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Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Fair Values and Carrying Amounts of Financial Instruments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets
Held for investment	$ 66,571	$ 60,840
Equity securities, available for sale	7,762	7,778
Mortgage loans on real estate	2,543,810	2,581,082
Other investments	221,459	215,042
Coinsurance deposits	3,085,340	2,999,618
Liabilities
Policy benefit reserves	37,876,044	35,789,655
Carrying Amount [Member]
Assets
Mortgage loans on real estate	2,543,810	2,581,082
Derivative instruments	905,688	856,050
Other investments	196,853	192,198
Cash and cash equivalents	1,464,533	897,529
Coinsurance deposits	3,085,340	2,999,618
Counterparty collateral	261,266	315,824
Liabilities
Policy benefit reserves	37,538,232	35,453,166
Single premium immediate annuity (SPIA) benefit reserves	391,651	417,625
Notes payable	474,361	549,958
Subordinated debentures	246,145	246,050
Carrying Amount [Member] | Interest Rate Caps [Member]
Assets
Derivative assets	3,788	6,103
Carrying Amount [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Assets
Derivative assets	0	712
Liabilities
Interest rate swap	1,983	0
Carrying Amount [Member] | 2015 Notes Hedges [Member]
Assets
2015 notes hedges	45,884	107,041
Carrying Amount [Member] | 2015 Notes Embedded Conversion Derivative [Member]
Liabilities
2015 notes embedded conversion derivative	45,884	107,041
Carrying Amount [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
Assets
Available for sale securities	29,317,572	26,610,447
Held for investment	76,342	76,255
Carrying Amount [Member] | Equity Securities, Available For Sale [Member]
Assets
Equity securities, available for sale	7,762	7,778
Fair Value [Member]
Assets
Mortgage loans on real estate	2,596,588	2,615,410
Derivative instruments	905,688	856,050
Other investments	198,293	193,343
Cash and cash equivalents	1,464,533	897,529
Coinsurance deposits	2,722,024	2,669,432
Counterparty collateral	261,266	315,824
Liabilities
Policy benefit reserves	31,279,983	29,670,827
Single premium immediate annuity (SPIA) benefit reserves	404,561	430,835
Notes payable	564,118	699,435
Subordinated debentures	240,767	234,959
Fair Value [Member] | Interest Rate Caps [Member]
Assets
Derivative assets	3,788	6,103
Fair Value [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Assets
Derivative assets	0	712
Liabilities
Interest rate swap	1,983	0
Fair Value [Member] | 2015 Notes Hedges [Member]
Assets
2015 notes hedges	45,884	107,041
Fair Value [Member] | 2015 Notes Embedded Conversion Derivative [Member]
Liabilities
2015 notes embedded conversion derivative	45,884	107,041
Fair Value [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
Assets
Available for sale securities	29,317,572	26,610,447
Held for investment	66,571	60,840
Fair Value [Member] | Equity Securities, Available For Sale [Member]
Assets
Equity securities, available for sale	$ 7,762	$ 7,778

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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.

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