XML 75 R64.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.7.0.1

Derivative Instruments (Non Hedging Derivatives and Embedded Derivatives Effect on Income Statement) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2016
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | $ 60,523 | $ (120,886)
Policy acquisition costs and other insurance expenses | (379,389) | (233,763)
Interest credited | (107,684) | (87,905)
Other revenues | 68,157 | 59,183
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | 51,814 | (99,694)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest Rate Swaps |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | (2,612) | 62,527
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Financial Futures |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | (12,775) | (11,051)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Foreign Currency Forwards |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | 904 | 2,500
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Consumer Price Index Swap [Member] |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | (5) | (180)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Credit Default Swaps |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | 7,358 | 3,346
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Equity Options |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | (17,189) | (2,703)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Longevity Swap [Member] |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Other revenues | 1,865 | 87
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Mortality Swap [Member] |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Other revenues | (395) | (424)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Embedded Derivatives In Modified Coinsurance Or Funds Withheld Arrangements |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | 68,702 | (92,250)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member] |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Interest credited | 16,402 | (1,394)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | $ 22,363 | $ (62,940)

X
- Definition Changes in estimated fair value related to embedded derivatives Abstract. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_IncomeAffectOfNonHedgingDerivativesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Policy Acquisition Costs And Other Insurance Expenses + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_PolicyAcquisitionCostsAndOtherInsuranceExpenses
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This item represents the net total realized and unrealized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of selling or holding marketable securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity, including the unrealized holding gain (loss) of held-to-maturity securities transferred to the trading security category and the cumulative unrealized gain (loss) which was included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity) for available-for-sale securities transferred to trading securities during the period. Additionally, this item would include any gains (losses) realized during the period from the sale of investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting and losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (c)-(e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27357-111563 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7(c),9(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27405-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Interest allocated to policyholders holding contracts under which the insurer must provide a guaranteed yield. + 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 210.7-04.6) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480726&loc=d3e6691-158385 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InterestCreditedToPolicyholdersAccountBalances
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of revenue and income classified as other. + 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 210.7-04.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherIncome
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis=us-gaap_FutureMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis=rga_ConsumerPriceIndexSwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis=us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis=us-gaap_EquityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis=rga_LongevitySwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis=rga_MortalitySwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis=rga_EmbeddedDerivativesInModifiedCoinsuranceOrFundsWithheldArrangementsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis=rga_EmbeddedDerivativesInIndexedAnnuityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis=rga_EmbeddedDerivativesInVariableAnnuityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |