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Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Balances of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	$ 39,992,346	$ 38,150,820
Non Redeemable Preferred Stock Equity Method Investments Fair Value Disclosure		39,806
Equity Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	82,197	60,346
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives	109,597	122,194
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	485,167	356,788
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Short Term Investments	105,991	50,746
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	378,469	356,154
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	47,789	40,659
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	41,201,556	39,177,513
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives	944,865	1,014,228
Financial Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure	972,314	1,038,469
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	2,067,529	1,818,006
Non Redeemable Preferred Stock Equity Method Investments Fair Value Disclosure		39,806
Equity Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	48,737	60,346
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	473,509	354,071
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Short Term Investments	4,989	0
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	196,781	217,618
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	2,791,545	2,489,847
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives	0	0
Financial Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	35,930,086	34,098,204
Non Redeemable Preferred Stock Equity Method Investments Fair Value Disclosure		0
Equity Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	11,658	2,717
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Short Term Investments	98,774	47,650
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	181,688	138,536
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	36,222,206	34,287,107
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives	0	0
Financial Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure	27,080	22,558
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	1,994,731	2,234,610
Non Redeemable Preferred Stock Equity Method Investments Fair Value Disclosure		0
Equity Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	33,460	0
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Embedded Derivatives	109,597	122,194
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Short Term Investments	2,228	3,096
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	47,789	40,659
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	2,187,805	2,400,559
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Guaranteed Interest Contracts Embedded Derivatives	944,865	1,014,228
Financial Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure	945,234	1,015,911
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	37,976	51,359
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	18,542	14,311
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	37,976	51,359
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	18,542	14,311
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Foreign Exchange Forward [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	50,740	730
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure		7,213
Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure		0
Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	50,740	730
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure		7,213
Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure		0
Consumer Price Index Swap [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure		(221)
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	11,384	1,939
Consumer Price Index Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure		0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Consumer Price Index Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure		(221)
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	11,384	1,939
Consumer Price Index Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure		0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Credit Default Swap [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	4,466	5,908
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	371	760
Credit Default Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Credit Default Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	4,466	5,908
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	371	760
Credit Default Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Equity Option [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	36,206	16,932
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	6,630	6,339
Equity Option [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Equity Option [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	36,206	16,932
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	6,630	6,339
Equity Option [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Currency Swap [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	51,311	62,905
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	4,155	6,194
Currency Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Currency Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	51,311	62,905
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	4,155	6,194
Currency Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	197,770	218,541
Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	196,781	217,618
Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	989	923
Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Mortality Swap [Member]
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	369	1,683
Mortality Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Mortality Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Mortality Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	369	1,683
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	23,982,119	23,210,968
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	0	0
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	22,651,194	21,873,696
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	1,330,925	1,337,272
Canadian Provincial Governments [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	3,892,385	4,220,076
Canadian Provincial Governments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	0	0
Canadian Provincial Governments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	3,364,261	3,626,134
Canadian Provincial Governments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	528,124	593,942
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	1,869,221	1,719,880
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	0	0
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	1,862,366	1,611,998
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	6,855	107,882
Asset-backed Securities [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	2,149,204	1,648,362
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	77,842	0
Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	0	0
Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	2,053,632	1,524,888
Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	95,572	123,474
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	1,419,034	1,303,387
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	0	0
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	1,419,012	1,300,153
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	22	3,234
US Treasury and Government [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	2,185,874	1,943,592
US Treasury and Government [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	2,067,529	1,818,006
US Treasury and Government [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	100,320	103,075
US Treasury and Government [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	18,025	22,511
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	752,194	703,428
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	0	0
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	741,992	662,225
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	10,202	41,203
Debt Security, Government, Non-US [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	3,742,315	3,401,127
Debt Security, Government, Non-US [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	0	0
Debt Security, Government, Non-US [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	3,737,309	3,396,035
Debt Security, Government, Non-US [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	$ 5,006	$ 5,092

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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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Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

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Amount of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

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Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

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