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Fair Values of Financial Instruments Fair Values of Financial Instruments Reconciliation of Beginning and Ending Balances of Level 3 Liabilities (Details) (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Mar. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Mar. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations, Recurring Basis, Liability Value | $ 3,266,782,000 | $ 2,399,097,000 | $ 3,266,782,000 | $ 2,399,097,000 | $ 2,914,948,000 | $ 2,530,496,000 | $ 2,368,533,000 | $ 1,971,383,000
Premiums Less Benefis Level 3 Liabilities | 229,340,000 | 274,579,000 | 418,845,000 | 742,255,000 |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings | 122,494,000 | (244,015,000) | 317,441,000 | (314,541,000) |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Sensitivity, Increase in Discount Rate by 10 Percent [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Sensitivity, Discount Rate Adjustment | 100 |  | 100 |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Liability Measured on Recurring Basis, Fixed Index Annuities Embedded Derivative | 232,600,000 |  | 232,600,000 |  |  |  |  |
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements, Adjustment Due to Change in Discount Rate, Combined Balance | 141,600,000 |  | 141,600,000 |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Sensitivity, Decrease in Discount Rate by 10 Percent [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Sensitivity, Discount Rate Adjustment | 100 |  | 100 |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Liability Measured on Recurring Basis, Fixed Index Annuities Embedded Derivative | 260,400,000 |  | 260,400,000 |  |  |  |  |
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements, Adjustment Due to Change in Discount Rate, Combined Balance | $ 159,200,000 |  | $ 159,200,000 |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Corresponding amount of change in the combined balance of deferred policy acquistion costs and deferred sales inducements due to a change in the discount rate utilized to determine the fair value of embedded derivatives. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Fair value of fixed index embedded derivative liabilities. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Item represents the number of basis points of change in the assumed discount rate utilized to determine the fair value of embedded derivatives. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This element represents premiums less benefits which have taken place during the period in relation to liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3). + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Definition This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in earnings or resulted in a change in net asset value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph c(1) -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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition This element represents a liability measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) which is required for reconciliation purposes of beginning and ending balances. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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