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Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Carrying Amounts and Fair Values of Financial Instruments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
--- | --- | ---
Assets |  |
Held for investment, fair value | $ 60,840 | $ 61,521
Equity securities, available for sale | 7,778 | 53,422
Mortgage loans on real estate | 2,581,082 | 2,623,940
Other investments | 215,042 | 196,366
Coinsurance deposits | 2,999,618 | 2,910,701
Liabilities |  |
Policy benefit reserves | 35,789,655 | 31,773,988
Carrying Amount [Member] |  |
Assets |  |
Mortgage loans on real estate | 2,581,082 | 2,623,940
Derivative assets | 856,050 | 415,258
Other investments | 192,198 | 163,193
Cash and cash equivalents | 897,529 | 1,268,545
Coinsurance deposits | 2,999,618 | 2,910,701
Counterparty collateral | 315,824 | 63,012
Liabilities |  |
Policy benefit reserves | 35,453,166 | 31,452,496
Single premium immediate annuity (SPIA) benefit reserves | 417,625 | 455,167
Notes payable | 549,958 | 309,869
Subordinated debentures | 246,050 | 245,869
Carrying Amount [Member] | Interest Rate Caps [Member] |  |
Assets |  |
Interest rate derivative assets | 6,103 | 3,247
Carrying Amount [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] |  |
Assets |  |
Interest rate derivative assets | 712 | 0
Liabilities |  |
Interest rate derivative liabilities | 0 | 4,261
Carrying Amount [Member] | 2015 Notes Hedges [Member] |  |
Assets |  |
2015 notes hedges | 107,041 | 43,105
Carrying Amount [Member] | 2015 Notes Embedded Derivative [Member] |  |
Liabilities |  |
2015 notes embedded conversion derivative | 107,041 | 43,105
Carrying Amount [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member] |  |
Assets |  |
Available for sale securities | 26,610,447 | 24,172,136
Held for investment, fair value | 76,255 | 76,088
Carrying Amount [Member] | Equity Securities, Available For Sale [Member] |  |
Assets |  |
Equity securities, available for sale | 7,778 | 53,422
Fair Value [Member] |  |
Assets |  |
Mortgage loans on real estate | 2,615,410 | 2,848,235
Derivative assets | 856,050 | 415,258
Other investments | 193,343 | 163,517
Cash and cash equivalents | 897,529 | 1,268,545
Coinsurance deposits | 2,669,432 | 2,563,356
Counterparty collateral | 315,824 | 63,012
Liabilities |  |
Policy benefit reserves | 29,670,827 | 26,264,831
Single premium immediate annuity (SPIA) benefit reserves | 430,835 | 469,768
Notes payable | 699,435 | 379,070
Subordinated debentures | 234,959 | 218,283
Fair Value [Member] | Interest Rate Caps [Member] |  |
Assets |  |
Interest rate derivative assets | 6,103 | 3,247
Fair Value [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] |  |
Assets |  |
Interest rate derivative assets | 712 | 0
Liabilities |  |
Interest rate derivative liabilities | 0 | 4,261
Fair Value [Member] | 2015 Notes Hedges [Member] |  |
Assets |  |
2015 notes hedges | 107,041 | 43,105
Fair Value [Member] | 2015 Notes Embedded Derivative [Member] |  |
Liabilities |  |
2015 notes embedded conversion derivative | 107,041 | 43,105
Fair Value [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member] |  |
Assets |  |
Available for sale securities | 26,610,447 | 24,172,136
Held for investment, fair value | 60,840 | 61,521
Fair Value [Member] | Equity Securities, Available For Sale [Member] |  |
Assets |  |
Equity securities, available for sale | $ 7,778 | $ 53,422

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- Definition Amount of the reinsurer's funds held on its behalf by the ceding insurer, including funds held in trust, under reinsurance treaties or contracts with the assuming insurer as security for the payment of the obligations thereunder. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.2,10) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 2, 10 -Article 7 + Details
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