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Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Estimated litigation liability	$ 11.1	$ 21.2	$ 17.5
Change in estimated litigation liability	(2.3)
Legal fees paid	7.8
Unfunded commitments to limited partnerships	23.6
Unfunded commitments to secured bank loans	$ 12.8

X

- Definition

Amount that we have committed to investment partnerships, less what we have contributed as capital to date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ael_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Amount of secured bank loans that we have agreed to purchase as of the end of the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

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X

- Definition

Amount of loss contingency liability.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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X

- Definition

Amount of payments made reducing loss contingency liability.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

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X

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in loss contingency liability.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

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