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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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