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Reinsurance (List of Direct, Assumed, and Ceded Reinsurance Amounts) (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010
Premiums written: |  |  |  |
Direct | $ 453,768,000 | $ 431,312,000 | $ 1,324,705,000 | $ 1,274,061,000
Assumed | 22,575,000 | 15,372,000 | 29,765,000 | 21,561,000
Ceded premiums written | (79,511,000) | (79,570,000) | (221,300,000) | (206,893,000)
Net | 396,832,000 | 367,114,000 | 1,133,170,000 | 1,088,729,000
Premiums earned: |  |  |  |
Direct | 425,231,000 | 413,759,000 | 1,257,087,000 | 1,238,912,000
Assumed | 7,626,000 | 9,158,000 | 18,866,000 | 20,858,000
Ceded premiums earned | (73,894,000) | (68,208,000) | (210,067,000) | (196,669,000)
Net | 358,963,000 | 354,709,000 | 1,065,886,000 | 1,063,101,000
Losses and loss expenses incurred: |  |  |  |
Direct | 638,219,000 | 277,111,000 | 1,204,586,000 | 834,431,000
Assumed | 5,977,000 | 6,612,000 | 13,549,000 | 11,535,000
Ceded losses and loss expenses incurred | (338,238,000) | (38,704,000) | (388,416,000) | (106,824,000)
Net | 305,958,000 | 245,019,000 | 829,719,000 | 739,142,000
Increase of direct losses and loss expenses | 361,100,000 |  | 370,200,000 |
Increase in ceded losses and loss expenses | 299,500,000 |  | 281,600,000 |
Increase in catastrophe losses | 55,500,000 |  | 60,200,000 |
Catastrophe losses | 67,400,000 |  | 112,400,000 |
Hurricane Irene losses on a net basis | 40,400,000 |  |  |
Hurricane Irene losses on a gross basis | 48,100,000 |  |  |
Prior period storm development | $ 10,400,000 |  |  |

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- Definition The increase or decrease in the provision in the period for claims and benefits incurred on contract risks ceded to other insurers under reinsurance arrangements. + Details
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- Definition The increase or decrease in the total provision in the period for future policy benefits, claims incurred and costs incurred in the claims settlement process before the effects of reinsurance arrangements. + Details
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- Definition The increase or decrease in catastrophe losses for the period compared to the prior year period. A catastrophe loss is a severe loss, as defined by the Insurance Services Office property claims service, either natural or man-made, usually involving, but not limited to, many risks from one occurrence such as fire, hurricane, tornado, and earthquake. + Details
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- Definition Provision for benefits, claims and claims settlement expenses incurred during the period but related to a prior period for property and casualty insurance net of the effects of contracts assumed and ceded. + Details
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- Definition A severe loss, as defined by the Insurance Services Office property claims service, either natural or man-made, usually involving, but not limited to, many risks from one occurrence such as fire, hurricane, tornado, and earthquake. + Details
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- Definition Premiums assumed and earned for all property and casualty insurance assumed from other insurers as a result of reinsurance arrangements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6588446&loc=d3e574992-122915 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 113 -Paragraph 27 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 17 -Article 12 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b),(c)(2)-(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547 + Details
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- Definition Premiums assumed for all property and casualty insurance assumed from other insurers as a result of reinsurance arrangements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 113 -Paragraph 27 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 17 -Article 12 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b),(c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547 + Details
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- Definition Premiums earned directly for all property and casualty insurance before adding contracts assumed from other insurers or subtracting any amounts assumed by other insurers. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 113 -Paragraph 27 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 17 -Article 12 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b),(c)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547 + Details
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- Definition Premiums written directly by insurer for all property and casualty insurance before adding contracts assumed from other insurers or subtracting any amounts assumed by other insurers. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 113 -Paragraph 27 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 17 -Article 12 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b),(c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547 + Details
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- Definition Premiums recognized as revenue in the period earned on all property and casualty insurance and reinsurance contracts after subtracting any amounts ceded to another insurer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b),(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 113 -Paragraph 27 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 1 -Article 7 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 18 -Article 12 + Details
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- Definition The amount of the provision for the period for claims and benefits incurred on contract risks assumed from other (ceding) insurers under reinsurance arrangements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 113 -Paragraph 27, 113 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition The reduction in the amount of the provision for the period for claims and benefits incurred on contract risks ceded to other insurers under reinsurance arrangements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 113 -Paragraph 27, 113 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480758&loc=d3e6811-158387 + Details
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