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Comprehensive Income (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012
Comprehensive income |
Schedule of Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] |
For the year ended December 31, 2012: | Before-Tax Amount |  | Tax (Expense) Benefit |  | After-Tax Amount
Foreign currency translation adjustments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Change arising during year | $ | 57,229 |  | $ | (6,244) |  | $ | 50,985
| Foreign currency swap |  | (20,470) |  |  | 7,165 |  |  | (13,305)
|  | Net foreign currency translation adjustments |  | 36,759 |  |  | 921 |  |  | 37,680
Unrealized gains on investments:(1) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Unrealized net holding gains arising during the year |  | 786,449 |  |  | (275,181) |  |  | 511,268
| Less: Reclassification adjustment for net gains realized in net income |  | 91,327 |  |  | (31,964) |  |  | 59,363
| Net unrealized gains |  | 695,122 |  |  | (243,217) |  |  | 451,905
Change in unrealized other-than-temporary impairments on fixed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| maturity securities |  | 9,899 |  |  | (3,465) |  |  | 6,434
Unrealized pension and postretirement benefits: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Net prior service cost arising during the year |  | 298 |  |  | (95) |  |  | 203
| Net loss arising during the period |  | (8,347) |  |  | 2,874 |  |  | (5,473)
|  | Unrealized pension and postretirement benefits, net |  | (8,049) |  |  | 2,779 |  |  | (5,270)
Other comprehensive income | $ | 733,731 |  | $ | (242,982) |  | $ | 490,749
For the year ended December 31, 2011: | Before-Tax Amount |  | Tax (Expense) Benefit |  | After-Tax Amount
Foreign currency translation adjustments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Change arising during year | $ | (28,779) |  | $ | 121 |  | $ | (28,658)
| Foreign currency swap |  | 4,858 |  |  | (1,700) |  |  | 3,158
|  | Net foreign currency translation adjustments |  | (23,921) |  |  | (1,579) |  |  | (25,500)
Unrealized gains on investments:(1) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Unrealized net holding gains arising during the year |  | 1,118,586 |  |  | (302,134) |  |  | 816,452
| Less: Reclassification adjustment for net gains realized in net income |  | 72,841 |  |  | (25,494) |  |  | 47,347
| Net unrealized gains |  | 1,045,745 |  |  | (276,640) |  |  | 769,105
Change in unrealized other-than-temporary impairments on fixed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| maturity securities |  | (1,901) |  |  | 665 |  |  | (1,236)
Unrealized pension and postretirement benefits: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Net prior service cost arising during the year |  | 460 |  |  | (185) |  |  | 275
| Net gain arising during the period |  | (25,441) |  |  | 8,766 |  |  | (16,675)
|  | Unrealized pension and postretirement benefits, net |  | (24,981) |  |  | 8,581 |  |  | (16,400)
Other comprehensive income | $ | 994,942 |  | $ | (268,973) |  | $ | 725,969
For the year ended December 31, 2010: | Before-Tax Amount |  | Tax (Expense) Benefit |  | After-Tax Amount
Foreign currency translation adjustments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Change arising during year | $ | 72,989 |  | $ | 5,177 |  | $ | 78,166
| Foreign currency swap |  | (41,302) |  |  | 14,456 |  |  | (26,846)
|  | Net foreign currency translation adjustments |  | 31,687 |  |  | 19,633 |  |  | 51,320
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Unrealized net holding gains arising during the year |  | 849,226 |  |  | (279,620) |  |  | 569,606
| Less: Reclassification adjustment for net losses realized in net income |  | 41,069 |  |  | (14,374) |  |  | 26,695
| Net unrealized gains |  | 808,157 |  |  | (265,246) |  |  | 542,911
Change in unrealized other-than-temporary impairments on fixed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| maturity securities |  | 6,279 |  |  | (2,198) |  |  | 4,081
Unrealized pension and postretirement benefits: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Net prior service cost arising during the year |  | (321) |  |  | 108 |  |  | (213)
| Net loss arising during the period |  | 2,798 |  |  | (1,019) |  |  | 1,779
|  | Unrealized pension and postretirement benefits, net |  | 2,477 |  |  | (911) |  |  | 1,566
Other comprehensive income | $ | 848,600 |  | $ | (248,722) |  | $ | 599,878
(1) |  | Includes cash flow hedges. See Note 5 - "Derivative Instruments" for additional information on cash flow hedges.
