Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014 Director	Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of board of directors	2aame_NumberOfBoardOfDirectors
Rental expense for operating leases	$ 1,229us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet	$ 1,215us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet
Payment of dividends on Series D Preferred Stock	471	483
Redemption of Series D preferred stock	1,000	500
Series D Preferred Stock [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payment of dividends on Series D Preferred Stock	471	483
Redemption of Series D preferred stock	1,000	500
Affiliated Entity [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Office and covered garage space leased (in square feet)	49,586
Rental expense for operating leases	852	864
Members of Management [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Aggregate carrying value of investments in Gray	$ 9,242	$ 12,942
Members of Management [Member] \| Class A common stock [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Shares of Gray common stock owned (in shares)	880,272	880,272
Members of Management [Member] \| Common Stock [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Shares of Gray common stock owned (in shares)	106,000	106,000

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all investments in related party.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of board of directors.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Area of a real estate property.

+ References

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- Definition

Balance held at close of period in number of shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 946

-SubTopic 320

-Section S99

-Paragraph 4

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- Definition

Rental expense for the reporting period incurred under operating leases, including minimum and any contingent rent expense, net of related sublease income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

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- Definition

The cash outflow for reacquisition of callable preferred stock.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

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- Definition

Amount of cash outflow in the form of ordinary dividends to preferred shareholders of the parent entity.

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