v2.4.0.6
Fair Value Measurements (Quantitative Information Used As Level 3 Inputs) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Net premiums written $ 427,630 $ 427,995 $ 920,205 $ 880,570  
Net reserve for claims and claim expenses 1,801,247   1,801,247   1,992,354
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Assets, fair value 452,465   452,465    
Other assets and (liabilities). fair value 34,185   34,185    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Corporate [Member] | Discounted Cash Flow Valuation Technique [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Assets, fair value 17,521   17,521    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Corporate [Member] | Discounted Cash Flow Valuation Technique [Member] | Weighted Average or Actual [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Credit spread     4.60%    
Illiquidity premium     1.00%    
Risk-free rate     0.20%    
Dividend rate     5.90%    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Corporate [Member] | Internal Valuation Model Valuation Technique [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Assets, fair value 10,254   10,254    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Fixed maturity investments [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Assets, fair value 27,775   27,775    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Private equity partnerships [Member] | Net Asset Valuation Technique [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Assets, fair value 360,268   360,268    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Private equity partnerships [Member] | Net Asset Valuation Technique [Member] | Low [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Estimated performance     (19.70%)    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Private equity partnerships [Member] | Net Asset Valuation Technique [Member] | High [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Estimated performance     12.60%    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Private equity partnerships [Member] | Net Asset Valuation Technique [Member] | Weighted Average or Actual [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Estimated performance     (1.40%)    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Senior secured bank loan funds [Member] | Net Asset Valuation Technique [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Assets, fair value 22,724   22,724    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Senior secured bank loan funds [Member] | Net Asset Valuation Technique [Member] | Weighted Average or Actual [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Estimated performance     0.40%    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Hedge funds [Member] | Net Asset Valuation Technique [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Assets, fair value 6,243   6,243    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Hedge funds [Member] | Net Asset Valuation Technique [Member] | Low [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Estimated performance     (0.40%)    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Hedge funds [Member] | Net Asset Valuation Technique [Member] | High [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Estimated performance     3.00%    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Hedge funds [Member] | Net Asset Valuation Technique [Member] | Weighted Average or Actual [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Estimated performance     1.90%    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Miscellaneous other investments [Member] | Discounted Cash Flow Valuation Technique [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Assets, fair value 1,270   1,270    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Miscellaneous other investments [Member] | Discounted Cash Flow Valuation Technique [Member] | Weighted Average or Actual [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Credit spread     7.40%    
Illiquidity premium     1.00%    
Risk-free rate     0.50%    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Other Investments [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Assets, fair value 390,505   390,505    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Assumed and ceded reinsurance contracts [Member] | Internal Valuation Model Valuation Technique [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Other assets and (liabilities). fair value 9,689   9,689    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Assumed and ceded reinsurance contracts [Member] | Internal Valuation Model Valuation Technique [Member] | Low [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Net premiums written     0    
Contract period     183 days    
Net reserve for claims and claim expenses 0   0    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Assumed and ceded reinsurance contracts [Member] | Internal Valuation Model Valuation Technique [Member] | High [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Net premiums written     12,300    
Contract period     365 days    
Net reserve for claims and claim expenses 0   0    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Weather and energy related derivatives [Member] | Spread Option, Quanto, Black Scholes and Simulation Valuation Techniques [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Other assets and (liabilities). fair value 9,081   9,081    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Weather and energy related derivatives [Member] | Spread Option, Quanto, Black Scholes and Simulation Valuation Techniques [Member] | Low [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Correlation     0.00%    
Volatility     9.40%    
Commodity curve     2.62    
Weather curve     19    
Counterparty default risk     0.00%    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Weather and energy related derivatives [Member] | Spread Option, Quanto, Black Scholes and Simulation Valuation Techniques [Member] | High [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Correlation     100.00%    
Volatility     525.00%    
Commodity curve     200    
Weather curve     5,000    
Counterparty default risk     22.50%    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Other [Member] | Internal Valuation Model Valuation Technique [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Other assets and (liabilities). fair value 1,250   1,250    
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Other [Member] | Net Asset Valuation Technique [Member]
         
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]          
Other assets and (liabilities). fair value $ 14,165   $ 14,165