Components Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block] |
For the years ended December 31, | 2012 |  | 2011 |  | 2010
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale | $ | 713,778 |  | $ | 1,058,505 |  | $ | 813,174
| Other investments(1) |  | 6,181 |  |  | (7,213) |  |  | 16,933
Effect on unrealized appreciation on: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Deferred policy acquisition costs |  | (14,938) |  |  | (7,448) |  |  | (15,671)
Net unrealized appreciation | $ | 705,021 |  | $ | 1,043,844 |  | $ | 814,436
(1) | Includes cash flow hedges. See Note 5 - "Derivative Instruments" for additional information on cash flow hedges.
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] |
The balance of and changes in each component of AOCI were as follows (dollars in thousands):
|  |  |  | Accumulated |  |  | Unrealized |  |  |  |  |  | Accumulated
|  |  |  | Currency |  |  | Appreciation |  |  | Pension and |  |  | Other
|  |  |  | Translation |  |  | (Depreciation) |  |  | Postretirement |  |  | Comprehensive
|  |  |  | Adjustments |  |  | of Investments |  |  | Benefits |  |  | Income (Loss)
For the year ended December 31, 2012 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of year |  | $ | 229,795 |  | $ | 1,419,318 |  | $ | (30,960) |  | $ | 1,618,153
Change in foreign currency translation adjustments |  |  | 37,680 |  |  | -- |  |  | -- |  |  | 37,680
Unrealized gain on investments(1) |  |  | -- |  |  | 451,905 |  |  | -- |  |  | 451,905
Change in other-than-temporary impairment losses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| on fixed maturity securities |  |  | -- |  |  | 6,434 |  |  | -- |  |  | 6,434
Changes in pension and other postretirement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| plan adjustments |  |  | -- |  |  | -- |  |  | (5,270) |  |  | (5,270)
Balance, end of year |  | $ | 267,475 |  | $ | 1,877,657 |  | $ | (36,230) |  | $ | 2,108,902
For the year ended December 31, 2011 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of year |  | $ | 255,295 |  | $ | 651,449 |  | $ | (14,560) |  | $ | 892,184
Change in foreign currency translation adjustments |  |  | (25,500) |  |  | -- |  |  | -- |  |  | (25,500)
Unrealized gain on investments(1) |  |  | -- |  |  | 769,105 |  |  | -- |  |  | 769,105
Change in other-than-temporary impairment losses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| on fixed maturity securities |  |  | -- |  |  | (1,236) |  |  | -- |  |  | (1,236)
Changes in pension and other postretirement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| plan adjustments |  |  | -- |  |  | -- |  |  | (16,400) |  |  | (16,400)
Balance, end of year |  | $ | 229,795 |  | $ | 1,419,318 |  | $ | (30,960) |  | $ | 1,618,153
For the year ended December 31, 2010 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of year |  | $ | 203,975 |  | $ | 104,457 |  | $ | (16,126) |  | $ | 292,306
Change in foreign currency translation adjustments |  |  | 51,320 |  |  | -- |  |  | -- |  |  | 51,320
Unrealized gain on investments |  |  | -- |  |  | 542,911 |  |  | -- |  |  | 542,911
Change in other-than-temporary impairment losses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| on fixed maturity securities |  |  | -- |  |  | 4,081 |  |  | -- |  |  | 4,081
Changes in pension and other postretirement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| plan adjustments |  |  | -- |  |  | -- |  |  | 1,566 |  |  | 1,566
Balance, end of year |  | $ | 255,295 |  | $ | 651,449 |  | $ | (14,560) |  | $ | 892,184
(1) | Includes cash flow hedges. See Note 5 - "Derivative Instruments" for additional information on cash flow hedges.

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