Schedule V - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) (Valuation Allowance on Mortgage Loans [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Valuation Allowance on Mortgage Loans [Member]
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (26,047)	$ (34,234)	$ (32,964)
Charged to costs and expenses	(6,052)	(5,621)	(16,832)
Translation adjustment	0	0	0
Write-offs/payments/other	9,466	13,808	15,562
Ending balance	$ (22,633)	$ (26,047)	$ (34,234)

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Total of the adjustments in a given period to allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 09

-Article 12

+ Details

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- Definition

Total of allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs.

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- Definition

+ References

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- Definition

Total of the deductions in a given period to allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs, representing receivables written off as uncollectible and portions of the reserves utilized, respectively.

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