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Investments (Details 7) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Non-Sovereign Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities in European Peripheral Region [Line Items]
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	$ 10,885,071,000	$ 6,931,958,000
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure	11,899,722,000	7,461,106,000
Combined European Peripheral Region [Member]
Non-Sovereign Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities in European Peripheral Region [Line Items]
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	91,372,000	79,480,000
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure	92,719,000	73,869,000
Percentage Of Total Available For Sales Securities	100.00%	100.00%
Finance Industry [Member]
Non-Sovereign Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities in European Peripheral Region [Line Items]
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	26,939,000	29,649,000
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure	27,272,000	24,775,000
Percentage Of Total Available For Sales Securities	29.40%	33.50%
Finance Industry [Member] | Ireland [Member]
Non-Sovereign Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities in European Peripheral Region [Line Items]
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	3,592,000	4,084,000
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure	4,057,000	4,397,000
Percentage Of Total Available For Sales Securities	4.40%	5.90%
Finance Industry [Member] | Spain [Member]
Non-Sovereign Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities in European Peripheral Region [Line Items]
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	23,347,000	25,565,000
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure	23,215,000	20,378,000
Percentage Of Total Available For Sales Securities	25.00%	27.60%
Other Industry [Member]
Non-Sovereign Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities in European Peripheral Region [Line Items]
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	64,433,000	49,831,000
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure	65,447,000	49,094,000
Percentage Of Total Available For Sales Securities	70.60%	66.50%
Other Industry [Member] | Ireland [Member]
Non-Sovereign Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities in European Peripheral Region [Line Items]
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	26,346,000	12,474,000
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure	27,528,000	13,149,000
Percentage Of Total Available For Sales Securities	29.70%	17.80%
Other Industry [Member] | Italy [Member]
Non-Sovereign Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities in European Peripheral Region [Line Items]
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	6,393,000	2,898,000
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure	6,394,000	2,808,000
Percentage Of Total Available For Sales Securities	6.90%	3.80%
Other Industry [Member] | Spain [Member]
Non-Sovereign Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities in European Peripheral Region [Line Items]
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	31,694,000	34,459,000
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure	$ 31,525,000	$ 33,137,000
Percentage Of Total Available For Sales Securities	34.00%	44.90%

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Percentage of available for sale securities

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No definition available.

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- Definition

This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 7

-Footnote 2

-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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 19

-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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph b

-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

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379932&loc=d3e22054-111558



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Available-for-Sale Securities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505594

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