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Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Balances of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Sep. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
--- | --- | ---
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | $ 27,411,788 | $ 25,480,972
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives | (49,498) | 22,094
Cash and cash equivalents | 822,184 | 899,846
Short-term investments | 11,829 | 45,190
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 523,692 | 490,590
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 13,298 | 7,727
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 28,733,293 | 26,946,419
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives | 1,106,410 | 1,085,166
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities |  | 1,127,720
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 1,145,363 |
Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 84,709 | 99,363
Other equity securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 25,665 | 27,497
Other |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 8,289 | 6,420
Interest Rate Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 86,504 | 84,578
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 25,241 | 12,957
Interest Rate Options |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure |  | 18,195
Foreign Currency Forwards |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 343 |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 6,675 | 15,011
Currency Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 127,819 | 70,906
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 1,761 |
Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 129,511 | 140,344
Consumer Price Index Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | (268) | (561)
Credit Default Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 1,088 | 8,606
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 3,080 | 419
Equity Option [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 60,032 | 35,242
Mortality Swap [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 2,196 | 797
Purchase Commitment [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities |  | 13,370
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 16,173,447 | 14,885,583
Canadian and Canadian provincial governments |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 3,542,726 | 3,865,265
Residential mortgage-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,283,460 | 1,037,896
Asset-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,061,372 | 1,069,586
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,491,951 | 1,532,591
US Treasury And Government Member |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,317,218 | 525,851
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 501,503 | 426,076
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 2,040,111 | 2,138,124
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,638,107 | 838,946
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives | 0 | 0
Cash and cash equivalents | 822,184 | 899,846
Short-term investments | 4,422 | 21,536
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 232,280 | 260,116
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 2,696,993 | 2,020,444
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives | 0 | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities |  | 0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 0 |
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 72,717 | 91,450
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Other equity securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 25,665 | 27,497
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Other |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 8,289 | 6,420
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Interest Rate Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Interest Rate Options |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure |  | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Foreign Currency Forwards |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Currency Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 |
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 125,609 | 134,749
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Consumer Price Index Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Credit Default Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Equity Option [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Mortality Swap [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Purchase Commitment [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities |  | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 214,549 | 115,822
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Canadian and Canadian provincial governments |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Residential mortgage-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Asset-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | US Treasury And Government Member |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,162,453 | 437,129
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 261,105 | 285,995
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 23,398,550 | 22,392,896
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives | 0 | 0
Cash and cash equivalents | 0 | 0
Short-term investments | 7,407 | 23,654
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 279,420 | 222,570
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 23,685,377 | 22,639,120
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives | 0 | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities |  | 41,757
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 36,757 |
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 9
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Other equity securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Other |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Interest Rate Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 86,504 | 84,578
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 25,241 | 12,957
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Interest Rate Options |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure |  | 18,195
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Foreign Currency Forwards |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 343 |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 6,675 | 15,011
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Currency Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 127,819 | 70,906
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 1,761 |
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 3,902 | 5,595
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Consumer Price Index Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | (268) | (561)
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Credit Default Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 1,088 | 8,606
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 3,080 | 419
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Equity Option [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 60,032 | 35,242
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Mortality Swap [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Purchase Commitment [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities |  | 13,370
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 14,711,208 | 13,459,334
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Canadian and Canadian provincial governments |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 3,542,726 | 3,865,265
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Residential mortgage-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 913,793 | 849,802
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Asset-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 457,169 | 496,626
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,419,308 | 1,445,845
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | US Treasury And Government Member |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 127,445 | 60,193
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 462,509 | 383,365
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,764,392 | 1,832,466
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 2,375,131 | 2,249,130
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives | (49,498) | 22,094
Cash and cash equivalents | 0 | 0
Short-term investments | 0 | 0
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 11,992 | 7,904
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 13,298 | 7,727
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 2,350,923 | 2,286,855
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives | 1,106,410 | 1,085,166
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities |  | 1,085,963
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 1,108,606 |
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 11,992 | 7,904
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Other equity securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Other |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Interest Rate Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Interest Rate Options |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure |  | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Foreign Currency Forwards |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Currency Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 |
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Consumer Price Index Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Credit Default Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Equity Option [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Mortality Swap [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 2,196 | 797
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Purchase Commitment [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities |  | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,247,690 | 1,310,427
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Canadian and Canadian provincial governments |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Residential mortgage-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 369,667 | 188,094
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Asset-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 604,203 | 572,960
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 72,643 | 86,746
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | US Treasury And Government Member |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 27,320 | 28,529
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 38,994 | 42,711
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | $ 14,614 | $ 19,663

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- Definition Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash Equivalents -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016 + Details
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