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Investments (Investment Income Net of Related Expenses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net Of Expenses [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross Investment Income, Operating | $ 2,229,031 | $ 2,235,362 | $ 1,983,975
Investment Income, Investment Expense | (90,506) | (80,711) | (72,089)
Investment income, net of related expenses | 2,138,525 | 2,154,651 | 1,911,886
Available-for-sale Securities [Member] |  |  |
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net Of Expenses [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross Investment Income, Operating | 1,528,086 | 1,401,585 | 1,285,406
Equity Securities [Member] |  |  |
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net Of Expenses [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross Investment Income, Operating | 4,343 | 4,445 | 12,513
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member] |  |  |
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net Of Expenses [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross Investment Income, Operating | 214,387 | 197,755 | 168,582
Policy Loans [Member] |  |  |
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net Of Expenses [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross Investment Income, Operating | 59,332 | 60,617 | 63,837
Funds Withheld At Interest [Member] |  |  |
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net Of Expenses [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross Investment Income, Operating | 309,977 | 457,774 | 368,728
Short-term Investments [Member] |  |  |
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net Of Expenses [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross Investment Income, Operating | 14,349 | 7,171 | 8,051
Other Aggregated Investments [Member] |  |  |
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net Of Expenses [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross Investment Income, Operating | $ 98,557 | $ 106,015 | $ 76,858

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- Definition Amount, before investment expense, of income earned from investments in securities and real estate. Includes, but is not limited to, real estate investment, policy loans, dividends, and interest. Excludes realized gain (loss) on investments. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 220 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873790&loc=SL114874131-224263 + Details
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