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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 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
--- | --- | ---
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | $ 33,160,976 | $ 29,642,905
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives | (91,981) | (76,698)
Cash and cash equivalents | 213,556 | 406,521
Short-term investments | 160,901 | 530,773
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 925,758 | 587,757
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 17,781 | 14,996
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 34,386,991 | 31,106,254
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives | 1,125,380 | 1,070,584
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 1,150,156 | 1,095,409
Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 61,103 | 87,520
Other equity securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 357,083 | 38,342
Other |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 934 | 8,170
Interest Rate Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 159,611 | 71,882
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 26,632 | 20,989
Foreign Currency Forwards |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 1,498 |
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure |  | 20
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 2,527 | 6,744
Consumer Price Index Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | (613) | (292)
Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 195,842 | 197,547
Credit Default Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 5,625 | 2,567
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 2,290 | 5,390
Equity Option [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 43,543 | 40,644
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | (10,779) | (6,009)
Currency Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 101,132 | 141,357
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 2,109 | (4,908)
Mortality Swap [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 1,997 | 2,619
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 19,543,237 | 17,708,156
Canadian and Canadian provincial governments |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 4,105,274 | 3,576,759
Residential mortgage-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,292,778 | 1,311,477
Asset-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,356,677 | 1,212,676
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,507,693 | 1,483,087
US Treasury and Government [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 2,007,338 | 1,381,659
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 605,942 | 511,014
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 2,742,037 | 2,458,077
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 2,416,659 | 1,757,449
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives | 0 | 0
Cash and cash equivalents | 213,556 | 406,521
Short-term investments | 133,716 | 524,946
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 600,651 | 323,638
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 3,364,582 | 3,012,554
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives | 0 | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 48,030 | 81,809
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Other equity securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 357,083 | 38,342
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Other |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 934 | 8,170
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Interest Rate Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Foreign Currency Forwards |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 |
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure |  | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Consumer Price Index Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 194,604 | 195,317
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
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 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Mortality Swap [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 252,082 | 269,039
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 | 1,874,944 | 1,227,858
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 | 289,633 | 260,552
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 28,314,806 | 25,460,690
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives | 0 | 0
Cash and cash equivalents | 0 | 0
Short-term investments | 27,185 | 5,827
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 325,107 | 264,119
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 28,667,098 | 25,730,636
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives | 0 | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 22,779 | 22,206
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 13,073 | 5,711
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 Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 159,611 | 71,882
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 26,632 | 20,989
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Foreign Currency Forwards |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 1,498 |
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure |  | 20
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 2,527 | 6,744
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Consumer Price Index Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | (613) | (292)
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 1,238 | 2,230
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Credit Default Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 5,625 | 2,567
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 2,290 | 5,390
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Equity Option [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 43,543 | 40,644
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | (10,779) | (6,009)
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Currency Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 101,132 | 141,357
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 2,109 | (4,908)
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Mortality Swap [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 17,993,773 | 16,212,147
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Canadian and Canadian provincial governments |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 3,551,082 | 3,160,683
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Residential mortgage-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,126,799 | 980,828
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Asset-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,057,861 | 908,840
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,469,758 | 1,414,524
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | US Treasury and Government [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 106,139 | 127,536
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 570,696 | 472,672
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 2,438,698 | 2,183,460
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 2,429,511 | 2,424,766
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives | (91,981) | (76,698)
Cash and cash equivalents | 0 | 0
Short-term investments | 0 | 0
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 17,781 | 14,996
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 2,355,311 | 2,363,064
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives | 1,125,380 | 1,070,584
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 1,127,377 | 1,073,203
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
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 Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Foreign Currency Forwards |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 |
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure |  | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Consumer Price Index Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 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 | 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
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 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Mortality Swap [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 1,997 | 2,619
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,297,382 | 1,226,970
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Canadian and Canadian provincial governments |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 554,192 | 416,076
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Residential mortgage-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 165,979 | 330,649
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Asset-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 298,816 | 303,836
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 37,935 | 68,563
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | US Treasury and Government [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 26,255 | 26,265
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 35,246 | 38,342
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | $ 13,706 | $ 14,065

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- Definition Amount of debt 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=65884222&loc=d3e22054-111558 Reference 2: 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=66010992&loc=d3e26610-111562 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (aa) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27161-111563 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 320 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b)-(g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957658&loc=d3e62557-112803 + Details
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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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