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Notes Payable and Amounts Due Under Repurchase Agreements (Line of Credit Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified |  |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 2011 Line of Credit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 2011 Line of Credit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 2013 Line of Credit [Member] guarantor occasions banks
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items] |  |  |
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity | $ 160 |  | $ 140
Line of credit, number of banks in agreement |  |  | 5
Line of credit, length of credit agreement, years |  |  | 4 years
Line of credit, interest rate, floating, applicable margin |  |  | 1.00%
Line of credit, interest rate, floating, adjusted LIBOR |  |  | 2.00%
Line of credit, unused capacity, commitment fee percentage |  |  | 0.35%
Minimum risk-based captial ratio |  |  | 275.00%
Maximum debt to capital ratio |  |  | 0.35
Minimum capital to be retained |  |  | 80.00%
Minimum portion of net income to be retained |  |  | 50.00%
Minimum capital contributions to be retained |  |  | 50.00%
Line of credit, number of occasions borrowing capacity can be increased |  |  | 3
Line of credit, additional borrowing capacity, aggregate amount |  |  | 50
Line of credit, duration of maturity date extension available, years |  |  | 1 year
Line of credit, number of guarantors |  |  | 0
Line of credit, amount outstanding |  | 0 | 0
Cash in excess of amount required by covenants |  |  | $ 389.0

X
- Definition The amount of cash and cash equivalents reported on the balance sheet that is in excess of the amount required to be held by debt or credit agreement covenants. + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | debit
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X
- Definition Line of credit, additional borrowing capacity, aggregate amount + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The length of time in years of the revolving credit agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_LineofCreditFacilityDuration
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Balance Type: | na
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X
- Definition The variable interest rate on a revolving line of credit that is equal to an alternate base rate (as defined in the drecit agreement) plus the adjusted LIBOR rate that is equal to this value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_LineOfCreditInterestRateFloatingAdjustedLibor
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Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The variable interest rate on a revolving line of credit that is equal to an alternate base rate (as defined in the credit agreement) plus the applicable margin that is equal to this value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_LineOfCreditInterestRateFloatingApplicableMargin
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Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line of credit, maturity date extension + References No definition available. + Details
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Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of banks listed in the revolving line of credit agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line of credit, number of guarantors + References No definition available. + Details
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X
- Definition Line of credit, number of occasions borrowing capacity can be increased + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the maximum debt to capital ratio in relation to the 2011 line of credit agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_MaximumDebtToCapitalRatio
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Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the minimum captial contributions subsequent to 9/30/10 that are to be retained under the debt coventants related to the 2011 line of credit agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_MinimumCapitalContributionsToBeRetained
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Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the percentage of minimum capital that must be retained from the balance at 12/31/10 under the debt coventants for the 2011 line of credit agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_MinimumCapitalToBeRetained
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the minimum portion of net income that is to be retained subsequent to 12/31/10 under the debt covenants related to the 2011 line of credit agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
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X
- Definition Represents the minimum risk-based captial ratio required under debt coventants related to the 2011 line of credit agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
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X
- Definition Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 + Details
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X
- Details
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X
- Definition Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
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X
- Definition The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility. + References No definition available. + Details
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