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Investments (Investments in Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale by Sector) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | $ 13,413,102 | $ 11,697,394
Unrealized Losses | 120,852 | 324,600
Estimated Fair Value | 14,190,456 | 12,110,755
% of Total | 100.00% | 100.00%
Fixed maturity securities |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 22,452,941 | 20,270,734
Unrealized Gains | 2,140,434 | 1,518,301
Unrealized Losses | 117,924 | 314,899
Estimated Fair Value | 24,475,451 | 21,474,136
% of Total | 100.00% | 100.00%
Other-than-temporary impairments in AOCI | 1,555 | (4,168)
Equity securities |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 156,962 | 409,472
Unrealized Gains | 7,917 | 5,960
Unrealized Losses | 2,928 | 9,701
Estimated Fair Value | 161,951 | 405,731
% of Total | 100.00% | 100.00%
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed maturity securities |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 13,413,102 | 11,697,394
Unrealized Gains | 849,695 | 616,147
Unrealized Losses | 72,341 | 202,786
Estimated Fair Value | 14,190,456 | 12,110,755
% of Total | 58.00% | 56.40%
Other-than-temporary impairments in AOCI | 0 | 0
Canadian and Canadian provincial governments | Fixed maturity securities |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 2,726,064 | 2,728,111
Unrealized Gains | 989,925 | 669,762
Unrealized Losses | 1,651 | 16,848
Estimated Fair Value | 3,714,338 | 3,381,025
% of Total | 15.20% | 15.70%
Other-than-temporary impairments in AOCI | 0 | 0
Residential mortgage-backed securities | Fixed maturity securities |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 964,436 | 970,434
Unrealized Gains | 46,453 | 38,126
Unrealized Losses | 10,172 | 18,917
Estimated Fair Value | 1,000,717 | 989,643
% of Total | 4.10% | 4.60%
Other-than-temporary impairments in AOCI | (300) | (300)
Asset-backed securities | Fixed maturity securities |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 993,028 | 891,751
Unrealized Gains | 22,054 | 18,893
Unrealized Losses | 9,034 | 15,812
Estimated Fair Value | 1,006,048 | 894,832
% of Total | 4.10% | 4.20%
Other-than-temporary impairments in AOCI | 354 | (2,259)
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fixed maturity securities |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 1,404,648 | 1,314,782
Unrealized Gains | 85,609 | 91,651
Unrealized Losses | 8,435 | 17,487
Estimated Fair Value | 1,481,822 | 1,388,946
% of Total | 6.00% | 6.50%
Other-than-temporary impairments in AOCI | (1,609) | (1,609)
US Treasury and Government [Member] | Fixed maturity securities |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 462,675 | 489,631
Unrealized Gains | 19,063 | 16,468
Unrealized Losses | 1,752 | 4,748
Estimated Fair Value | 479,986 | 501,351
% of Total | 1.90% | 2.30%
Other-than-temporary impairments in AOCI | 0 | 0
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed maturity securities |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 369,631 | 313,252
Unrealized Gains | 45,211 | 21,907
Unrealized Losses | 4,778 | 14,339
Estimated Fair Value | 410,064 | 320,820
% of Total | 1.70% | 1.50%
Other-than-temporary impairments in AOCI | 0 | 0
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed maturity securities |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 2,119,357 | 1,865,379
Unrealized Gains | 82,424 | 45,347
Unrealized Losses | 9,761 | 23,962
Estimated Fair Value | 2,192,020 | 1,886,764
% of Total | 9.00% | 8.80%
Other-than-temporary impairments in AOCI | 0 | 0
Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] | Equity securities |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 82,236 | 81,993
Unrealized Gains | 7,051 | 5,342
Unrealized Losses | 1,698 | 5,481
Estimated Fair Value | 87,589 | 81,854
% of Total | 54.10% | 20.20%
Other equity securities | Equity securities |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 74,726 | 327,479
Unrealized Gains | 866 | 618
Unrealized Losses | 1,230 | 4,220
Estimated Fair Value | $ 74,362 | $ 323,877
% of Total | 45.90% | 79.80%

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- Definition Accumulated other comprehensive loss related to portion of other than temporary impairment (OTTI) due to factors other than credit losses on debt securities categorized as available-for-sale that an entity does not intend to sell and which it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis of the debt security. The amount represented by this item is net of tax, as applicable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669686-108580 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (aaa) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
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- Definition Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading. + References Reference 1: 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=28360136&loc=d3e22054-111558 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (aa) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26610-111562 + Details
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- 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 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
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- Definition Amount of unrealized gain before deducting unrealized loss on investments in debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
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