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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 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
--- | --- | ---
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | $ 32,694,793 | $ 32,093,625
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives | 46,173 | (22,529)
Cash and cash equivalents | 367,562 | 338,601
Short-term investments | 24,929 | 44,241
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 483,591 | 705,625
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 29,170 | 26,958
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 33,646,218 | 33,186,521
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives | 972,930 | 990,308
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 984,251 | 1,011,851
Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 31,215 | 51,123
Other equity securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 80,401 | 224,238
Other |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 8,192 | 11,036
Interest Rate Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 50,011 | 93,508
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 14,702 | 24,374
Foreign Currency Forwards |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 139 |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 3,377 | 5,070
Consumer Price Index Swap [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 244 | 262
Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 193,600 | 190,120
Credit Default Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 5,128 | 9,136
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | (665) | (5)
Equity Option [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 17,245 | 26,070
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | (9,194) | (7,389)
Currency Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 97,660 | 100,394
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities |  | (3,231)
Mortality Swap [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 2,857 | 2,462
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 20,161,453 | 19,619,084
Canadian and Canadian provincial governments |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 3,720,364 | 3,644,046
Residential mortgage-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,303,877 | 1,278,576
Asset-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,380,590 | 1,429,344
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,289,338 | 1,363,654
US Treasury and Government [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,482,452 | 1,468,302
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 595,457 | 591,796
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 2,761,262 | 2,698,823
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 2,100,838 | 1,933,479
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives | 0 | 0
Cash and cash equivalents | 367,562 | 338,601
Short-term investments | 1,615 | 8,276
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 312,074 | 462,482
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 2,782,089 | 2,742,838
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 | 31,215 | 38,317
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Other equity securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 80,401 | 224,238
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Other |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 8,192 | 11,036
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 | Foreign Currency Forwards |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Consumer Price Index Swap [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 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 | 192,266 | 188,891
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
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 | 426,837 | 310,995
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 | 1,360,357 | 1,345,755
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 | 313,644 | 276,729
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 28,423,005 | 27,932,189
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives | 0 | 0
Cash and cash equivalents | 0 | 0
Short-term investments | 20,038 | 32,619
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 171,517 | 243,143
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 28,614,560 | 28,207,951
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives | 0 | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 8,464 | 19,081
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 12,806
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 | 50,011 | 93,508
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 14,702 | 24,374
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Foreign Currency Forwards |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 139 |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 3,377 | 5,070
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Consumer Price Index Swap [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 244 | 262
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 1,334 | 1,229
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Credit Default Swaps |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 5,128 | 9,136
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | (665) | (5)
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Equity Option [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 17,245 | 26,070
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | (9,194) | (7,389)
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Currency Swap [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 97,660 | 100,394
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities |  | (3,231)
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 | 18,470,691 | 18,035,836
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Canadian and Canadian provincial governments |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 3,236,804 | 3,168,081
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Residential mortgage-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,160,447 | 1,118,285
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Asset-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,172,154 | 1,210,064
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,287,415 | 1,342,509
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | US Treasury and Government [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 98,621 | 98,059
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 561,599 | 550,130
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 2,435,274 | 2,409,225
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 2,170,950 | 2,227,957
Funds withheld at interest embedded derivatives | 46,173 | (22,529)
Cash and cash equivalents | 0 | 0
Short-term investments | 3,276 | 3,346
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 | 0
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure | 29,170 | 26,958
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 2,249,569 | 2,235,732
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives | 972,930 | 990,308
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring | 975,787 | 992,770
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 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 | Foreign Currency Forwards |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure | 0 |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 0 | 0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Consumer Price Index Swap [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 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
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Mortality Swap [Member] |  |
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Other liabilities | 2,857 | 2,462
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,263,925 | 1,272,253
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Canadian and Canadian provincial governments |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 483,560 | 475,965
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Residential mortgage-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 143,430 | 160,291
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Asset-backed securities |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 208,436 | 219,280
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 1,923 | 21,145
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | US Treasury and Government [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 23,474 | 24,488
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | 33,858 | 41,666
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets Fair Value Disclosure |  |
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale | $ 12,344 | $ 12,869

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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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