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Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Narrative) (USD $) | Jul. 13, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2012 Insurance Treaty Guarantee [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Insurance Treaty Guarantee [Member] | Jun. 30, 2012 Insurance Treaty Guarantee Net Of Assets Held In Trust [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Insurance Treaty Guarantee Net Of Assets Held In Trust [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Guarantee Of Borrowed Securities [Member] | Jun. 30, 2011 Guarantee Of Borrowed Securities [Member] | Jun. 30, 2012 Guarantee Of Subsidiary Collateral Financing [Member] | Jun. 30, 2012 Limited Partnerships [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Limited Partnerships [Member] | Jun. 30, 2012 Commercial Mortgage Loans [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Mortgage Loans [Member] | Jun. 30, 2012 Private Placement Investments [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Private Placement Investments [Member]
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Commitments And Contingent Liabilities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unfunded commitments to fund partnership investments, mortgage loans and private corporate bond investments | $ 100,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 186,200,000 | $ 156,600,000 | $ 49,500,000 | $ 33,600,000 | $ 106,000,000 | $ 100,000,000
Undrawn outstanding letters of credit in favor of third parties |  | 16,000,000 | 15,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Undrawn outstanding letters of credit between subsidiaries |  | 527,700,000 | 582,900,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Syndicated revolving credit facility capacity |  | 850,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Syndicated revolving credit facility undrawn outstanding |  | 263,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Long Term Credit Facility Capacity 200 Million Dollar |  | 200,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Long Term Credit Facility Undrawn Outstanding 200 Million Dollar |  | 200,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Long Term Credit Facility Capacity 120 Million Dollar |  | 120,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Long Term Credit Facility Undrawn Outstanding 120 Million Dollar |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Guarantee Obligations Current Carrying Value |  |  |  | $ 656,100,000 | $ 697,500,000 | $ 434,500,000 | $ 467,500,000 | $ 150,000,000 | $ 237,500,000 | $ 300,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |

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