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Fair Values of Financial Instruments Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis by Fair Value Hierarchy (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets [Abstract]
2015 Notes Hedges	$ 43,105
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	25,955,713	19,250,813
Liabilities
Fair Value Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, 2015 Notes Embedded Derivative	43,105	45,593
Fair Value Liability Measured on Recurring Basis, Fixed Index Annuities Embedded Derivative	3,337,556	2,530,496
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	3,384,922	2,576,089
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative instruments	415,258	273,314
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	1,268,545	404,952
2015 Notes Hedges		45,593
Liabilities
Fair Value Liability Measured on Recurring Basis, Fixed Index Annuities Embedded Derivative	3,337,556	2,530,496
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	53,422	62,845
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | US Treasury Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	5,154	4,678
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	14,466,772	10,091,256
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | US Government Corporations and Agencies Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	1,772,025	1,799,779
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	3,578,323	3,333,383
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	105,259	68,333
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	2,888,113	2,703,290
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	357,982
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	998,508	463,390
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative instruments	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	1,268,545	404,952
2015 Notes Hedges	0	0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	1,344,136	513,056
Liabilities
Fair Value Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, 2015 Notes Embedded Derivative	0	0
Fair Value Liability Measured on Recurring Basis, Fixed Index Annuities Embedded Derivative	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	36,928	44,229
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | US Treasury Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	5,154	4,678
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	33,131	58,827
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | US Government Corporations and Agencies Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	378	370
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative instruments	415,258	273,314
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	0	0
2015 Notes Hedges	43,105	45,593
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	24,609,765	18,735,659
Liabilities
Fair Value Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, 2015 Notes Embedded Derivative	43,105	45,593
Fair Value Liability Measured on Recurring Basis, Fixed Index Annuities Embedded Derivative	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	47,366	45,593
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	16,494	18,616
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | US Treasury Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	14,433,641	10,032,429
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | US Government Corporations and Agencies Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	1,772,025	1,799,779
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	3,578,323	3,333,383
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	105,259	68,333
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	2,886,301	2,701,192
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	357,982
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	998,130	463,020
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative instruments	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	0	0
2015 Notes Hedges	0	0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	1,812	2,098
Liabilities
Fair Value Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, 2015 Notes Embedded Derivative	0	0
Fair Value Liability Measured on Recurring Basis, Fixed Index Annuities Embedded Derivative	3,337,556	2,530,496
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	3,337,556	2,530,496
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | US Treasury Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | US Government Corporations and Agencies Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	1,812	2,098
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Interest Rate Cap [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative instruments	3,247
Interest Rate Cap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative instruments	0
Interest Rate Cap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative instruments	3,247
Interest Rate Cap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative instruments	0
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Liabilities
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	4,261
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	4,261
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	$ 0

X

- Definition

Hedge transacation whereby we have the option to receive the cash equivalent of the conversion spread on16.0 million shares of our common stock based upon a strike price of $12.50 per share, subject to certain conversion rate adjustments in the 2015 Notes.

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- Definition

This element represents the aggregate of the assets reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements.

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-SubTopic 10

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- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the Company may deposit additional funds at any time and also effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.

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