v3.19.2
Segment Information - Net Income (Loss) and Total Assets (Details)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2018
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2019
USD ($)
Segment
Jun. 30, 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Number of reporting segments | Segment     2    
Net Income (Loss) [Abstract]          
Gross premiums written $ 2,117 $ 521,526 $ (559,022) $ 1,144,854  
Net premiums written (409) 521,028 (561,939) 1,143,679  
Net premiums earned 133,986 504,388 317,088 1,021,201  
Other insurance revenue 754 2,033 1,504 5,759  
Net loss and loss adjustment expenses (loss and LAE) (121,561) (370,001) (274,250) (723,207)  
Commission and other acquisition expenses (49,656) (162,780) (119,273) (329,408)  
General and administrative expenses (2,654) (5,675) (6,951) (11,076)  
Underwriting income (loss) (39,131) (32,035) (81,882) (36,731)  
Reconciliation to net income from continuing operations          
Net investment income and realized gains on investment 55,208 33,846 76,129 67,072  
Interest and amortization expenses (4,830) (4,829) (9,659) (9,658)  
Foreign exchange and other gains 1,207 4,821 6,186 2,414  
Other general and administrative expenses (10,195) (9,185) (21,837) (19,455)  
Income tax benefit 1,026 1,847 1,064 3,171  
Net income (loss) from continuing operations $ 3,285 $ (5,535) $ (29,999) $ 6,813  
Net loss and LAE ratio 90.20% 73.10% 86.10% 70.40%  
Commission and other acquisition expense ratio 36.90% 32.10% 37.50% 32.10%  
General and administrative expense ratio 9.50% 2.90% 9.00% 3.00%  
Expense ratio 46.40% 35.00% 46.50% 35.10%  
Combined ratio 136.60% 108.10% 132.60% 105.50%  
Assets [Abstract]          
Assets held for sale $ 66,009   $ 66,009   $ 174,475
Total assets 4,598,556   4,598,556   5,287,460
Operating segments          
Assets [Abstract]          
Total assets - reportable segments 3,900,786   3,900,786   4,686,177
Corporate assets 631,761   631,761   426,808
Assets held for sale 66,009   66,009   174,475
Total assets 4,598,556   4,598,556   5,287,460
Operating segments | Diversified Reinsurance          
Net Income (Loss) [Abstract]          
Gross premiums written 11,244 $ 30,041 26,582 $ 79,441  
Net premiums written 8,718 29,717 23,665 77,988  
Net premiums earned 22,472 28,539 47,764 54,054  
Other insurance revenue 754 2,033 1,504 5,759  
Net loss and loss adjustment expenses (loss and LAE) (12,497) (16,165) (26,888) (32,064)  
Commission and other acquisition expenses (8,147) (9,988) (17,408) (19,300)  
General and administrative expenses (2,092) (4,593) (5,123) (9,074)  
Underwriting income (loss) $ 490 $ (174) $ (151) $ (625)  
Reconciliation to net income from continuing operations          
Net loss and LAE ratio 53.80% 52.90% 54.60% 53.60%  
Commission and other acquisition expense ratio 35.10% 32.70% 35.30% 32.20%  
General and administrative expense ratio 9.00% 15.00% 10.40% 15.20%  
Expense ratio 44.10% 47.70% 45.70% 47.40%  
Combined ratio 97.90% 100.60% 100.30% 101.00%  
Assets [Abstract]          
Total assets - reportable segments $ 180,370   $ 180,370   190,437
Corporate assets 0   0   0
Assets held for sale 0   0   0
Total assets 180,370   180,370   190,437
Operating segments | AmTrust Reinsurance          
Net Income (Loss) [Abstract]          
Gross premiums written (9,127) $ 491,485 (585,604) $ 1,065,413  
Net premiums written (9,127) 491,311 (585,604) 1,065,691  
Net premiums earned 111,514 475,849 269,324 967,147  
Other insurance revenue 0 0 0 0  
Net loss and loss adjustment expenses (loss and LAE) (109,088) (353,836) (247,158) (691,143)  
Commission and other acquisition expenses (41,509) (152,792) (101,865) (310,108)  
General and administrative expenses (562) (1,082) (1,828) (2,002)  
Underwriting income (loss) $ (39,645) $ (31,861) $ (81,527) $ (36,106)  
Reconciliation to net income from continuing operations          
Net loss and LAE ratio 97.80% 74.40% 91.80% 71.40%  
Commission and other acquisition expense ratio 37.20% 32.10% 37.80% 32.10%  
General and administrative expense ratio 0.50% 0.20% 0.70% 0.20%  
Expense ratio 37.70% 32.30% 38.50% 32.30%  
Combined ratio 135.50% 106.70% 130.30% 103.70%  
Assets [Abstract]          
Total assets - reportable segments $ 3,720,416   $ 3,720,416   4,495,740
Corporate assets 0   0   0
Assets held for sale 0   0   0
Total assets 3,720,416   3,720,416   $ 4,495,740
Other          
Net Income (Loss) [Abstract]          
Gross premiums written 0 $ 0 0 $ 0  
Net premiums written 0 0 0 0  
Net premiums earned 0 0 0 0  
Other insurance revenue 0 0 0 0  
Net loss and loss adjustment expenses (loss and LAE) 24 0 (204) 0  
Commission and other acquisition expenses 0 0 0 0  
General and administrative expenses 0 0 0 0  
Underwriting income (loss) $ 24 $ 0 $ (204) $ 0