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Fair Values of Financial Instruments Reconciliation of Beginning and Ending Balances of Level 3 Liabilities (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Mar. 31, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations, Recurring Basis, Liability Value |  |  | $ 2,530,496 | $ 1,971,383 | $ 2,914,948 | $ 2,368,533
Premiums Less Benefis Level 3 Liabilities | 229,340 | 274,579 | 418,845 | 742,255 |  |
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings | (73) | (152) | (303) | (682) |  |
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations, Recurring Basis, Liability Value | $ 3,266,782 | $ 2,399,097 | $ 3,266,782 | $ 2,399,097 | $ 2,914,948 | $ 2,368,533

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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
Name: | ael_PremiumsLessBenefisLevel3Liabilities
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from assets 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of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph c(1) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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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
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant