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Reinsurance (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Reinsurance [Abstract] |
Total Reinsurance Balances Segregated By Reinsurer |
|  | As of December 31, 2011 |  |  | As of December 31, 2010
|  |  |  | % of Net |  |  |  |  | % of Net |
|  | Reinsurance |  | Unsecured |  |  | Reinsurance |  | Unsecured |
($ in thousands) |  | Balances |  | Reinsurance |  |  | Balances |  | Reinsurance |
Total reinsurance recoverables | $ | 561,855 |  |  |  | $ | 318,752 |  |  |
Total prepaid reinsurance premiums |  | 147,686 |  |  |  |  | 110,327 |  |  |
Less: collateral1 |  | (146,364) |  |  |  |  | (81,707) |  |  |
Net unsecured reinsurance balances |  | 563,177 |  |  |  |  | 347,372 |  |  |
Federal and state pools2: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
NJ Unsatisfied Claim Judgment Fund |  | 69,179 |  | 12 | % |  | 62,098 |  | 18 | %
National Flood Insurance Program ("NFIP") |  | 267,600 |  | 48 |  |  | 119,241 |  | 34 |
Other |  | 4,235 |  | 1 |  |  | 5,157 |  | 2 |
Total federal and state pools |  | 341,014 |  | 61 |  |  | 186,496 |  | 54 |
Remaining unsecured reinsurance |  | 222,163 |  | 39 |  |  | 160,876 |  | 46 |
Hannover Ruckversicherungs AG (A.M. Best rated "A") |  | 50,636 |  | 9 |  |  | 33,203 |  | 10 |
Munich Re Group (A.M. Best rated "A+") |  | 34,902 |  | 6 |  |  | 29,312 |  | 8 |
Swiss Re Group (A.M. Best rated "A+") |  | 28,634 |  | 5 |  |  | 24,552 |  | 7 |
AXIS Reinsurance Company (A.M. Best rated "A") |  | 26,172 |  | 5 |  |  | 15,665 |  | 5 |
Partner Reinsurance Company of the U.S.(A.M. Best rated "A+") |  | 19,105 |  | 3 |  |  | 14,206 |  | 4 |
All other reinsurers |  | 62,714 |  | 11 |  |  | 43,938 |  | 12 |
Total | $ | 222,163 |  | 39 | % | $ | 160,876 |  | 46 | %
1 Includes letters of credit, trust funds, and funds withheld.
2 Considered to have minimal risk of default.
Note: Some amounts may not foot due to rounding
List of Direct, Assumed, and Ceded Reinsurance Amounts |
($ in thousands) |  | 2011 |  | 2010 |  | 2009
Premiums written: |  |  |  |  |  |
Direct | $ | 1,725,393 |  | 1,634,415 |  | 1,657,142
Assumed |  | 51,515 |  | 25,254 |  | 22,784
Ceded |  | (291,559) |  | (269,128) |  | (257,271)
Net | $ | 1,485,349 |  | 1,390,541 |  | 1,422,655
Premiums earned: |  |  |  |  |  |
Direct | $ | 1,693,021 |  | 1,654,301 |  | 1,657,911
Assumed |  | 29,011 |  | 26,619 |  | 21,501
Ceded |  | (282,719) |  | (264,322) |  | (248,365)
Net | $ | 1,439,313 |  | 1,416,598 |  | 1,431,047
Losses and loss expenses incurred: |  |  |  |  |  |
Direct | $ | 1,499,340 |  | 1,102,326 |  | 1,065,594
Assumed |  | 20,788 |  | 14,994 |  | 14,794
Ceded |  | (445,141) |  | (135,202) |  | (108,483)
Net | $ | 1,074,987 |  | 982,118 |  | 971,905
Ceded Premiums and Losses Related to Flood Operations |
($ in thousands) |  | 2011 |  | 2010 |  | 2009
Ceded premiums written | $ | (206,711) |  | (190,964) |  | (178,934)
Ceded premiums earned |  | (198,153) |  | (184,833) |  | (171,941)
Ceded losses and loss expenses incurred |  | (352,619) |  | (60,479) |  | (35,597)

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- Definition Tabular disclosure of names of reinsurers that have assumed risk of the entity's contractual insurance obligation and amounts assumed for purposes of disclosing concentration of credit risk by reinsurer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 825 -Section 55 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6487554&loc=d3e32600-158583 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13531-108611 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 15A -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 FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 113 -Paragraph 28 -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 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph (a),(b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13537-108611 + Details
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