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Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Reconciliation of Beginning and Ending Balances of Level 3 Liabilities) (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2013
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance | $ 4,755,913 | $ 3,848,902 | $ 4,406,163 | $ 3,337,556
Premiums less benefits | 425,776 | 425,671 | 797,729 | 672,393
Change in fair value, net | (61,866) | (527,521) | (84,069) | (262,897)
Ending balance | $ 5,119,823 | $ 3,747,052 | $ 5,119,823 | $ 3,747,052

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- Definition This element represents premiums less benefits which have taken place during the period in relation to liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_PremiumsLessBenefitsLevel3Liabilities
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Amount of gain (loss) recognized on the income statement for financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25499696&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityGainLossIncludedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Fair value of financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25499696&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant