XML 38 R87.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Reinsurance and Policy Provisions Amounts Ceded to Equitrust and Athene, Impact on Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Coinsurance [Line Items] |  |  |
Annuity product charges | $ 89,006 | $ 76,189 | $ 69,075
Change in fair value of derivatives | 221,138 | (114,728) | 168,862
Interest Sensitive And Index Product Benefits | 818,087 | 775,757 | 733,218
Embedded Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Embedded Derivative, Net | 286,899 | (105,194) | 130,950
Other Cost and Expense, Operating | 95,495 | 67,529 | 114,615
Return of annuity policyholder account balances | (1,575,340) | (1,494,554) | (1,465,434)
Proceeds from Payments to Coinsurance Deposits | 4,885 | (122,415) | (267,638)
Coinsurance Agreements, EquiTrust Life Insurance Company and Athene Life Re Ltd. Company [Member] |  |  |
Coinsurance [Line Items] |  |  |
Annuity product charges | 6,796 | 8,149 | 9,063
Change in fair value of derivatives | 17,106 | (2,771) | 19,408
Coinsurance, Revenues Included in Consolidated Statement of Operations | 23,902 | 5,378 | 28,471
Interest Sensitive And Index Product Benefits | 94,113 | 99,724 | 96,872
Embedded Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Embedded Derivative, Net | 9,373 | (12,428) | 3,373
Other Cost and Expense, Operating | 9,333 | 8,970 | 8,948
Coinsurance, Benefits and Expenses Included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations | 112,819 | 96,266 | 109,193
Annuity Deposits, Coinsurance | (203,552) | (326,531) | (478,962)
Return of annuity policyholder account balances | $ (208,437) | $ (204,116) | $ (211,324)

X
- Definition Item represents annuity deposits received under coinsurance agreements during the reporting period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_AnnuityDepositsCoinsurance
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Item represents benefits and expenses included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as a result of coinsurance agreements with Equitrst Life Insurance Company and Athene Life Re Ltd. Company. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_CoinsuranceBenefitsAndExpensesIncludedInConsolidatedStatementOfOperations
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | ael_CoinsuranceLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Item represents revenues included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as a result of coinsurance agreements with Equitrst Life Insurance Company and Athene Life Re Ltd. Company. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_CoinsuranceRevenuesIncludedInConsolidatedStatementOfOperations
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element includes index credits on fixed index policies, interest allocated to policies that provide a guaranteed yield, and living income benefit rider credits to policies that the policyholder has elected to add to those policies. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_InterestSensitiveAndIndexProductBenefits
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The net cash inflow (outflow) associated with coinsurance deposits during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_ProceedsFromPaymentsToCoinsuranceDeposits
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Net Increase or Decrease in the fair value of the derivative or group of derivatives included in earnings. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5618551-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Net Increase or Decrease in the fair value of the embedded derivative or group of embedded derivatives included in earnings in the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44A, 44B -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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44B -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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 12-16, 44A, 44B -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 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44A -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. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The total amount of other operating cost and expense items that are associated with the entity's normal revenue producing operation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 3 -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition An amount that an insurer adds to a policy's premium, or deducts from a policy's cash value or contract holder's account, as compensation for services rendered; may include fees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PolicyChargesInsurance
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash outflow for an insurance contract under which the policy holder make a lump sum payment or a series of payments in exchange for periodic payments to the policyholder beginning immediately or at some future date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 26, 31 -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 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3291-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RepaymentsOfAnnuitiesAndInvestmentCertificates
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration