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Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Financial Instruments where Carrying Amounts and Fair Values May Differ) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Sep. 30, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Assets |  |  |  |  |
Mortgage loans on real estate (net of valuation allowances) |  | $ 4,322,329 | $ 3,775,522 |  |
Policy loans |  | 1,340,146 | 1,427,602 |  |
Funds withheld at interest |  | 6,020,336 | 5,875,919 |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | 1,204,590 | 1,200,718 | $ 1,379,693 | $ 1,525,275
Short-term investments |  | 80,582 | 76,710 |  |
Other invested assets |  | 1,532,523 | 1,591,940 |  |
Accrued investment income |  | 420,111 | 347,173 |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |
Interest-sensitive contract liabilities |  | 16,370,090 | 14,029,354 |  |
Long-term debt |  | 2,788,480 | 3,088,635 |  |
Collateral finance and securitization notes |  | 796,825 | 840,700 |  |
Reported Value Measurement [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Assets |  |  |  |  |
Mortgage loans on real estate (net of valuation allowances) |  | 4,322,329 | 3,775,522 |  |
Policy loans |  | 1,340,146 | 1,427,602 |  |
Funds withheld at interest | [1] | 5,931,416 | 5,893,381 |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | [2] | 872,404 | 862,117 |  |
Short-term investments | [2] | 24,128 | 32,469 |  |
Other invested assets | [2] | 601,905 | 477,132 |  |
Accrued investment income |  | 420,111 | 347,173 |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |
Interest-sensitive contract liabilities | [1] | 12,616,104 | 10,225,099 |  |
Long-term debt |  | 2,778,480 |  |  |
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount |  |  | 3,088,635 |  |
Collateral finance and securitization notes |  | 796,825 | 840,700 |  |
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Assets |  |  |  |  |
Mortgage loans on real estate (net of valuation allowances) |  | 4,494,964 | 3,786,987 |  |
Policy loans |  | 1,340,146 | 1,427,602 |  |
Funds withheld at interest | [1] | 6,309,369 | 6,193,166 |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | [2] | 872,404 | 862,117 |  |
Short-term investments | [2] | 24,128 | 32,469 |  |
Other invested assets | [2] | 627,650 | 510,640 |  |
Accrued investment income |  | 420,111 | 347,173 |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |
Interest-sensitive contract liabilities | [1] | 12,960,161 | 10,234,544 |  |
Long-term Debt, Fair Value |  | 2,997,791 |  |  |
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount |  |  | 3,186,173 |  |
Collateral finance and securitization notes |  | 708,342 | 745,805 |  |
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Net Asset Value [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Assets |  |  |  |  |
Mortgage loans on real estate (net of valuation allowances) |  | 0 | 0 |  |
Policy loans |  | 0 | 0 |  |
Funds withheld at interest | [1] | 0 | 0 |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | [2] | 0 | 0 |  |
Short-term investments | [2] | 0 | 0 |  |
Other invested assets | [2] | 300,686 | 296,773 |  |
Accrued investment income |  | 0 | 0 |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |
Interest-sensitive contract liabilities | [1] | 0 | 0 |  |
Long-term Debt, Fair Value |  | 0 |  |  |
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount |  |  | 0 |  |
Collateral finance and securitization notes |  | 0 | 0 |  |
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member |  |  |  |  |
Assets |  |  |  |  |
Mortgage loans on real estate (net of valuation allowances) |  | 0 | 0 |  |
Policy loans |  | 0 | 0 |  |
Funds withheld at interest | [1] | 0 | 0 |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | [2] | 872,404 | 862,117 |  |
Short-term investments | [2] | 24,128 | 32,469 |  |
Other invested assets | [2] | 28,267 | 26,294 |  |
Accrued investment income |  | 0 | 0 |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |
Interest-sensitive contract liabilities | [1] | 0 | 0 |  |
Long-term Debt, Fair Value |  | 0 |  |  |
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount |  |  | 0 |  |
Collateral finance and securitization notes |  | 0 | 0 |  |
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member |  |  |  |  |
Assets |  |  |  |  |
Mortgage loans on real estate (net of valuation allowances) |  | 0 | 0 |  |
Policy loans |  | 1,340,146 | 1,427,602 |  |
Funds withheld at interest | [1] | 0 | 0 |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | [2] | 0 | 0 |  |
Short-term investments | [2] | 0 | 0 |  |
Other invested assets | [2] | 68,342 | 55,669 |  |
Accrued investment income |  | 420,111 | 347,173 |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |
Interest-sensitive contract liabilities | [1] | 0 | 0 |  |
Long-term Debt, Fair Value |  | 0 |  |  |
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount |  |  | 0 |  |
Collateral finance and securitization notes |  | 0 | 0 |  |
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value Inputs Level 3 Member |  |  |  |  |
Assets |  |  |  |  |
Mortgage loans on real estate (net of valuation allowances) |  | 4,494,964 | 3,786,987 |  |
Policy loans |  | 0 | 0 |  |
Funds withheld at interest | [1] | 6,309,369 | 6,193,166 |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | [2] | 0 | 0 |  |
Short-term investments | [2] | 0 | 0 |  |
Other invested assets | [2] | 230,355 | 131,904 |  |
Accrued investment income |  | 0 | 0 |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |
Interest-sensitive contract liabilities | [1] | 12,960,161 | 10,234,544 |  |
Long-term Debt, Fair Value |  | 2,997,791 |  |  |
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount |  |  | 3,186,173 |  |
Collateral finance and securitization notes |  | $ 708,342 | $ 745,805 |  |
[1] | Carrying values presented herein differ from those presented in the condensed consolidated balance sheets because certain items within the respective financial statement caption are embedded derivatives and are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
[2] | Carrying values presented herein differ from those presented in the condensed consolidated balance sheets because certain items within the respective financial statement caption are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

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- Definition Amount before allowance of loans made to policy and contract holders using their life insurance contracts' cash value or separate accounts as collateral. Includes deferred interest and fees, undisbursed portion of loan balance, unamortized costs and premiums over and discounts from face amounts. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(e)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(a)(7)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
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