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Investments (Details 18) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Mortgage Loans:
Total mortgage loans	$ 2,270,214,000	$ 1,003,524,000
Mortgage Loans Net Of Valuation Allowances [Abstract]
Mortgage loans on real estate	2,256,881,000	991,731,000
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment Member
Mortgage Loans:
Evaluated individually for credit losses	44,394,000	60,904,000
Evaluated collectively for credit losses	2,225,820,000	942,620,000
Total mortgage loans	2,270,214,000	1,003,524,000
Valuation Allowances:
Specific for credit losses	8,343,000	8,188,000
Non-specifically identified credit losses	4,990,000	3,605,000
Total valuation allowances	$ 13,333,000	$ 11,793,000

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