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Investments (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2012 Security | Jun. 30, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2012 Security | Jun. 30, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2011
Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
12 Months or Longer, Gross Unrealized Loss | $ 94,919 |  | $ 94,919 |  | $ 114,011
Investments (Textual) [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Unrealized losses of one security under closed-block life insurance issuance | 5,120 |  | 5,120 |  |
Unrealized losses of one security of large diversified financial services company | 4,554 |  | 4,554 |  |
Period of unrealized loss position on large diversified financial services company |  |  | 60 months |  |
Unrealized loss position of Alt-A securities greater than twelve months | 31,293 |  | 31,293 |  |
Period of unrealized loss position on Alt-A securities |  |  | 54 months |  |
Percentage of unrealized losses on mortgage-backed securities attributable to Alt-A Securities | 96.10% |  | 96.10% |  |
Number of individual Alt-A securities | 16 |  | 16 |  |
Unrealized losses on security secured by IRS facility lease payments | 31,222 |  | 31,222 |  |
Period of unrealized loss position on security secured by IRS facility lease payments |  |  | 54 months |  |
Impairment charges to earnings | 2,328 | 17,578 | 5,399 | 19,291 |
Securities fair value | 7,083 |  | 7,083 |  | 7,132
Securities fair value | 193,346 |  | 193,346 |  | 172,880
Percentage of future claim payments made in cash |  |  | 25.00% |  |
Percentage of future claim payments made in surplus note |  |  | 75.00% |  |
Percentage of permitted policy claim |  |  | 25.00% |  |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Period of unrealized loss position on closed-block life insurance Issuance |  |  | 36 months |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Period of unrealized loss position on closed-block life insurance Issuance |  |  | 54 months |  |
Below Investment Grade Securities and Non Rated Securities [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of below investment grade securities and non-rated securities | 267,213 |  | 267,213 |  | 268,633
Gross Unrealized loss | 62,018 |  | 62,018 |  | 77,947
Other asset-backed securities [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
12 Months or Longer, Gross Unrealized Loss | 48,613 |  | 48,613 |  |
Residential Mortgage-backed Securities [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
12 Months or Longer, Gross Unrealized Loss | 32,568 |  | 32,568 |  | 43,321
Corporate obligations [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
12 Months or Longer, Gross Unrealized Loss | $ 12,647 |  | $ 12,647 |  | $ 16,983

X
- Definition Number of months closed block life insurance issuance in a continuous unrealized loss position. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of months an issuance of a large diversified financial services company that is in a continuous unrealized loss position. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of months Alt-A securities are in a continuous unrealized loss position. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Aggregate losses for an issuance of a large diversified financial services company that is in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or longer. + References No definition available. + Details
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