Investments Gross Unrealized Losses and Fair Value by Investment Category (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012 Securities	Dec. 31, 2011 Securities
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Individual Securities with Unrealized Losses	198	246
Fixed Maturities [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	2,716,900	1,197,562
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(33,982)	(74,512)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	443,515	965,549
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(33,919)	(83,424)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	3,160,415	2,163,111
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(67,901)	(157,936)
Fixed Maturities [Member] \| US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	973,728
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(3,468)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	973,728
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(3,468)
Fixed Maturities [Member] \| US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	24,393	3,535
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(125)	(10)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	24,393	3,535
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(125)	(10)
Fixed Maturities [Member] \| Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value		14,282
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses		(242)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value		14,282
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses		(242)
Fixed Maturities [Member] \| Corporate Debt Securities [Member] \| Corporate Debt Securities, Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate Sectors [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	177,962	363,909
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(4,126)	(36,575)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	85,709	146,354
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(8,438)	(15,611)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	263,671	510,263
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(12,564)	(52,186)
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	61,521	59,342
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(14,567)	(16,590)
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	61,521	59,342
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(14,567)	(16,590)
Fixed Maturities [Member] \| Corporate Debt Securities [Member] \| Corporate Debt Securities, Manufacturing, Construction, and Mining Sectors [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	426,120	201,762
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(4,303)	(7,131)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	21,975	15,593
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(1,281)	(1,627)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	448,095	217,355
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(5,584)	(8,758)
Fixed Maturities [Member] \| Corporate Debt Securities [Member] \| Corporate Debt Securities, Utilities and Related Sectors [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	221,044	174,251
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(5,187)	(7,576)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	39,224	37,778
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(4,212)	(6,946)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	260,268	212,029
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(9,399)	(14,522)
Fixed Maturities [Member] \| Corporate Debt Securities [Member] \| Corporate Debt Securities, Wholesale and Retail Trade Sectors [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	101,790	15,523
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(784)	(188)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	10,250	9,275
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(208)	(1,194)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	112,040	24,798
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(992)	(1,382)
Fixed Maturities [Member] \| Corporate Debt Securities [Member] \| Corporate Debt Securities, Services, Media, and Other Sectors [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	264,421	27,688
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(3,085)	(249)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0	17,105
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0	(2,895)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	264,421	44,793
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(3,085)	(3,144)
Fixed Maturities [Member] \| Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	220,622	295,352
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(8,679)	(19,920)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	260,226	709,612
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(19,049)	(52,161)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	480,848	1,004,964
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(27,728)	(72,081)
Fixed Maturities [Member] \| Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	161,582
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(1,983)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	161,582
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(1,983)
Fixed Maturities [Member] \| Asset-backed Securities [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	145,238	115,542
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(2,242)	(2,863)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	26,131	15,550
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(731)	(2,748)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	171,369	131,092
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(2,973)	(5,611)
Equity Securities [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	0	20,028
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	0	(3,095)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	8,722	3,750
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(1,403)	(1,250)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	8,722	23,778
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(1,403)	(4,345)

Represents the number of indivual securities in an unrealized loss position as of the reporting date.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_IndividualSecuritiesWithUnrealizedLosses
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the excess of amortized cost basis over fair value of securities that have been in a loss position for twelve months or longer for securities which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses2
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the excess of amortized cost basis over fair value of securities in a loss position and categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses2
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt and equity securities in an unrealized loss position which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27290-111563

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 17

-Subparagraph a(1)

-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 Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 03-1

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph a(2)

-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_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the excess of amortized cost basis over fair value of securities that have been in a loss position for less than twelve months for securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses2
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 03-1

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph a(2)

-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 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27337-111563

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27290-111563

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 17

-Subparagraph a(1)

-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_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the excess of amortized cost basis over fair value of securities that have been in a loss position for twelve months or longer for those securities which are categorized as held-to-maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 03-1

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph a

-Clause 2

-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 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (a)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27290-111563

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27337-111563

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 17

-Subparagraph a

-Clause 2

-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_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the excess of amortized cost basis over fair value of securities in a loss position and which are categorized as held-to-maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (a)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27290-111563

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 17

-Subparagraph a

-Clause 2

-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 Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 03-1

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph a

-Clause 2

-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_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the fair value of securities categorized as held-to-maturity which are in an unrealized loss position.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the excess of amortized cost basis over fair value of securities that have been in a loss position for less than twelve months for those securities which are categorized as held-to-maturity.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the fair value of securities categorized as held-to-maturity that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the fair value of securities categorized as held-to-maturity securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or longer.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentHoldingsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration