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Investments (Fair Value and Losses by Investment Category and Length of Time in a Loss Position) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	$ 6,933,325	$ 8,327,843
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	188,704	253,005
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	982,327	1,210,148
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	82,496	108,194
Estimated Fair Value	7,915,652	9,537,991
Gross Unrealized Losses	271,200	361,199
Equity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	70,591	212,899
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	3,604	7,851
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	24,289	28,630
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	2,801	5,807
Estimated Fair Value	94,880	241,529
Gross Unrealized Losses	6,405	13,658
Non-investment grade securities | Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	207,022	374,831
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	3,215	10,607
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	136,657	215,908
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	32,986	45,409
Estimated Fair Value	343,679	590,739
Gross Unrealized Losses	36,201	56,016
Investment grade securities | Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	6,726,303	7,953,012
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	185,489	242,398
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	845,670	994,240
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	49,510	62,785
Estimated Fair Value	7,571,973	8,947,252
Gross Unrealized Losses	234,999	305,183
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Non-investment grade securities | Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	195,427	330,757
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	3,023	7,914
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	110,909	163,152
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	31,844	41,605
Estimated Fair Value	306,336	493,909
Gross Unrealized Losses	34,867	49,519
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Investment grade securities | Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	3,658,776	4,661,706
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	89,271	124,444
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	412,413	549,273
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	33,285	43,282
Estimated Fair Value	4,071,189	5,210,979
Gross Unrealized Losses	122,556	167,726
Canadian and Canadian provincial governments | Investment grade securities | Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	137,014	101,578
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	3,457	3,541
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	137,014	101,578
Gross Unrealized Losses	3,457	3,541
Residential mortgage-backed securities | Non-investment grade securities | Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	0	0
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	122	412
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	5	12
Estimated Fair Value	122	412
Gross Unrealized Losses	5	12
Residential mortgage-backed securities | Investment grade securities | Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	467,812	490,473
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	9,394	9,733
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	101,886	112,216
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	2,277	3,635
Estimated Fair Value	569,698	602,689
Gross Unrealized Losses	11,671	13,368
Asset-backed securities | Non-investment grade securities | Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	0	5,904
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	0	700
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	11,463	12,581
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	680	1,465
Estimated Fair Value	11,463	18,485
Gross Unrealized Losses	680	2,165
Asset-backed securities | Investment grade securities | Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	381,219	563,259
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	4,213	12,010
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	270,456	257,166
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	8,248	9,653
Estimated Fair Value	651,675	820,425
Gross Unrealized Losses	12,461	21,663
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | Non-investment grade securities | Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	1,891	5,815
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	108	735
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	1,891	5,815
Gross Unrealized Losses	108	735
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | Investment grade securities | Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	370,152	368,465
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	6,816	6,858
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	7,398	10,853
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	111	166
Estimated Fair Value	377,550	379,318
Gross Unrealized Losses	6,927	7,024
US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member] | Investment grade securities | Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	1,122,884	1,056,101
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	55,334	63,044
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	1,122,884	1,056,101
Gross Unrealized Losses	55,334	63,044
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Investment grade securities | Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	155,720	187,194
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	7,963	9,396
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	13,086	13,635
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	3,604	3,068
Estimated Fair Value	168,806	200,829
Gross Unrealized Losses	11,567	12,464
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] | Non-investment grade securities | Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	9,704	32,355
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	84	1,258
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	14,163	39,763
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	457	2,327
Estimated Fair Value	23,867	72,118
Gross Unrealized Losses	541	3,585
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] | Investment grade securities | Fixed maturity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	432,726	524,236
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	9,041	13,372
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	40,431	51,097
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	1,985	2,981
Estimated Fair Value	473,157	575,333
Gross Unrealized Losses	11,026	16,353
Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] | Equity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	0	10,831
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	0	831
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	24,289	21,879
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	2,801	5,506
Estimated Fair Value	24,289	32,710
Gross Unrealized Losses	2,801	6,337
Other equity securities | Equity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months	70,591	202,068
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	3,604	7,020
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	0	6,751
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	0	301
Estimated Fair Value	70,591	208,819
Gross Unrealized Losses	$ 3,604	$ 7,321

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