XML 37 R89.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Fair Value Disclosures (Details 1) (USD $) | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
--- | --- | ---
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives | $ (243,177,000) | $ (361,456,000)
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Reinsurance Ceded Receivable Embedded Derivatives | 0 | 4,945,000
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Indexed Annuities Embedded Derivatives | 740,256,000 |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives | 172,105,000 |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Mortality [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Indexed Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 0.00% |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 0.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Mortality [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Indexed Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 100.00% |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 100.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Mortality [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Indexed Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 1.00% |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 1.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Lapse [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Indexed Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 0.00% |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 0.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Lapse [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Indexed Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 35.00% |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 25.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Lapse [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Indexed Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 4.00% |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 5.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Withdrawal [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Indexed Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 0.00% |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 0.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Withdrawal [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Indexed Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 5.00% |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 7.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Withdrawal [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Indexed Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 4.00% |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 4.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Own Credit [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 0.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Own Credit [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 1.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Own Credit [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 1.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Option Budget Projection [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Indexed Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 2.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Option Budget Projection [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Indexed Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 4.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Option Budget Projection [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Indexed Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 3.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Long Term Volatility [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 0.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Long Term Volatility [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 27.00% |
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Long Term Volatility [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Variable Annuities Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 16.00% |
Total Return Swap [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives | (243,177,000) |
Total Return Swap [Member] | Mortality [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 0.00% |
Total Return Swap [Member] | Mortality [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 100.00% |
Total Return Swap [Member] | Mortality [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 1.00% |
Total Return Swap [Member] | Lapse [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 0.00% |
Total Return Swap [Member] | Lapse [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 35.00% |
Total Return Swap [Member] | Lapse [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 4.00% |
Total Return Swap [Member] | Withdrawal [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 0.00% |
Total Return Swap [Member] | Withdrawal [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 5.00% |
Total Return Swap [Member] | Withdrawal [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 4.00% |
Total Return Swap [Member] | Own Credit [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 0.00% |
Total Return Swap [Member] | Own Credit [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 1.00% |
Total Return Swap [Member] | Own Credit [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 1.00% |
Total Return Swap [Member] | Crediting Rate [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 2.00% |
Total Return Swap [Member] | Crediting Rate [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 4.00% |
Total Return Swap [Member] | Crediting Rate [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives Unobservable Input Range | 3.00% |
Market Comparable Securities [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
State And Political Subdivision Securities | 5,451,000 |
Corporate Securities | 450,177,000 |
ShortTermInvestments | $ 22,031,000 |
Market Comparable Securities [Member] | Liquidity Premium [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
State And Political Subdivision Securities Unobservable Input Range | 1.00% |
Corporate Securities Unobservable Input Range | 0.00% |
Short Term Investments Unobservable Input Range | 1.00% |
Market Comparable Securities [Member] | Liquidity Premium [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
State And Political Subdivision Securities Unobservable Input Range | 1.00% |
Corporate Securities Unobservable Input Range | 2.00% |
Short Term Investments Unobservable Input Range | 1.00% |
Market Comparable Securities [Member] | Liquidity Premium [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |
Unobservable Inputs Used In Level3 Fair Value Measurements [Line Items] |  |
State And Political Subdivision Securities Unobservable Input Range | 1.00% |
Corporate Securities Unobservable Input Range | 1.00% |
Short Term Investments Unobservable Input Range | 1.00% |

X
- Definition The balance represents the amount of securities secured by corporate securities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_CorporateSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The percentage range that represents the amount of securities secured by corporate securities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_CorporateSecuritiesUnobservableInputRange
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Embedded derivatives related to funds held by the ceding insurer on behalf the reinsurer, including funds held in trust, under reinsurance treaties or contracts with the assuming insurer as security for the payment of the obligations thereunder, which represent an asset for the reinsurer. There is another concept for the corresponding liability of the ceding insurer. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFundsHeldUnderReinsuranceAgreementsAssetEmbeddedDerivatives
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Embedded derivatives related to funds held by the ceding insurer on behalf the reinsurer, including funds held in trust, under reinsurance treaties or contracts with the assuming insurer as security for the payment of the obligations thereunder, which represent an asset for the reinsurer. There is another concept for the corresponding liability of the ceding insurer. Value represents the percentage range and weighted average. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFundsHeldUnderReinsuranceAgreementsAssetEmbeddedDerivativesUnobservableInputRange
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Reinsurance ceded receivable - embedded derivatives. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisReinsuranceCededReceivableEmbeddedDerivatives
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Interest-sensitive contract liabilities - embedded derivatives - indexed annuities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGuaranteedInterestContractsIndexedAnnuitiesEmbeddedDerivatives
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Interest-sensitive contract liabilities - embedded derivatives - indexed annuities. Value represents the percentage range and weighted average value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGuaranteedInterestContractsIndexedAnnuitiesEmbeddedDerivativesUnobservableInputRange
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Interest-sensitive contract liabilities - embedded derivatives - variable annuities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGuaranteedInterestContractsVariableAnnuitiesEmbeddedDerivatives
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Interest-sensitive contract liabilities - embedded derivatives - variable annuities. Value Represents the percentage range and weighted average value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGuaranteedInterestContractsVariableAnnuitiesEmbeddedDerivativesUnobservableInputRange
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The percentage range that represents the amount of securities secured by short term investments. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_ShortTermInvestmentsUnobservableInputRange
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The balance represents the amount of securities secured by state and political subdivision securities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_StateAndPoliticalSubdivisionSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The range of unobservable input percentages that represent the amount of securities secured by state and political subdivision securities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_StateAndPoliticalSubdivisionSecuritiesUnobservableInputRange
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | rga_UnobservableInputsUsedInLevel3FairValueMeasurementsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Investments which are intended to be sold in the short term (usually less than one year or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) including trading securities, available-for-sale securities, held-to-maturity securities, and other short-term investments not otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy. + References Reference 1: 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 2: 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 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShortTermInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant