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Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements Level 1 (Notes)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements [Abstract]  
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs [Text Block]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements
Policy acquisition costs deferred and amortized are as follows:
 
December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance at beginning of year
$
1,683,857

 
$
1,747,760

 
$
1,625,785

Costs deferred during the year:
 
 
 
 
 
Commissions
399,001

 
463,889

 
390,631

Policy issue costs
4,410

 
14,945

 
11,976

Amortization
(164,919
)
 
(143,478
)
 
(136,388
)
Effect of net unrealized gains/losses
(212,550
)
 
(399,259
)
 
(144,244
)
Balance at end of year
$
1,709,799

 
$
1,683,857

 
$
1,747,760


Sales inducements deferred and amortized are as follows:
 
December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance at beginning of year
$
1,242,787

 
$
1,227,328

 
$
1,011,449

Costs deferred during the year
306,659

 
385,123

 
370,714

Amortization
(87,157
)
 
(71,781
)
 
(59,873
)
Effect of net unrealized gains/losses
(169,948
)
 
(297,883
)
 
(94,962
)
Balance at end of year
$
1,292,341

 
$
1,242,787

 
$
1,227,328


We periodically revise the key assumptions used in the calculation of amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and deferred sales inducements retrospectively through an unlocking process when estimates of current or future gross profits/margins (including the impact of realized investment gains and losses) to be realized from a group of products are revised. The unlocking adjustment in 2012 increased amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs by $3.7 million and decreased amortization of deferred sales inducements by $0.2 million. The unlocking adjustment in 2011 decreased amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs by $9.1 million and decreased amortization for deferred sales inducements by $5.0 million. The unlocking adjustment in 2010 increased amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs by $1.4 million and increased amortization for deferred sales inducements by $0.3 million.