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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, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	$ 33,536,419	$ 29,642,905
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives	(42,903)	(76,698)
Cash and cash equivalents	423,457	406,521
Short-term investments	92,151	530,773
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	930,661	587,757
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	27,029	14,996
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	34,966,814	31,106,254
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives	1,130,124	1,070,584
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	1,155,572	1,095,409
Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	52,852	87,520
Other equity securities
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	367,396	38,342
Other
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	37	8,170
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	161,008	71,882
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure
Other liabilities	28,012	20,989
Foreign Currency Forwards
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure		20
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure
Other liabilities	2,560	6,744
Consumer Price Index Swap [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	(447)	(292)
Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	200,208	197,547
Credit Default Swaps
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	7,429	2,567
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure
Other liabilities	254	5,390
Equity Option [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	40,021	40,644
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure
Other liabilities	(8,141)	(6,009)
Currency Swap [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	102,157	141,357
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure
Other liabilities	695	(4,908)
Mortality Swap [Member]
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure
Other liabilities	2,068	2,619
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	20,164,848	17,708,156
Canadian and Canadian provincial governments
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	4,140,379	3,576,759
Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	1,311,692	1,311,477
Asset-backed securities
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	1,382,574	1,212,676
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	1,475,033	1,483,087
US Treasury and Government [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	1,559,536	1,381,659
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	617,849	511,014
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	2,884,508	2,458,077
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	2,056,269	1,757,449
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents	378,980	406,521
Short-term investments	56,017	524,946
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	606,093	323,638
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	3,097,359	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	39,735	81,809
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Other equity securities
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	367,396	38,342
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Other
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	37	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
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	198,925	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	302,603	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	1,427,369	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	326,297	260,552
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	29,121,754	25,460,690
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents	44,477	0
Short-term investments	36,134	5,827
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	324,568	264,119
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	29,526,933	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	23,380	22,206
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	13,117	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	161,008	71,882
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure
Other liabilities	28,012	20,989
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Foreign Currency Forwards
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure		20
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure
Other liabilities	2,560	6,744
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Consumer Price Index Swap [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	(447)	(292)
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	1,283	2,230
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Credit Default Swaps
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	7,429	2,567
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure
Other liabilities	254	5,390
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Equity Option [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	40,021	40,644
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure
Other liabilities	(8,141)	(6,009)
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Currency Swap [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	102,157	141,357
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure
Other liabilities	695	(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	18,606,341	16,212,147
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Canadian and Canadian provincial governments
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	3,566,760	3,160,683
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	1,120,999	980,828
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Asset-backed securities
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	1,158,923	908,840
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	1,437,526	1,414,524
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | US Treasury and Government [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	106,334	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	580,086	472,672
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	2,544,785	2,183,460
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	2,358,396	2,424,766
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives	(42,903)	(76,698)
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Short-term investments	0	0
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	27,029	14,996
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	2,342,522	2,363,064
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives	1,130,124	1,070,584
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	1,132,192	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
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	2,068	2,619
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	1,255,904	1,226,970
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Canadian and Canadian provincial governments
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	573,619	416,076
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	190,693	330,649
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Asset-backed securities
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	223,651	303,836
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	37,507	68,563
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | US Treasury and Government [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	25,833	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	37,763	38,342
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Assets Fair Value Disclosure
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	$ 13,426	$ 14,065

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Embedded derivatives related to funds held by the ceding insurer on behalf the reinsurer, including funds held in trust, under reinsurance treaties or contracts with the assuming insurer as security for the payment of the obligations thereunder, which represent an asset for the reinsurer. There is another concept for the corresponding liability of the ceding insurer.

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