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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, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Coinsurance [Line Items] |  |  |
Annuity product charges | $ 103,591 | $ 89,006 | $ 76,189
Change in fair value of derivatives | 1,076,015 | 221,138 | (114,728)
Interest sensitive and index product benefits | 1,272,867 | 808,479 | 775,097
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives | 133,968 | 286,899 | (105,194)
Other operating costs and expenses | 91,915 | 95,495 | 67,559
Cash payments to policyholders | 1,763,913 | 1,575,340 | 1,494,554
Coinsurance deposits | (25,729) | (4,885) | 122,415
Coinsurance Agreements, EquiTrust and Athene [Member] |  |  |
Coinsurance [Line Items] |  |  |
Annuity product charges | 6,551 | 6,796 | 8,149
Change in fair value of derivatives | 60,876 | 17,106 | (2,771)
Coinsurance, revenues included in consolidated statement of operations | 67,427 | 23,902 | 5,378
Interest sensitive and index product benefits | 117,934 | 94,113 | 99,724
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives | 2,898 | 9,373 | (12,428)
Other operating costs and expenses | 9,926 | 9,333 | 8,970
Coinsurance, benefits and expenses included in the consolidated statement of operations | 130,758 | 112,819 | 96,266
Annuity deposits | (182,616) | (203,552) | (326,531)
Cash payments to policyholders | 208,345 | 208,437 | 204,116
Coinsurance deposits | $ 25,729 | $ 4,885 | $ (122,415)

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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- Definition The net cash inflow (outflow) associated with coinsurance deposits during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in the fair value of derivatives recognized in the income statement. + 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 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -Subparagraph (a),(c),(d),(e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
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- 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 Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
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- Definition Income from agency and brokerage operations (includes sales of annuities and supplemental contracts); service charges, commissions, and fees from the sale of insurance and related services; and management fees from separate accounts, deferred annuities, and universal life products. + 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),(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph c, d -Article 9 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 4 -Article 7 + Details
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- 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=26872669&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
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- 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 Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3291-108585 + Details
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