Entities
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		50.00%

Equity Investments in Unconso64

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries - 800 Superior, LLC (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012ft²	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries		$ 6,682	$ 4,958
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. | Eight Hundred Superior NMTC investment Fund II
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		24.50%
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. | 800 Superior, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		50.00%
800 Superior, LLC | Building
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Property, Plant and Equipment, Additions	$ 7,500
Affiliated Entity | Eight Hundred Superior NMTC investment Fund II
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		24.50%
Affiliated Entity | 800 Superior, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		50.00%
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries		$ 1,690			$ 1,720
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries		(30)	(191)
Affiliated Entity | 800 Superior, LLC | 800 Superior, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Area of office lease space (sqft) | ft²				156,176
Term of lease				15 years
Rent expense		$ 683	$ 664

Equity Investments in Unconso65

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries - East Ninth & Superior (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	$ 6,682	$ 4,958
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. | East Ninth & Superior, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. | Eight Hundred Superior NMTC investment Fund II
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	24.50%
Affiliated Entity | East Ninth & Superior, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	$ 4,157		$ 4,139
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	$ 18	$ 32
Affiliated Entity | Eight Hundred Superior NMTC investment Fund II
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	24.50%

Equity Investments in Unconso66

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries - North Dearborn (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries		$ 6,682	$ 4,958
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. | North Dearborn Building Company, L.P.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Counterparty Payments to Acquire Limited Partnership	$ 9,714
Limited Partnership, Percentage Participation	45.00%
NA Advisors GP LLC | North Dearborn Building Company, L.P.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Counterparty Payments to Acquire Limited Partnership	$ 2,200
Limited Partnership, Percentage Participation	10.00%
Limited Partnership, Percentage of Profit Interest	10.00%
Affiliated Entity | North Dearborn Building Company, L.P.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Payments to Acquire Limited Partnership Interests	$ 9,714
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		45.00%
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries		$ 11,661		$ 9,862
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries		674	0
Contributions		$ 1,125	$ 0

Equity Investments in Unconso67

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries - 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)ft²	Aug. 31, 2015USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries			$ 6,682	$ 4,958
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. | 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Limited Partnership, Percentage Participation		50.00%
Affiliated Entity | 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	$ 10,450		$ 10,450		$ 10,559
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries			(149)
Contributions			40
Affiliated Entity | 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC | Building
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Property, Plant and Equipment, Additions		$ 21,000
Affiliated Entity | 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC | 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Area of office lease space (sqft) | ft²	81,822
Term of lease	12 years
Rent expense			$ 130

Equity Investments in Unconso68

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries - Illinois Center (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries		$ 6,682	$ 4,958
ACP Re Group, Inc. | Illinois Center Building, L.P.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Counterparty Payments to Acquire Limited Partnership	$ 53,715
Limited Partnership, Percentage Participation	37.50%
ACP Re | Illinois Center Building, L.P.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Counterparty Payments to Acquire Limited Partnership	$ 21,486
Limited Partnership, Percentage Participation	15.00%
NA Advisors GP LLC | Illinois Center Building, L.P.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Counterparty Payments to Acquire Limited Partnership	$ 14,324
Limited Partnership, Percentage Participation	10.00%
Limited Partnership, Percentage of Profit Interest	10.00%
Affiliated Entity | Illinois Center Building, L.P.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Payments to Acquire Limited Partnership Interests	$ 53,715
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		37.50%
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries		$ 56,347		$ 55,007
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries		$ 1,340

Acquisitions - Assets and Liabi

Acquisitions - Assets and Liabilities Acquired (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 01, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Business Acquisition
Goodwill		$ 119,553	$ 112,414
Lender-placed insurance
Business Acquisition
Cash and invested assets	$ 290,262
Premium receivable	129,524
Premises and equipment	1,540
Intangible assets	61,645
Other assets	1,013
Total Assets	483,984
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	102,913
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	64,168
Unearned premiums	245,827
Total Liabilities	412,908
Net assets purchased	71,076
Purchase price	95,726
Goodwill	24,650
Assurant Health
Business Acquisition
Cash and invested assets	43,448
Premium receivable	16,440
Intangible assets	10,493
Total Assets	70,381
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	66,344
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	281
Unearned premiums	2,505
Deferred tax liability	3,887
Other liabilities	678
Total Liabilities	73,695
Net assets purchased	(3,314)
Purchase price	14,000
Goodwill	$ 17,314

Acquisitions - Narrative (Detai

Acquisitions - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 01, 2015	Apr. 01, 2015	Jan. 23, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Business Acquisition
Gross premium written				$ 816,194	$ 643,455
Service and fee income				96,944	$ 54,870
Lender-placed insurance
Business Acquisition
Purchase price	$ 95,726
Goodwill expected to be deductible	24,650
Gross premium written				111,997
Service and fee income				8,243
Goodwill, period increase				4,924
Assurant Health
Business Acquisition
Purchase price	14,000
Goodwill expected to be deductible	7,288
Gross premium written				50,875
Service and fee income				15,140
Goodwill, period increase				2,205
Assigned Risk Solutions Ltd. (ARS)
Business Acquisition
Purchase price		$ 48,000
Goodwill additions		14,600
Goodwill expected to be deductible		$ 0
Contingent payments				4,081		$ 4,081
Healthcare Solutions Team, LLC (HST)
Business Acquisition
Purchase price			$ 15,000
Goodwill additions			4,555
Goodwill expected to be deductible			$ 4,555
Contingent payments				$ 4,500		$ 4,500
Agent/Customer relationships | Lender-placed insurance
Business Acquisition
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired	$ 50,000
Acquired Finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life	15 years
Property technology | Lender-placed insurance
Business Acquisition
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired	$ 10,000
Acquired Finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life	10 years
Other Intangible Assets | Lender-placed insurance
Business Acquisition
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired	$ 1,645
Acquired Finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life	7 years

Goodwill and Intangible Asset71

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net - Composition of Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets
Goodwill	$ 119,553	$ 112,414
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Accumulated Amortization	44,407	45,275
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total	187,339
Goodwill and intangible assets, gross	535,064	506,587
Goodwill and Intangible assets, net	490,657	461,312
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Accumulated Amortization	44,407	44,700
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total	158,069
Goodwill and intangible assets, gross	502,426	501,187
Goodwill and Intangible assets, net	458,019	456,487
Reciprocal Exchanges
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Accumulated Amortization	0	575
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total	29,270
Goodwill and intangible assets, gross	32,638	5,400
Goodwill and Intangible assets, net	32,638	4,825
Management contracts
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets
Gross Balance	118,600	118,600
State licenses
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets
Gross Balance	65,165	65,165
Trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Gross Balance	900	8,200
Accumulated Amortization	0	6,744
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total	$ 900	$ 1,456
Useful Life	5 years	5 years
Loss reserve discount
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Gross Balance	$ 15,089	$ 15,089
Accumulated Amortization	13,363	12,779
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total	$ 1,726	$ 2,310
Useful Life	7 years	7 years
Agent/Customer relationships
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Gross Balance	$ 148,419	$ 148,419
Accumulated Amortization	21,895	18,562
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total	$ 126,524	$ 129,857
Agent/Customer relationships | Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Useful Life	11 years	11 years
Agent/Customer relationships | Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Useful Life	17 years	17 years
Affinity partners
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Gross Balance	$ 800	$ 800
Accumulated Amortization	454	436
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total	$ 346	$ 364
Useful Life	11 years	11 years
Renewal rights
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Gross Balance	$ 26,100	$ 26,100
Accumulated Amortization	7,937	6,375
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total	$ 18,163	$ 19,725
Useful Life	7 years	7 years
Value in policies-in-force
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Gross Balance	$ 28,638
Accumulated Amortization	0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total	$ 28,638
Useful Life	1 year
Property technology
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Gross Balance	$ 11,800	$ 11,800
Accumulated Amortization	758	379
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total	$ 11,042	$ 11,421
Property technology | Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Useful Life	3 years	3 years
Property technology | Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Useful Life	10 years	10 years

Goodwill and Intangible Asset72

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net - Future Amortization Expense (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Entity Information
2016 (remaining nine months)	$ 37,786
2,017	26,884
2,018	15,227
2,019	13,981
2,020	11,965
2,021	10,446
Thereafter	71,050
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total	187,339
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Entity Information
2016 (remaining nine months)	16,213
2,017	19,597
2,018	15,101
2,019	13,855
2,020	11,839
2,021	10,414
Thereafter	71,050
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total	158,069
Reciprocal Exchanges
Entity Information
2016 (remaining nine months)	21,573
2,017	7,287
2,018	126
2,019	126
2,020	126
2,021	32
Thereafter	0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total	$ 29,270

Goodwill and Intangible Asset73

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Goodwill impairment	$ 0	$ 0
Impairment of intangible assets (excluding goodwill)	0	0
Amortization of intangible assets	$ 5,607	4,819
Reciprocal Exchanges
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization of intangible assets		$ 2,252

Debt - 7.625% Subordinated Note

Debt - 7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 18, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument
Notes payable		$ 446,244	$ 491,537
Senior Notes | 7.625% Subordinated Notes
Debt Instrument
Interest rate on debt		7.625%
Proceeds from Debt, Net of Issuance Costs	$ 96,550
Notes payable	$ 100,000
Interest Expense, Debt		$ 1,880
Indenture Excess Leverage Ratio | Senior Notes | 7.625% Subordinated Notes | Minimum
Debt Instrument
Ratio of Indebtedness to Net Capital		0.35
Indenture Excess Leverage Ratio | Senior Notes | 7.625% Subordinated Notes | Maximum
Debt Instrument
Ratio of Indebtedness to Net Capital		1

Debt - 6.75% Notes due 2024 (De

Debt - 6.75% Notes due 2024 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 08, 2015	May. 23, 2014	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument
Notes payable			$ 446,244		$ 491,537
Senior Notes | 6.75% Notes
Debt Instrument
Interest rate on debt			6.75%		6.75%
Interest Expense, Debt			$ 5,825	$ 4,223
Proceeds from Debt, Net of Issuance Costs	$ 98,850	$ 245,000
Notes payable	$ 100,000	$ 250,000

Debt - Revolving Credit Agreeme

Debt - Revolving Credit Agreements (Details) - JPMorgan Chase, N.A. - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Jan. 25, 2016	May. 30, 2014
Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			$ 135,000
Credit Agreement | Minimum
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity			10,000
Credit Agreement | Maximum
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity			$ 50,000
New Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 225,000
Letter Of Credit Fronting Fee	0.125%
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage	0.25%
Long-term Line of Credit	$ 0
Interest Expense, Debt	$ 0
New Credit Agreement | Minimum
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity		25,000
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage	0.20%
New Credit Agreement | Maximum
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity		$ 50,000
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage	0.30%
New Credit Agreement | Federal Funds
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis	federal funds
New Credit Agreement | Alternate Base Rate Or LIBOR
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.50%
New Credit Agreement | LIBOR
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis	LIBOR
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	1.00%
Failure To Pay Interest Or Fees | New Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument
Number Of Days Failure to Pay Interest Or Fees	3 days

Debt - Imperial-related Debt (D

Debt - Imperial-related Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 27, 2014
Debt Instrument
Notes payable	$ 446,244		$ 491,537
Surplus Notes | Imperial Surplus Notes
Debt Instrument
Notes payable				$ 5,000
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage	100.00%
Interest Expense, Debt	$ 57	$ 54
Surplus Notes | Imperial Surplus Notes | LIBOR
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis	LIBOR
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	4.05%

Debt - Reciprocal Exchanges' Su

Debt - Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes (Details) - Surplus Notes - Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument
Interest Expense, Debt		$ 3,696
Interest Expense, Other		$ 2,043
Payments to acquire notes receivable	$ 88,900

Debt - Debt Maturities (Details

Debt - Debt Maturities (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Maturities of Debt
2016 (remaining nine months)	$ 0
2,017	0
2,018	0
2,019	0
2,020	0
2,021	0
Thereafter	455,000
Total principal amount of debt	455,000
Less: Unamortized debt issuance costs and unamortized discount	(8,756)
Carrying amount of debt	446,244
Senior Notes | 7.625% Notes
Maturities of Debt
2016 (remaining nine months)	0
2,017	0
2,018	0
2,019	0
2,020	0
2,021	0
Thereafter	100,000
Total principal amount of debt	100,000
Senior Notes | 6.75% Notes
Maturities of Debt
2016 (remaining nine months)	0
2,017	0
2,018	0
2,019	0
2,020	0
2,021	0
Thereafter	350,000
Total principal amount of debt	350,000
Surplus Notes | Imperial Surplus Notes
Maturities of Debt
2016 (remaining nine months)	0
2,017	0
2,018	0
2,019	0
2,020	0
2,021	0
Thereafter	5,000
Total principal amount of debt	$ 5,000

Earnings Per Share (Details)

Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share, Diluted
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	$ 52,702	$ 41,737
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	105,597,594	93,454,236
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	108,266,508	96,087,952
Basic earnings per share (usd per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.45
Diluted earnings per share (usd per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.43
Employee Stock Option
Earnings Per Share, Diluted
Potentially dilutive securities	2,185,923	2,183,251
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted
Potentially dilutive securities	482,991	450,465

Earnings Per Share - Anti-dilut

Earnings Per Share - Anti-dilutive (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Employee Stock Option
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	1,730,056	2,464,917

Share-Based Compensation - Narr

Share-Based Compensation - Narrative (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)plan$ / sharesshares	Mar. 31, 2015USD ($)shares	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)$ / sharesshares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Granted | shares	0	0
Number of equity incentive plans | plan	2
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 7,616		$ 9,069
Weighted average remaining life for options grants outstanding	6 years 8 months		6 years 9 months
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	6 years 5 months		6 years 8 months
Exercisable shares | shares	2,785,419		2,686,762
Weighted-average exercise price of exercisable shares | $ / shares	$ 8.78		$ 8.31
Intrinsic value of stock options exercised	$ 1,805	$ 925
Intrinsic value of stock options outstanding	48,676	49,250
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Intrinsic Value	31,602	15,716
Proceeds from exercises of stock options	1,407	341
Share-based compensation expense	$ 2,118	$ 1,088
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Exercise period upon end of employment	30 days
Common stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Number of shares authorized | shares	7,435,000
Number of shares available | shares	1,610,078
Employee Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Maximum term	10 years
Employee Stock Option | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Award vesting period	1 year
Employee Stock Option | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Award vesting period	5 years
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Award vesting period	3 years
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Award vesting period	4 years

Share-Based Compensation - Stoc

Share-Based Compensation - Stock Option Activity (Details) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Shares
Outstanding, beginning of period	4,123,809	5,110,593
Granted	0	0
Forfeited	0	0
Exercised	(139,199)	(67,876)
Outstanding, end of period	3,984,610	5,042,717
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in usd per share)
Outstanding at beginning of period	$ 9.31	$ 8.88
Granted	0	0
Forfeited	0	0
Exercised	7.56	4.85
Outstanding at end of period	$ 9.37	$ 8.93

Share-Based Compensation - RSU

Share-Based Compensation - RSU Activity (Details) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
RSUs
Non-vested at beginning of period	362,674	327,555
Granted	158,792	127,910
Vested	(21,386)	0
Forfeited	0	(5,000)
Withheld (1)	(14,589)	0
Non-vested at end of period	485,491	450,465
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (in usd per share)
Non-vested at beginning of period	$ 19.16	$ 17.44
Granted	19.99	18.75
Vested	18.57	0
Forfeited	0	18.02
Withheld (1)	18.57	0
Non-vested at end of period	$ 19.48	$ 17.75

Service and Fee Income (Details

Service and Fee Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Service and Fee Income [Abstract]
Installment fees	$ 8,468	$ 8,125
Commission revenue	23,857	14,242
General agent fees	17,961	16,127
Late payment fees	3,180	2,946
Group health administrative fees	18,860	2,789
Finance and processing fees	18,584	9,481
Lender service fees	4,080	0
Other	1,954	1,160
Total	$ 96,944	$ 54,870

Income Taxes - Effective Income

Income Taxes - Effective Income Tax Reconciliation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Entity Information
Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	$ 68,240	$ 46,357
Tax at Federal statutory rate 35%	23,884	16,225
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount
Exempt foreign income	(1,905)	(3,062)
Statutory equalization reserves	(1,827)	(9,929)
Other, net	(2,069)	5,153
Total income tax reported	$ 18,083	$ 8,387
Effective tax rate	26.50%	18.10%
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Entity Information
Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	$ 68,240	$ 46,253
Tax at Federal statutory rate 35%	23,884	16,189
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount
Exempt foreign income	(1,905)	(3,062)
Statutory equalization reserves	(1,827)	(9,929)
Other, net	(2,069)	5,221
Total income tax reported	$ 18,083	$ 8,419
Effective tax rate	26.50%	18.20%
Reciprocal Exchanges
Entity Information
Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries		$ 104
Tax at Federal statutory rate 35%		36
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount
Exempt foreign income		0
Statutory equalization reserves		0
Other, net		(68)
Total income tax reported		$ (32)
Effective tax rate		(30.80%)

Income Taxes - Narrative (Detai

Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Federal tax rate	35.00%	35.00%
Effective tax rate	26.50%	18.10%
Effective tax rate, change	8.40%
Unrecognized tax benefits that would affect effective tax rate	$ 0		$ 0
Interest and penalties	0	$ 0
Foreign Tax Authority
Unutilized equalization reserves	39,837		45,927
Unutilized equalization reserves, deferred tax liabilities	$ 11,951		$ 13,778

Related Party Transactions - Re

Related Party Transactions - Reinsurance Treaties (Details) - Affiliated Entity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
ACP Re
Related Party Transaction
Quota Share Percentage	15.00%
Maiden Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Maiden
Related Party Transaction
Quota Share Percentage	25.00%
Technology Insurance Company, a subsidiary of AmTrust
Related Party Transaction
Quota Share Percentage	10.00%
Recoverable (Payable) on Paid and Unpaid Losses and LAE | Wesco
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	$ 0		$ (45)
Recoverable (Payable) on Paid and Unpaid Losses and LAE | AARC
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	815		829
Commission Receivable | Wesco
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	0		0
Commission Receivable | AARC
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	124		107
Premium Receivable (Payable) | Wesco
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	0		0
Premium Receivable (Payable) | AARC
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	(408)		(395)
Assumed (Ceded) Earned Premiums | Wesco
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	0	$ 152
Assumed (Ceded) Earned Premiums | AARC
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	(408)	(348)
Commission Income | Wesco
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	0	199
Commission Income | AARC
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	112	98
Assumed (Ceded) Losses and LAE | Wesco
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	(26)	705
Assumed (Ceded) Losses and LAE | AARC
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	(190)	(216)
Ceded Earned Premiums
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	0	0
Ceded Earned Premiums | ACP Re
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	0	0
Ceded Earned Premiums | Maiden Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Maiden
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	0	0
Ceded Earned Premiums | Technology Insurance Company, a subsidiary of AmTrust
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	0	0
Ceding Commission Expense
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	(2,016)	661
Ceding Commission Expense | ACP Re
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	(605)	198
Ceding Commission Expense | Maiden Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Maiden
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	(1,008)	331
Ceding Commission Expense | Technology Insurance Company, a subsidiary of AmTrust
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	(403)	132
Ceded Losses and LAE
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	(5,984)	1,622
Ceded Losses and LAE | ACP Re
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	(1,795)	487
Ceded Losses and LAE | Maiden Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Maiden
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	(2,992)	824
Ceded Losses and LAE | Technology Insurance Company, a subsidiary of AmTrust
Related Party Transaction
Income/Expense from reinsurance treaties	(1,197)	$ 311
Reinsurance Recoverable on Paid and Unpaid Losses and LAE
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	52,787		57,660
Reinsurance Recoverable on Paid and Unpaid Losses and LAE | ACP Re
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	18,045		17,298
Reinsurance Recoverable on Paid and Unpaid Losses and LAE | Maiden Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Maiden
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	25,115		28,830
Reinsurance Recoverable on Paid and Unpaid Losses and LAE | Technology Insurance Company, a subsidiary of AmTrust
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	9,627		11,532
Ceded Commission Payable
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	0		0
Ceded Commission Payable | ACP Re
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	0		0
Ceded Commission Payable | Maiden Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Maiden
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	0		0
Ceded Commission Payable | Technology Insurance Company, a subsidiary of AmTrust
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	0		0
Ceded Premium Payable
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	32,097		30,082
Ceded Premium Payable | ACP Re
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	9,629		9,025
Ceded Premium Payable | Maiden Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Maiden
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	16,049		15,041
Ceded Premium Payable | Technology Insurance Company, a subsidiary of AmTrust
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	$ 6,419		$ 6,016

Related Party Transactions - As

Related Party Transactions - Asset Management Agreement (Details) - Affiliated Entity - Asset Management Fee - AAIM - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transaction
Asset management fee, percentage	0.05%
Asset management fee, threshold to determine fee	$ 1,000,000
Asset management fee percentage, above threshold	0.0375%
Asset management agreement, initial term agreement may not be terminated	1 year
Period allowed for party to cure breach of contract	30 days
Asset management costs	$ 343	$ 552
Payable related to management services	$ 2,150		$ 1,909

Related Party Transactions - Ma

Related Party Transactions - Master Service Agreement (Details) - Affiliated Entity - AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Postage And Billing Services
Related Party Transaction
Term of agreement	10 years
Term of subsequent renewals	5 years
Period allowed for party to cure breach of contract	30 days
License Fee For Policy Management System
Related Party Transaction
License fee, percentage	1.25%
Master Service Agreement
Related Party Transaction
Expenses from reinsurance affiliates	$ 10,276	$ 8,062
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	$ 36,302		$ 30,122

Related Party Transactions - 91

Related Party Transactions - Reinsurance Agreements (Details) - Affiliated Entity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 02, 2013	Jul. 01, 2012	Mar. 22, 2012	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Consulting And Marketing Services for Product Promotion | Risk Services, LLC (RSL)
Related Party Transaction
Reinsurance percentage of ceding commission		1.50%
Expenses from reinsurance affiliates				$ 58	$ 37
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties				$ 39		$ 34
Reinsurance | AARC
Related Party Transaction
Reinsurance percentage of ceding commission			25.00%
Percentage of business ceded			25.00%
Percentage of related losses ceded			25.00%
Related Party Transaction, Prior Notice Period Required For Written Notification Of Termination			90 days
Quota Share Agreement | Wesco
Related Party Transaction
Assumed premiums, percentage of business written	100.00%
Reinsurance Retention Policy, Reinsured Risk, Percentage	100.00%
Loss portfolio transfer, percentage covered, loss and Loss adjustment expense (LAE) reserves and unearned premiums	100.00%
Loss portfolio transfer, percentage	100.00%
Percentage of business fronted	100.00%
Fronted ceded commission	5.00%

Related Party Transactions - NG

Related Party Transactions - NGHC Quota Share Agreement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 02, 2012	Mar. 02, 2010	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transaction
Ceding commission income			$ (1,895)	$ 5,080
Affiliated Entity | ACP Re
Related Party Transaction
Assets held-in-trust			18,121			$ 18,677
Affiliated Entity | Maiden Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Maiden
Related Party Transaction
Assets held-in-trust			$ 24,050			$ 30,797
Affiliated Entity | Reinsurance | ACP Re Ltd., Maiden Insurance Company, and Technology Insurance Company
Related Party Transaction
Percentage of business ceded					50.00%
Reinsurance percentage of ceding commission	32.00%	32.50%
Affiliated Entity | Reinsurance | ACP Re Ltd., Maiden Insurance Company, and Technology Insurance Company | Maximum
Related Party Transaction
Reinsurance percentage of ceding commission		34.50%
Affiliated Entity | Reinsurance | ACP Re Ltd., Maiden Insurance Company, and Technology Insurance Company | Minimum
Related Party Transaction
Reinsurance percentage of ceding commission	30.00%	30.50%
Affiliated Entity | Reinsurance, Threshold To Decrease Ceding Commission | ACP Re Ltd., Maiden Insurance Company, and Technology Insurance Company
Related Party Transaction
Threshold percentage of loss ratio			64.50%
Affiliated Entity | Reinsurance, Threshold To Increase Ceding Commission | ACP Re Ltd., Maiden Insurance Company, and Technology Insurance Company
Related Party Transaction
Threshold percentage of loss ratio			60.00%

Related Party Transactions - 80

Related Party Transactions - 800 Superior, LLC (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012ft²	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Related Party Transaction
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	$ 6,682	$ 4,958
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. | 800 Superior, LLC
Related Party Transaction
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%
Affiliated Entity | 800 Superior, LLC
Related Party Transaction
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	$ 1,690			$ 1,720
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	(30)	(191)
Affiliated Entity | 800 Superior, LLC | 800 Superior, LLC
Related Party Transaction
Term of lease			15 years
Area of office lease space (sqft) | ft²			156,176
Rent expense	$ 683	$ 664

Related Party Transactions - Ea

Related Party Transactions - East Ninth & Superior (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transaction
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	$ 6,682	$ 4,958
Affiliated Entity | East Ninth & Superior, LLC
Related Party Transaction
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	$ 4,157		$ 4,139
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	$ 18	$ 32
Affiliated Entity | Eight Hundred Superior NMTC investment Fund II
Related Party Transaction
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	24.50%

Related Party Transactions - No

Related Party Transactions - North Dearborn (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transaction
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries		$ 6,682	$ 4,958
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. | North Dearborn Building Company, L.P.
Related Party Transaction
Counterparty Payments to Acquire Limited Partnership	$ 9,714
Limited Partnership, Percentage Participation	45.00%
NA Advisors GP LLC | North Dearborn Building Company, L.P.
Related Party Transaction
Counterparty Payments to Acquire Limited Partnership	$ 2,200
Limited Partnership, Percentage Participation	10.00%
Limited Partnership, Percentage of Profit Interest	10.00%
Affiliated Entity | North Dearborn Building Company, L.P.
Related Party Transaction
Payments to Acquire Limited Partnership Interests	$ 9,714
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		45.00%
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries		$ 11,661		$ 9,862
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries		674	0
Contributions		$ 1,125	$ 0

Related Party Transactions - 44

Related Party Transactions - 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)ft²	Aug. 31, 2015USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Related Party Transaction
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries			$ 6,682	$ 4,958
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. | 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC
Related Party Transaction
Limited Partnership, Percentage Participation		50.00%
Affiliated Entity | 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC
Related Party Transaction
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	$ 10,450		$ 10,450		$ 10,559
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries			(149)
Contributions			40
Affiliated Entity | 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC | Building
Related Party Transaction
Property, Plant and Equipment, Additions		$ 21,000
Affiliated Entity | 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC | 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC
Related Party Transaction
Term of lease	12 years
Area of office lease space (sqft) | ft²	81,822
Rent expense			$ 130

Related Party Transactions - Il

Related Party Transactions - Illinois Center (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transaction
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries		$ 6,682	$ 4,958
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. | Illinois Center Building, L.P.
Related Party Transaction
Counterparty Payments to Acquire Limited Partnership	$ 53,715
Limited Partnership, Percentage Participation	37.50%
ACP Re | Illinois Center Building, L.P.
Related Party Transaction
Counterparty Payments to Acquire Limited Partnership	$ 21,486
Limited Partnership, Percentage Participation	15.00%
NA Advisors GP LLC | Illinois Center Building, L.P.
Related Party Transaction
Counterparty Payments to Acquire Limited Partnership	$ 14,324
Limited Partnership, Percentage Participation	10.00%
Limited Partnership, Percentage of Profit Interest	10.00%
Affiliated Entity | Illinois Center Building, L.P.
Related Party Transaction
Payments to Acquire Limited Partnership Interests	$ 53,715
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		37.50%
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries		$ 56,347		$ 55,007
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries		$ 1,340

Related Party Transactions - Ag

Related Party Transactions - Agreements with ACP Re and Affiliated Entities (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 15, 2014USD ($)company	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)	Jul. 22, 2014USD ($)
Related Party Transaction
Loss and loss adjustment expense		$ 409,050	$ 306,686
Ceding commission income		(1,895)	5,080
Affiliated Entity | Tower International
Related Party Transaction
Number Of Insurance Companies | company	10
Affiliated Entity | Tower International | ACP Re
Related Party Transaction
Aggregate stop loss reinsurance issued		250,000
Stop loss coverage provided individually		125,000
Stop loss coverage premium		$ 56,000
Fee as a percent of stop loss premium to be retained by each subsidiary		5.50%
Financing principal amount, aggregate					$ 250,000
Affiliated Entity | ACP Re
Related Party Transaction
Loans, Related Parties		$ 125,000
Interest Income, Related Party		$ 2,188	2,188
Affiliated Entity | ACP Re | Tower International
Related Party Transaction
Term of contingent payments		3 years
Contingent payments as a percent of gross written premiums		3.00%
Contingent payments		$ 7,321		$ 16,071
Affiliated Entity | ACP Re | Tower International | Maximum
Related Party Transaction
Contingent payments	$ 30,000
Affiliated Entity | PL Reinsurance Agreement | Tower International
Related Party Transaction
Assumed Premiums Written		5,677	76,045
Affiliated Entity | PL Reinsurance Agreement | Integon National | Tower International
Related Party Transaction
Reinsurance Retention Policy, Reinsured Risk, Percentage	100.00%
Affiliated Entity | PL MGA Agreement
Related Party Transaction
Ceding commission income		570	5,583
Affiliated Entity | PL MGA Agreement | Integon National
Related Party Transaction
Percentage of gross written premiums collected	2.00%
Affiliated Entity | PL MGA Agreement | Tower International | National General Insurance Marketing, Inc (NGIM)
Related Party Transaction
Commission as percentage of business written	10.00%
Affiliated Entity | PL Reinsurance Agreement and Cut-Through Reinsurance Agreement
Related Party Transaction
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties		11,762		46,565
Earned premiums		23,891	86,643
Loss and loss adjustment expense		22,026	45,806
Affiliated Entity | PL Reinsurance Agreement and Cut-Through Reinsurance Agreement | Tower International
Related Party Transaction
Ceding commission expense		280	24,815
Affiliated Entity | PL Administrative Agreement
Related Party Transaction
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties		4,232		$ 11,795
Reimbursement Revenue		$ 25,153	$ 932
Affiliated Entity | Loans | ACP Re
Related Party Transaction
Related party transaction, rate		7.00%
Percentage of stock pledged		100.00%
Percentage of stock of foreign subsidiaries pledged		65.00%

Related Party Transactions - Su

Related Party Transactions - Surplus Notes of the Reciprocal Exchanges (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes | Surplus Notes
Related Party Transaction
Payments to acquire notes receivable	$ 88,900

Related Party Transactions - In

Related Party Transactions - Investments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Affiliated Entity | Related party transactions | Tower International
Related Party Transaction
Payments to Acquire Investments	$ 30,111

Related Party Transactions - AI

Related Party Transactions - AIBD Health Plan (Details) - Affiliated Entity - Welfare Benefit Plan - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
AIBD Health Plan
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	$ 5,418	$ 5,418
AIBD Health Plan Employer Trust
Related Party Transaction
Due from (to) reinsurance treaties	$ 876	$ 2,950

Segment Information - Revenues

Segment Information - Revenues of Business Segments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)segment	Mar. 31, 2015USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of business segments | segment	2
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	$ 816,194	$ 643,455
Ceded premiums	(71,607)	(113,430)
Net premium written	744,587	530,025
Change in unearned premium	(89,667)	(50,860)
Net earned premium	654,920	479,165
Ceding commission income	(1,895)	5,080
Service and fee income	96,944	54,870
Total underwriting revenue	749,969	539,115
Loss and loss adjustment expense	409,050	306,686
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	112,899	89,885
General and administrative expenses	176,627	105,687
Total underwriting expenses	698,576	502,258
Underwriting income (loss)	51,393	36,857
Net investment income	21,670	16,148
Net realized losses on investments	3,617	1,187
Other revenue	701	1,245
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	6,682	4,958
Interest expense	(9,141)	(9,080)
Provision for income taxes	(18,083)	(8,387)
Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest	(12)	(160)
Net income attributable to National General Holdings Corp. (NGHC)	56,827	42,768
Property and Casualty
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	661,337	568,098
Ceded premiums	(60,563)	(105,201)
Net premium written	600,774	462,897
Change in unearned premium	(46,726)	(14,907)
Net earned premium	554,048	447,990
Ceding commission income	(2,264)	4,798
Service and fee income	63,488	37,451
Total underwriting revenue	615,272	490,239
Loss and loss adjustment expense	332,659	286,583
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	91,659	78,593
General and administrative expenses	144,694	91,540
Total underwriting expenses	569,012	456,716
Underwriting income (loss)	46,260	33,523
Net investment income	0	0
Net realized losses on investments	0	0
Other revenue	0	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Provision for income taxes	0	0
Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest	0	0
Net income attributable to National General Holdings Corp. (NGHC)	46,260	33,523
Accident and Health
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	154,857	75,357
Ceded premiums	(11,044)	(8,229)
Net premium written	143,813	67,128
Change in unearned premium	(42,941)	(35,953)
Net earned premium	100,872	31,175
Ceding commission income	369	282
Service and fee income	33,456	17,419
Total underwriting revenue	134,697	48,876
Loss and loss adjustment expense	76,391	20,103
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	21,240	11,292
General and administrative expenses	31,933	14,147
Total underwriting expenses	129,564	45,542
Underwriting income (loss)	5,133	3,334
Net investment income	0	0
Net realized losses on investments	0	0
Other revenue	0	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Provision for income taxes	0	0
Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest	0	0
Net income attributable to National General Holdings Corp. (NGHC)	5,133	3,334
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	0	0
Ceded premiums	0	0
Net premium written	0	0
Change in unearned premium	0	0
Net earned premium	0	0
Ceding commission income	0	0
Service and fee income	0	0
Total underwriting revenue	0	0
Loss and loss adjustment expense	0	0
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0
Total underwriting expenses	0	0
Underwriting income (loss)	0	0
Net investment income	21,670	16,148
Net realized losses on investments	3,617	1,187
Other revenue	701	1,245
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	6,682	4,958
Interest expense	(9,141)	(9,080)
Provision for income taxes	(18,083)	(8,387)
Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest	(12)	(160)
Net income attributable to National General Holdings Corp. (NGHC)	5,434	5,911
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	816,194	582,218
Net premium written	744,587	511,388
Net earned premium	654,920	437,269
Service and fee income	9,590	8,578
Net investment income	21,670	14,109
Provision for income taxes	(18,083)	(8,419)
Net income attributable to National General Holdings Corp. (NGHC)	56,827	42,768
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Property and Casualty
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	661,337	506,861
Net premium written	600,774	444,260
Net earned premium	554,048	406,094
Net income attributable to National General Holdings Corp. (NGHC)	46,260	32,454
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Property and Casualty | Personal Auto
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	385,198	338,276
Net premium written	335,326	295,243
Net earned premium	271,997	267,531
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Property and Casualty | Homeowners
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	70,301	85,683
Net premium written	65,876	70,390
Net earned premium	74,439	64,123
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Property and Casualty | RV/Packaged
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	39,603	37,550
Net premium written	39,456	36,894
Net earned premium	37,519	35,976
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Property and Casualty | Commercial Auto
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	50,151	41,346
Net premium written	44,993	37,993
Net earned premium	43,844	34,622
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Property and Casualty | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	4,087	4,006
Net premium written	3,126	3,740
Net earned premium	3,443	3,842
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Accident and Health
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	154,857	75,357
Net premium written	143,813	67,128
Net earned premium	100,872	31,175
Net income attributable to National General Holdings Corp. (NGHC)	5,133	3,334
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information
Net income attributable to National General Holdings Corp. (NGHC)	5,434	6,980
Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written		61,237
Net premium written		18,637
Net earned premium		41,896
Net investment income	0	2,039
Provision for income taxes		32
Net income attributable to National General Holdings Corp. (NGHC)		0
Reciprocal Exchanges | Property and Casualty
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	0	61,237
Net premium written	0	18,637
Net earned premium	0	41,896
Net income attributable to National General Holdings Corp. (NGHC)		1,069
Reciprocal Exchanges | Property and Casualty | Personal Auto
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	0	17,691
Net premium written	0	16,606
Net earned premium	0	22,930
Reciprocal Exchanges | Property and Casualty | Homeowners
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	0	41,613
Net premium written	0	(36)
Net earned premium	0	17,716
Reciprocal Exchanges | Property and Casualty | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	0	1,933
Net premium written	0	2,067
Net earned premium	$ 0	1,250
Reciprocal Exchanges | Accident and Health
Segment Reporting Information
Net income attributable to National General Holdings Corp. (NGHC)		0
Reciprocal Exchanges | Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information
Net income attributable to National General Holdings Corp. (NGHC)		$ (1,069)

Segment Information - Long Live

Segment Information - Long Lived Assets and Total Assets of Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information
Premiums and other receivables, net	$ 886,417	$ 758,633
Deferred acquisition costs	145,155	160,531
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses	837,886	833,176
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	132,157	128,343
Goodwill and Intangible assets, net	490,657	461,312
Prepaid and other assets	43,859	41,184
Corporate and other assets	3,248,110	3,180,213
Total assets	5,784,241	5,563,392
Property and Casualty
Segment Reporting Information
Premiums and other receivables, net	731,639	684,857
Deferred acquisition costs	141,371	153,767
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses	831,573	832,593
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	132,157	128,343
Goodwill and Intangible assets, net	398,976	366,021
Prepaid and other assets	10,001	19,914
Corporate and other assets	0	0
Total assets	2,245,717	2,185,495
Accident and Health
Segment Reporting Information
Premiums and other receivables, net	154,778	73,776
Deferred acquisition costs	3,784	6,764
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses	6,313	583
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	0	0
Goodwill and Intangible assets, net	91,681	95,291
Prepaid and other assets	27,533	17,504
Corporate and other assets	0	0
Total assets	284,089	193,918
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information
Premiums and other receivables, net	0	0
Deferred acquisition costs	0	0
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses	0	0
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	0	0
Goodwill and Intangible assets, net	0	0
Prepaid and other assets	6,325	3,766
Corporate and other assets	3,248,110	3,180,213
Total assets	$ 3,254,435	$ 3,183,979

Segment Information - Schedule

Segment Information - Schedule of Revenue by Geographical Location (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	$ 816,194	$ 643,455
Net premium written	744,587	530,025
Net earned premium	654,920	479,165
North America
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	749,536	589,308
Net premium written	342,588	220,297
Net earned premium	295,935	208,073
Bermuda
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	312,706	230,413
Net earned premium	312,706	227,722
Europe
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	66,658	54,147
Net premium written	89,293	79,315
Net earned premium	46,279	43,370
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	816,194	582,218
Net premium written	744,587	511,388
Net earned premium	654,920	437,269
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | North America
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	749,536	528,071
Net premium written	342,588	201,660
Net earned premium	295,935	166,177
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Bermuda
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	312,706	230,413
Net earned premium	312,706	227,722
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Europe
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	66,658	54,147
Net premium written	89,293	79,315
Net earned premium	$ 46,279	43,370
Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written		61,237
Net premium written		18,637
Net earned premium		41,896
Reciprocal Exchanges | North America
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written		61,237
Net premium written		18,637
Net earned premium		41,896
Reciprocal Exchanges | Bermuda
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written		0
Net earned premium		0
Reciprocal Exchanges | Europe
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written		0
Net premium written		0
Net earned premium		$ 0

Segment Information - Gross Pre

Segment Information - Gross Premium Written (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	$ 816,194	$ 643,455
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	816,194	582,218
Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written		61,237
Property and Casualty
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	661,337	568,098
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	661,337	506,861
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Personal Auto
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	385,198	338,276
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Homeowners
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	70,301	85,683
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | RV/Packaged
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	39,603	37,550
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Commercial Auto
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	50,151	41,346
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Lender-placed insurance
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	111,997	0
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	4,087	4,006
Property and Casualty | Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	0	61,237
Property and Casualty | Reciprocal Exchanges | Personal Auto
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	0	17,691
Property and Casualty | Reciprocal Exchanges | Homeowners
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	0	41,613
Property and Casualty | Reciprocal Exchanges | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	0	1,933
Accident and Health
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	154,857	75,357
Accident and Health | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Gross premium written	$ 154,857	$ 75,357

Segment Information - Net Premi

Segment Information - Net Premium Written (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	$ 744,587	$ 530,025
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	744,587	511,388
Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written		18,637
Property and Casualty
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	600,774	462,897
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	600,774	444,260
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Personal Auto
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	335,326	295,243
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Homeowners
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	65,876	70,390
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | RV/Packaged
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	39,456	36,894
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Commercial Auto
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	44,993	37,993
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Lender-placed insurance
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	111,997	0
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	3,126	3,740
Property and Casualty | Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	0	18,637
Property and Casualty | Reciprocal Exchanges | Personal Auto
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	0	16,606
Property and Casualty | Reciprocal Exchanges | Homeowners
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	0	(36)
Property and Casualty | Reciprocal Exchanges | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	0	2,067
Accident and Health
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	143,813	67,128
Accident and Health | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Net premium written	$ 143,813	$ 67,128

Segment Information - Net Earne

Segment Information - Net Earned Premium (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	$ 654,920	$ 479,165
NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	654,920	437,269
Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium		41,896
Property and Casualty
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	554,048	447,990
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	554,048	406,094
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Personal Auto
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	271,997	267,531
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Homeowners
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	74,439	64,123
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | RV/Packaged
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	37,519	35,976
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Commercial Auto
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	43,844	34,622
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Lender-placed insurance
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	122,806	0
Property and Casualty | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	3,443	3,842
Property and Casualty | Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	0	41,896
Property and Casualty | Reciprocal Exchanges | Personal Auto
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	0	22,930
Property and Casualty | Reciprocal Exchanges | Homeowners
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	0	17,716
Property and Casualty | Reciprocal Exchanges | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	0	1,250
Accident and Health
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	100,872	31,175
Accident and Health | NGHC, excluding Reciprocal Exchanges
Segment Reporting Information
Net earned premium	$ 100,872	$ 31,175