XML 94 R41.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Investments (Fair Value Below Amortized Cost of Gross Unrealized Losses for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Gross unrealized losses with number of securities [Line Items] |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses | $ 99,462 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss | $ 134,919 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss
% of Total | 100.00%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLossesForFixedMaturityAndEquitySecurities | 100.00%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLossesForFixedMaturityAndEquitySecurities
Less than 20% |  |
Gross unrealized losses with number of securities [Line Items] |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses | 72,598 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis = rga_LessThan20PercentMember | 111,965 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis = rga_LessThan20PercentMember
% of Total | 73.00%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLossesForFixedMaturityAndEquitySecurities / rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis = rga_LessThan20PercentMember | 83.00%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLossesForFixedMaturityAndEquitySecurities / rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis = rga_LessThan20PercentMember
20% or more for less than six months |  |
Gross unrealized losses with number of securities [Line Items] |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses | 15,318 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis = rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForLessThanSixMonthsMember | 13,698 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis = rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForLessThanSixMonthsMember
% of Total | 15.40%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLossesForFixedMaturityAndEquitySecurities / rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis = rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForLessThanSixMonthsMember | 10.10%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLossesForFixedMaturityAndEquitySecurities / rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis = rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForLessThanSixMonthsMember
20% or more for six months or greater |  |
Gross unrealized losses with number of securities [Line Items] |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses | $ 11,546 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis = rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForSixMonthsOrGreaterMember | $ 9,256 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis = rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForSixMonthsOrGreaterMember
% of Total | 11.60%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLossesForFixedMaturityAndEquitySecurities / rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis = rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForSixMonthsOrGreaterMember | 6.90%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLossesForFixedMaturityAndEquitySecurities / rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis = rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForSixMonthsOrGreaterMember

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

X
- Definition Percentage of total gross unrealized losses + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLossesForFixedMaturityAndEquitySecurities
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of unrealized loss before deducting unrealized gain on investments in 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 (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis=rga_LessThan20PercentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis=rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForLessThanSixMonthsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis=rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForSixMonthsOrGreaterMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |