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Reinsurance (Effect of Reinsurance on Net Premiums and Claims and Other Policy Benefits) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Reinsurance [Line Items] |  |  |
Net premiums | $ 8,254,027 | $ 7,906,596 | $ 7,335,687
Claims and other policy benefits | 7,304,332 | 6,665,999 | 6,225,183
Direct Life Insurance [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance [Line Items] |  |  |
Net premiums | 5,224 | 3,784 | 2,590
Claims and other policy benefits | 8,078 | 3,694 | 4,179
Reinsurance Assumed [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance [Line Items] |  |  |
Net premiums | 8,568,222 | 8,228,811 | 7,701,594
Claims and other policy benefits | 7,515,524 | 6,912,942 | 6,472,041
Reinsurance Ceded [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance [Line Items] |  |  |
Net premiums | (319,419) | (325,999) | (368,497)
Claims and other policy benefits | $ (219,270) | $ (250,637) | $ (251,037)

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- Definition Amount, after effects of policies assumed or ceded, of expense related to the provision for policy benefits and costs incurred. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 5 -Article 7 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480758&loc=d3e6811-158387 + Details
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- Definition Amount, after premiums ceded to other entities and premiums assumed by the entity, of premiums earned. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 17 -Article 12 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6588446&loc=d3e574992-122915 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 1 -Article 7 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 + Details
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