XML 104 R67.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.1

Derivative Instruments (Gross Notional Amount and Fair Value of Derivatives Contracts) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Mar. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019
--- | --- | ---
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | $ 20,302 | $ 19,446
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets | 307 | 258
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability | 1,330 | 1,003
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | 18,433 | 17,475
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets | 169 | 212
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability | 1,253 | 970
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest Rate Swap [Member] |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | 1,057 | 909
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets | 104 | 70
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability | 8 | 3
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Financial Futures |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | 323 | 307
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 | 175 | 175
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets | 3 | 1
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability | 0 | 0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Consumer Price Index Swap [Member] |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | 527 | 441
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets | 1 | 0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability | 65 | 28
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Credit Default Swaps |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | 1,641 | 1,306
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets | 3 | 5
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability | 6 | 0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Equity Options |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | 320 | 364
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets | 58 | 15
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability | 0 | 0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Synthetic Guaranteed Investment Contracts |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | 14,240 | 13,823
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 | 0 | 121
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability | 109 | 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 | 751 | 767
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 | 291 | 163
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Currency Swap [Member] |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | 150 | 150
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets | 0 | 0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability | 23 | 9
Designated As Hedging Instrument |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | 1,869 | 1,971
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets | 138 | 46
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability | 77 | 33
Designated As Hedging Instrument | Interest Rate Swap [Member] |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | 435 | 535
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets | 5 | 1
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability | 53 | 29
Designated As Hedging Instrument | Currency Swap [Member] |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | 322 | 342
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets | 31 | 17
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability | 23 | 2
Designated As Hedging Instrument | Forward Contracts [Member] |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | 1,112 | 1,094
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets | 102 | 28
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability | $ 1 | $ 2

X
- Definition Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets elected not to be offset. Excludes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393222&loc=SL20226000-175313 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 860 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4D -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118948506&loc=SL51823488-111719 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -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 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4B -Subparagraph (a),(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5624163-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities elected not to be offset. Excludes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 860 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4D -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118948506&loc=SL51823488-111719 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4B -Subparagraph (a),(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5624163-113959 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -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 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393222&loc=SL20226000-175313 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Nominal or face amount used to calculate payment on derivative. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5580258-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5579245-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_FutureMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=rga_ConsumerPriceIndexSwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_EquityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=rga_SyntheticGuaranteedInvestmentContractsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=rga_EmbeddedDerivativesInModifiedCoinsuranceOrFundsWithheldArrangementsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=rga_EmbeddedDerivativesInIndexedAnnuityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=rga_EmbeddedDerivativesInVariableAnnuityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CurrencySwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |