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Investments Schedule of Credit Quality of Fixed Maturity Security Portfolio by NAIC Designation (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
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Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Percentage of Investment Grade Fixed Maturity Securities, at Fair Value | 98.00% |
Fixed Maturities [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Investment Owned, at Cost | $ 20,212,062 | $ 19,624,485
Investment Owned, at Fair Value | 22,474,251 | 21,108,531
National Association of Insurance Commissioners NAIC Credit Rating 1 [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Investment Owned, at Cost | 13,007,318 | 14,359,272
Investment Owned, at Fair Value | 14,591,003 | 15,486,571
National Association of Insurance Commissioners NAIC Credit Rating 2 [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Investment Owned, at Cost | 6,846,088 | 4,894,739
Investment Owned, at Fair Value | 7,538,539 | 5,272,759
National Association of Insurance Commissioners NAIC Credit Rating 3 [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Investment Owned, at Cost | 319,697 | 335,642
Investment Owned, at Fair Value | 304,463 | 315,406
National Association of Insurance Commissioners NAIC Credit Rating 4 [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Investment Owned, at Cost | 31,719 | 26,674
Investment Owned, at Fair Value | 32,361 | 23,989
National Association of Insurance Commissioners NAIC Credit Rating 5 [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Investment Owned, at Cost | 4,451 | 4,932
Investment Owned, at Fair Value | 4,006 | 5,756
National Association of Insurance Commissioners NAIC Credit Rating 6 [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Investment Owned, at Cost | 2,789 | 3,226
Investment Owned, at Fair Value | $ 3,879 | $ 4,050

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- Definition Value of the investment at close of period. For schedules of investments that are categorized, the value would be aggregated by category. For investment in and advances to affiliates, if operations of any controlled companies are different in character from those of the company, group such affiliates within divisions and by type of activities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 12 -Section 12 -Paragraph 3, 4 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 14 -Paragraph 2, 3 -Article 12 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-13.Column C.6) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6955306&loc=d3e611282-123010 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 13 -Paragraph Column C -Article 12 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12.Column C.3,4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6955306&loc=d3e611133-123010 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 13 -Paragraph 6 -Article 12 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14.Column E.2,3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6955306&loc=d3e611322-123010 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 12 -Paragraph Column C -Article 12 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 14 -Paragraph Column E -Article 12 Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 12C -Paragraph 7 -Article 12 Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12C.Column C.7) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6955306&loc=d3e611225-123010 Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 12C -Paragraph Column C -Article 12 + Details
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