| COMPONENTS OF RESERVE FOR LOSSES AND LOSS EXPENSES [Table Text Block] |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | As of December 31, | 2013 | | 2012 | | | | | | | | | Reserve for reported losses and loss expenses | $ | 3,499,817 |
| | $ | 3,272,682 |
| | | Reserve for losses incurred but not reported | 6,082,323 |
| | 5,786,049 |
| | | Reserve for losses and loss expenses | $ | 9,582,140 |
| | $ | 9,058,731 |
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| RECONCILIATION OF BEGINNING AND ENDING GROSS RESERVE FOR LOSSES AND LOSS EXPENSES AND NET RESERVE FOR UNPAID LOSSES AND LOSS EXPENSES [Table Text Block] |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Year ended December 31, | 2013 | | 2012 | | 2011 | | | | | | | | | | | Gross reserve for losses and loss expenses, beginning of period | $ | 9,058,731 |
| | $ | 8,425,045 |
| | $ | 7,032,375 |
| | | Less reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses, beginning of period | (1,825,617 | ) | | (1,736,823 | ) | | (1,540,633 | ) | | | Net reserve for unpaid losses and loss expenses, beginning of period | 7,233,114 |
| | 6,688,222 |
| | 5,491,742 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Net incurred losses and loss expenses related to: | | | | | | | | Current year | 2,353,631 |
| | 2,340,868 |
| | 2,932,513 |
| | | Prior years | (219,436 | ) | | (244,840 | ) | | (257,461 | ) | | | | 2,134,195 |
| | 2,096,028 |
| | 2,675,052 |
| | | Net paid losses and loss expenses related to: | | | | | | | | Current year | (318,006 | ) | | (322,836 | ) | | (509,075 | ) | | | Prior years | (1,373,459 | ) | | (1,299,384 | ) | | (953,035 | ) | | | | (1,691,465 | ) | | (1,622,220 | ) | | (1,462,110 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | Foreign exchange and other | 6,184 |
| | 71,084 |
| | (16,462 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | Net reserve for unpaid losses and loss expenses, end of period | 7,682,028 |
| | 7,233,114 |
| | 6,688,222 |
| | | Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses, end of period | 1,900,112 |
| | 1,825,617 |
| | 1,736,823 |
| | | Gross reserve for losses and loss expenses, end of period | $ | 9,582,140 |
| | $ | 9,058,731 |
| | $ | 8,425,045 |
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