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Reinsurance and Policy Provisions Narrative (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Reinsurance and Policy Provisions [Line Items] |  |  |
Coinsurance deposits | $ 2,910,701,000 | $ 2,818,642,000 |
Equitrust Coinsurance Agreement, August 1, 2001 to December 31, 2001 [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance and Policy Provisions [Line Items] |  |  |
Coninsurance Percentage on Certain Annuities | 70.00% |  |
Equitrust Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2003 [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance and Policy Provisions [Line Items] |  |  |
Coninsurance Percentage on Certain Annuities | 40.00% |  |
Equitrust Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2004 to July 31, 2004 [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance and Policy Provisions [Line Items] |  |  |
Coninsurance Percentage on Certain Annuities | 20.00% |  |
Equitrust Coinsurance Agreements, All Periods [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance and Policy Provisions [Line Items] |  |  |
Reinsurance Payable | 9,200,000 | 11,500,000 |
Coinsurance deposits | 1,000,000,000 | 1,100,000,000 |
Athene Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010 [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance and Policy Provisions [Line Items] |  |  |
Coninsurance Percentage on Certain Annuities | 20.00% |  |
Years Until Eligibilty for Recapture | 7 |  |
Athene Coinsurance Agreements, All Periods [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance and Policy Provisions [Line Items] |  |  |
Reinsurance Payable | 14,000,000 | 8,400,000 |
Coinsurance deposits | 1,900,000,000 | 1,700,000,000 |
Athene Coinsurance Agreement, July 1, 2009 to Current [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance and Policy Provisions [Line Items] |  |  |
Coninsurance Percentage on Certain Annuities | 80.00% |  |
Reinsurance, 2011 Hannover Reinsurance Agreement [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance and Policy Provisions [Line Items] |  |  |
Reinsurance, Net Pretax Statutory Surplus Benefit | 49,200,000 |  |
Reinsurance, Reduction in Pretax Statutory Surplus, Current Period | (11,800,000) | (9,200,000) |
Reinsurance, Risk Charge | 1,800,000 | 1,700,000 |
Reinsurance, Reduction in Pretax Statutory Surplus, Due in One Year | (11,300,000) |  |
Reinsurance, Reduction in Pretax Statutory Surplus, Due in Two Years | (10,800,000) |  |
Reinsurance, Reduction in Pretax Statutory Surplus, Due in Three Years | (10,300,000) |  |
Reinsurance, Risk Charge Rate | 1.25% |  |
Reinsurance, 2008 Hannover Reinsurance Agreement [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance and Policy Provisions [Line Items] |  |  |
Reinsurance, Net Pretax Statutory Surplus Benefit | 29,500,000 |  |
Reinsurance, Reduction in Pretax Statutory Surplus, Current Period | (6,800,000) | (6,700,000) |
Reinsurance, Risk Charge | 500,000 | 800,000 | 1,100,000
Reinsurance, Reduction in Pretax Statutory Surplus, Due in One Year | (6,900,000) |  |
Reinsurance, Risk Charge Rate | 1.25% |  |
Reinsurance, 2005 Hannover Reinsurance Agreement [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance and Policy Provisions [Line Items] |  |  |
Reinsurance, Risk Charge | 9,900,000 | 8,600,000 | 6,900,000
Reinsurance, Waived Surrender Charges on Penalty Free Withdrawals and Deaths on Certain Business, Percentage | 47.00% |  |
Reinsurance, Reserve Credit | $ 180,300,000 | $ 162,500,000 |
Reinsurance, Risk Charge Rate | 5.80% |  |

X
- Definition Item represents the percentage of coinsurance provided under the coinsurance agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Definition Item represents the statutory surplus benefit recognized as a result of the reinsurance agreement net of initial expenses for risk charges and reinsurers fee. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Item represents the reduction to pretax statutory surplus recorded during the current reporting period based upon the Loss Carry Forward schedule, interest rate, and risk charges per the subject reinsurance agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Item represents the reduction to pretax statutory surplus expected to be recorded in one year based upon the Loss Carry Forward schedule, interest rate, and risk charges per the subject reinsurance agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Item represents the reduction to pretax statutory surplus expected to be recorded in three years based upon the Loss Carry Forward schedule, interest rate, and risk charges per the subject reinsurance agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Item represents the reduction to pretax statutory surplus expected to be recorded in two years based upon the Loss Carry Forward schedule, interest rate, and risk charges per the subject reinsurance agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This amount represents a statutory reserve credit taken related to a reinsurance agreement that is accounted for as reinsurance in accordance with statutory accounting principles. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Item represents a risk charge percentage that is applied to the oustanding loss carry forward (LCF) to determine the amount due at the end of each accounting period (quarter). + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Item represents the rate applied to the outstanding loss carry forward amount at each accounting period (quarterly) to determine the risk charge that is to be paid by the ceding icompany. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Item represents the percentage of coverage provided by the 2005 Hannover Reinsurance Agreement on certain business of waived surrender charges related to penalty free withdrawals and deaths. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Item represents the number of years under coinsurance agreements that business in not eligible for recapture. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Funds held by the ceding insurer on behalf the reinsurer, including funds held in trust, under reinsurance treaties or contracts with the assuming insurer as security for the payment of the obligations thereunder, which represent an asset for the reinsurer. There is another concept for the corresponding liability of the ceding insurer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.2,10) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 2, 10 -Article 7 + Details
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- Definition The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the known and estimated amounts owed to insurers under reinsurance treaties or other arrangements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(a)(3),(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph a(3) -Article 7 + Details
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