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Derivative Instruments (Gross Notional Amount and Fair Value of Derivatives Contracts) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 16,791,770	$ 15,904,127
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	331,273	320,724
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	990,777	1,058,727
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	15,059,954	14,243,031
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	268,531	254,252
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	968,119	1,022,122
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	1,021,739	996,204
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	47,303	59,809
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	152	2,372
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Financial Futures
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	388,874	412,438
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Foreign Currency Forwards
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	6,012	6,030
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	48	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	4	28
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Consumer Price Index Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	218,237	221,932
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	127	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	427	2,160
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Credit Default Swaps
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	933,200	961,200
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	7,279	8,319
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	1,058	1,651
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Equity Options
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	639,801	632,251
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	33,958	23,271
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Longevity Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	985,920	960,400
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	44,011	40,659
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Mortality Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	0	0
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	1,683	1,683
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Synthetic Guaranteed Investment Contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	10,866,171	10,052,576
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Embedded Derivatives In Modified Coinsurance Or Funds Withheld Arrangements
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	0	0
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	135,805	122,194
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	0	0
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	827,109	861,758
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	0	0
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	137,686	152,470
Designated As Hedging Instrument
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	1,731,816	1,661,096
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	62,742	66,472
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	22,658	36,605
Designated As Hedging Instrument | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	435,000	435,000
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	(1,119)	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	16,972	20,389
Designated As Hedging Instrument | Currency Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	598,575	672,921
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	56,403	65,207
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	5,461	8,496
Designated As Hedging Instrument | Forward Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	698,241	553,175
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	7,458	1,265
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	$ 225	$ 7,720

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- Definition

Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 12
-Section 13
-Sentence Column B

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+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section 50
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