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Investments (Details 2) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2011
Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Roll Forward |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | $ 45,903,000 | $ 52,484,000 | $ 63,947,000 | $ 47,291,000
Initial impairments - credit loss OTTI recognized on securities not previously impaired | 0 | 5,259,000 | 1,962,000 | 6,731,000
Additional impairments - credit loss OTTI recognized on securities previously impaired | 1,306,000 | 2,432,000 | 10,187,000 | 6,871,000
Other Than Temporary Impairments Credit Losses On Securities Impaired To Fair Value | (2,622,000) | 0 | (22,291,000) | 0
Credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities which were sold during the period | (20,725,000) | (752,000) | (29,943,000) | (1,470,000)
Balance, end of period | $ 23,862,000 | $ 59,423,000 | $ 23,862,000 | $ 59,423,000

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- Definition Other than temporary impairment, OTTI, credit losses on securities impaired to fair value. This item represents circumstances where the Company determined in the current period that it intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of the securitys amortized cost. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which a previous OTTI was recognized and the investor does not intend to sell the debt security and it is not more likely than not that the investor will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS115-1/124-1 -Paragraph 18B -Subparagraph e -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (e) -SubTopic 10 -Topic 320 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27340-111563 + Details
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