XML 15 R54.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Investments (Narrative Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2013 Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Borrowed Securities [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Borrowed Securities [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Collateral Fixed Maturity Securities [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Collateral Fixed Maturity Securities [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Canadian Province Of Ontario Securities [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Canadian Province Of Ontario Securities [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Canadian Province Of Quebec Securities [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Canadian Province Of Quebec Securities [Member]
Investment Narrative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Sold At Loss | $ 204,300,000 | $ 248,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 85,400,000 | $ 95,600,000 |  |  |  |
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost | 11,464,082,000 |  | 11,333,431,000 |  |  |  |  | 87,500,000 | 87,500,000 | 25,400,000 | 16,900,000 |  |  |  |
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure | 12,441,501,000 |  | 12,380,071,000 |  |  |  |  | 87,500,000 | 87,500,000 | 25,800,000 | 17,000,000 | 1,357,900,000 | 1,400,000,000 | 1,723,900,000 | 1,785,000,000
Mortgage Loan Percent Of Cash And Invested Assets | 7.00% |  | 7.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Accrual Method | 570,000 | 234,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Available For Sale Securities In Unrealized Loss Positions Qualitative Disclosure Number Of Positions | 667 |  | 567 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position 12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses 1 | 46,300,000 |  | 61,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Invested Assets As A Percentage Of Total Investments | 3.40% |  | 3.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Policy Loans Percent Of Total Investments | 3.80% |  | 3.90% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Funds Withheld At Interest Percent Of Total Investments | 17.30% |  | 17.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase | 343,200,000 |  | 342,000,000 | 284,500,000 | 290,200,000 | 309,700,000 | 305,900,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Held In Trust |  |  |  | $ 8,216,300,000 | $ 7,549,000,000 | $ 8,889,900,000 | $ 7,913,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Specific Client | 70.20% |  | 69.70% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Funds Withheld At Interest concentrated with one client. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_FundsHeldUnderReinsuranceAgreementsAssetSpecificClient
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Funds Withheld At Interest As A Percentage Of Total Investments + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_FundsWithheldAtInterestPercentOfTotalInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Definition Mortgage Loans as a Percent Of total Cash And Invested Assets + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_MortgageLoanPercentOfCashAndInvestedAssets
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Other Invested Assets as a Percent Of total Cash And Invested Assets + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_OtherInvestedAssetsPercentOfCashAndInvestedAssets
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Policy Loans as a percentage of total investments. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_PolicyLoansPercentOfTotalInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The cash inflow associated with the sale of debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesSoldAtLoss
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The total amount of cash and securities held by third party trustees pursuant to terms of debt instruments or other agreements as of the date of each statement of financial position presented, which can be used by the trustee only to pay the noncurrent portion of specified obligations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 140 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph c -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 140 -Paragraph 61 -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 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrust
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- 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 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This item represents the excess of amortized cost basis over fair value of securities that have been in a loss position for twelve months or longer for those securities which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- 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 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Disclosure regarding factors used to determine that the impairment of securities not categorized as either held-to-maturity securities or trading securities (hence equal to available for sale securities) where cost exceeds fair value is not an other than temporary impairment (OTTI). This item contains disclosure of the number of investment positions in the available-for-sale investments determined to be temporarily impaired. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 03-1 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph b(3) -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 FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS115-1/124-1 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph b(3) -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 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (b)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27290-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The interest income recognized during the time within that period that the financing receivables were impaired. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5212-111524 -Subparagraph (c)(2) + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeAccrualMethod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of securities that an institution sells and agrees to repurchase (the identical or substantially the same securities) as a seller-borrower at a specified date for a specified price, also known as a repurchase agreement, or repo. Most repos involve obligations of the federal government or its agencies, but other financial instruments, such as commercial paper, banker's acceptances, and negotiable certificates of deposit, are sometimes used in repos. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.13(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935251&loc=d3e9760-107771 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph 1 -Article 9 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(m)(1)(a)(i)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 140 -Paragraph 100 -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 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG) -Number AAG-BRD -Chapter 4 -Paragraph 36 -IssueDate 2006-05-01 -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. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant