XML 46 R37.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Reinsurance and Policy Provisions Level 3 (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012
Reinsurance Policy and Procedures [Abstract] |
Amounts Ceded to EquiTrust and Athene, Impact on Consolidated Statements of Operations and Cash Flows [Table Text Block] | Amounts ceded to EquiTrust and Athene under these agreements are as follows:
| Year Ended December 31,
| 2012 |  | 2011 |  | 2010
| (Dollars in thousands)
Consolidated Statements of Operations |  |  |  |  |
Annuity product charges | $ | 6,796 |  |  | $ | 8,149 |  |  | $ | 9,063 |
Change in fair value of derivatives | 17,106 |  |  | (2,771 | ) |  | 19,408 |
| $ | 23,902 |  |  | $ | 5,378 |  |  | $ | 28,471 |
Interest sensitive and index product benefits | $ | 94,113 |  |  | $ | 99,724 |  |  | $ | 96,872 |
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives | 9,373 |  |  | (12,428 | ) |  | 3,373 |
Other operating costs and expenses | 9,333 |  |  | 8,970 |  |  | 8,948 |
| $ | 112,819 |  |  | $ | 96,266 |  |  | $ | 109,193 |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |  |  |  |  |
Annuity deposits | $ | (203,552 | ) |  | $ | (326,531 | ) |  | $ | (478,962 | )
Cash payments to policyholders | 208,437 |  |  | 204,116 |  |  | 211,324 |
| $ | 4,885 |  |  | $ | (122,415 | ) |  | $ | (267,638 | )

X
- Definition Item represents tabular disclosure of the impact of amounts ceded to EquiTrust Life Insurance Company and Athene Life Re Ltd. Company on the consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_AmountsCededToEquitrustAndAtheneImpactOnConsolidatedStatementsOfOperationsAndCashFlowsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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