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Investments (Fair Value and Losses by Investment Category and Length of Time in a Loss Position) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
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	$ 14,519,974	$ 4,565,273
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	410,779	40,239
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	3,874,370	2,738,393
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	242,304	73,107
Estimated Fair Value	18,394,344	7,303,666
Gross Unrealized Losses	653,083	113,346
Equity securities
Estimated Fair Values And Gross Unrealized Losses, OTTI Impairment Losses Reported In AOCI [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value - Less than 12 months		5,902
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months		1,024
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater		73,722
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater		2,623
Estimated Fair Value		79,624
Gross Unrealized Losses		3,647
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	682,541	225,474
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	30,048	3,450
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	86,297	93,723
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	7,729	7,559
Estimated Fair Value	768,838	319,197
Gross Unrealized Losses	37,777	11,009
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	13,837,433	4,339,799
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	380,731	36,789
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	3,788,073	2,644,670
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	234,575	65,548
Estimated Fair Value	17,625,506	6,984,469
Gross Unrealized Losses	615,306	102,337
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	539,521	194,879
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	23,955	3,317
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	77,675	75,731
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	7,296	6,933
Estimated Fair Value	617,196	270,610
Gross Unrealized Losses	31,251	10,250
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	10,117,970	1,886,212
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	303,926	17,099
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	1,290,804	1,009,750
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	81,236	28,080
Estimated Fair Value	11,408,774	2,895,962
Gross Unrealized Losses	385,162	45,179
Canadian and Canadian provincial governments | 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	2,328	1,995
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	162	20
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	2,328	1,995
Gross Unrealized Losses	162	20
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	58,816	18,688
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	1,211	91
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	107,167	111,560
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	2,736	1,596
Estimated Fair Value	165,983	130,248
Gross Unrealized Losses	3,947	1,687
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	1,102	1,369
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	20	22
Estimated Fair Value	1,102	1,369
Gross Unrealized Losses	20	22
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	931,044	566,699
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	23,339	5,852
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	528,739	224,439
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	27,063	6,004
Estimated Fair Value	1,459,783	791,138
Gross Unrealized Losses	50,402	11,856
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	0
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	0	0
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	1,110	1,489
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	52	53
Estimated Fair Value	1,110	1,489
Gross Unrealized Losses	52	53
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	680,900	434,274
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	8,650	2,707
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	262,544	168,524
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	6,243	2,434
Estimated Fair Value	943,444	602,798
Gross Unrealized Losses	14,893	5,141
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	555,716	220,401
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	8,304	1,914
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	207,943	103,269
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	8,580	2,920
Estimated Fair Value	763,659	323,670
Gross Unrealized Losses	16,884	4,834
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	197,114	800,298
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	3,913	6,177
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	1,002,661	767,197
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	90,740	15,756
Estimated Fair Value	1,199,775	1,567,495
Gross Unrealized Losses	94,653	21,933
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	261,456	43,510
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	6,722	242
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	90,649	68,666
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	6,915	4,054
Estimated Fair Value	352,105	112,176
Gross Unrealized Losses	13,637	4,296
Debt Security, Government, Non-US [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	140,692	28,600
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	5,931	113
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	6,410	15,134
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	361	551
Estimated Fair Value	147,102	43,734
Gross Unrealized Losses	6,292	664
Debt Security, Government, Non-US [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	1,034,417	369,717
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	24,666	2,707
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater	297,566	191,265
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	11,062	4,704
Estimated Fair Value	1,331,983	560,982
Gross Unrealized Losses	$ 35,728	7,411
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		82
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months		1
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater		26,471
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater		2,225
Estimated Fair Value		26,553
Gross Unrealized Losses		2,226
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		5,820
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months		1,023
Estimated Fair Value - 12 months or greater		47,251
Gross Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater		398
Estimated Fair Value		53,071
Gross Unrealized Losses		$ 1,421

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