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Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Subsequent Event [Abstract]
Subsequent Event	Note 20 SUBSEQUENT EVENTS On January 17, 2013, the Company repurchased $160.0 million face amount of the Timberlake Financial notes for $112.0 million, which was the market value at the date of the purchase. The notes were purchased by RGA Reinsurance. As a result, the Company will record pre-tax gains of $46.5 million, after fees, in other revenues in the first quarter of 2013. On January 24, 2013, RGA's board of directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to $200.0 million of RGA's outstanding common stock. This new authorization was effective January 24, 2013, does not have an expiration date and supersedes the January 2002 stock repurchase authorization. Repurchases, if any, will be made in accordance with applicable securities laws through market transactions, block trades, privately negotiated transactions, or other means or a combination of these methods. The timing and number of any share repurchase is dependent on a variety of factors, including share price, corporate and regulatory requirements and market and business conditions. Repurchases may be commenced or suspended from time to time without prior notice.

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- Definition

Tabular disclosure of significant events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date through the date the financial statements were issued or the date the financial statements were available to be issued. Examples include: the sale of a capital stock issue, purchase of a business, settlement of litigation, losses resulting from fire or flood, losses on receivables, significant realized and unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in quoted market prices of securities, declines in market prices of inventory, changes in authorized or issued debt (SEC), significant foreign exchange rate changes, substantial loans to insiders or affiliates, significant long-term investments, and substantial dividends not in the ordinary course of business.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 11

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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

-Topic 855

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6842918&loc=SL6314017-165662

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