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Investments (Details 21) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
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Other Investments [Line Items] |  |
Other invested assets | $ 1,236,616,000 | $ 1,012,541,000
Equity Securities [Member] |  |
Other Investments [Line Items] |  |
Other invested assets | 209,272,000 | 113,900,000
Limited Partner [Member] |  |
Other Investments [Line Items] |  |
Other invested assets | 350,643,000 | 251,315,000
Secured Debt [Member] |  |
Other Investments [Line Items] |  |
Other invested assets | 341,795,000 | 281,022,000
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives [Member] |  |
Other Investments [Line Items] |  |
Other invested assets | 212,322,000 | 257,050,000
Other [Member] |  |
Other Investments [Line Items] |  |
Other invested assets | $ 122,584,000 | $ 109,254,000

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- Definition Other investments not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(f,g)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 12 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 7 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph g Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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