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Investments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2013 securities | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 securities | Sep. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012 securities | Sep. 30, 2013 Collateral Fixed Maturity Securities | Dec. 31, 2012 Collateral Fixed Maturity Securities | Sep. 30, 2013 Canadian Province Of Ontario Securities | Dec. 31, 2012 Canadian Province Of Ontario Securities | Sep. 30, 2013 Canadian Province Of Quebec Securities | Dec. 31, 2012 Canadian Province Of Quebec Securities | Sep. 30, 2013 Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Investment in mortgage loans | Dec. 31, 2012 Investment in mortgage loans | Sep. 30, 2013 Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities Non-investment grade securities | Dec. 31, 2012 Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities Non-investment grade securities | Sep. 30, 2013 Fixed maturity securities | Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed maturity securities | Sep. 30, 2013 Fixed maturity securities Non-investment grade securities | Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed maturity securities Non-investment grade securities | Sep. 30, 2013 Fixed maturity securities Corporate securities Non-investment grade securities | Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed maturity securities Corporate securities Non-investment grade securities | Sep. 30, 2012 Reported Value Measurement [Member]
Investment Narrative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transfer to Investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 5,406,898,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 311,476,000 | 132,254,000 | 36,978,000 | 71,010,000 | 20,112,000 | 8,671,000 |
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis | 11,505,673,000 |  | 11,505,673,000 |  | 11,333,431,000 | 53,800,000 | 16,900,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Securities held in trust |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,954,600,000 | 7,549,000,000 | 8,260,600,000 | 7,913,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Sold At Loss | 410,400,000 | 220,500,000 | 872,200,000 | 622,100,000 |  | 92,200,000 | 95,600,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Available-for-sale Securities | 11,934,562,000 |  | 11,934,562,000 |  | 12,380,071,000 | 54,500,000 | 17,000,000 | 1,238,500,000 | 1,400,000,000 | 1,479,400,000 | 1,785,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Securities as a percentage of consolidated stockholder equity | 10.00% |  | 10.00% |  | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of fixed maturity and equity securities in an unrealized loss position | 1,397 |  | 1,397 |  | 567 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15,300,000 | 61,500,000 | 64,583,000 | 109,930,000 | 23,263,000 | 66,970,000 | 7,957,000 | 5,501,000 |
Net other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturities recognized in earnings | (332,000) | (2,555,000) | (10,643,000) | (19,180,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Realized losses on fixed maturity and equity securities sold | (30,434,000) | (6,668,000) | (48,406,000) | (23,090,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum percentage of fair value |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Securities Borrowed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 87,500,000 | 87,500,000 | 87,500,000 | 87,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collateral Obtained Percent Of Fair Value Reverse Repurchase Agreements |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Securities pledged or received | 292,400,000 |  | 292,400,000 |  | 290,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Fair Value of Collateral | 307,000,000 |  | 307,000,000 |  | 305,900,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Collateral, Right to Reclaim Securities | 347,500,000 |  | 347,500,000 |  | 342,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mortgage loans percentage of total investments | 7.80% |  | 7.80% |  | 7.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum loan to value ratio on mortgage loan approval |  |  | 75.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mortgage loans on nonaccrual status |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3,046,000 | $ 16,886,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Policy loans, percentage of total investments | 3.90% |  | 3.90% |  | 3.90% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Funds withheld at interest, percentage of total investments | 18.00% |  | 18.00% |  | 17.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Funds withheld at interest, percentage attibutable to one client | 70.00% |  | 70.00% |  | 69.70% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other invested assets, percentage of total investments | 3.50% |  | 3.50% |  | 3.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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