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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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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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