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Investments (Other Than Temporary Impairment by Asset Type) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Securities
Dec. 31, 2012
Securities
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]                      
Other than temporary impairment, number of securities                   10ael_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentNumberOfSecurities 41ael_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentNumberOfSecurities
Total OTTI losses                 $ 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments $ (4,964)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments $ (5,411)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
Portion of OTTI losses recognized from other comprehensive income                 (2,627)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent (1,270)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent (9,521)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations (564)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet (564)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet (594)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet (905)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet (222)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet (2,775)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet (3,237)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet (2,627)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet (6,234)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet (14,932)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]                      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]                      
Other than temporary impairment, number of securities                 7ael_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentNumberOfSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
6ael_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentNumberOfSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
39ael_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentNumberOfSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Total OTTI losses                 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
(3,024)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Portion of OTTI losses recognized from other comprehensive income                 (2,627)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
(1,270)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
(9,521)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations                 (2,627)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
(1,270)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
(12,545)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
United States Government Sponsored Agencies [Member]                      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]                      
Other than temporary impairment, number of securities                   2ael_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentNumberOfSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentCorporationsAndAgenciesSecuritiesMember
 
Total OTTI losses                   (2,775)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentCorporationsAndAgenciesSecuritiesMember
 
Portion of OTTI losses recognized from other comprehensive income                   0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentCorporationsAndAgenciesSecuritiesMember
 
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations                   (2,775)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentCorporationsAndAgenciesSecuritiesMember
 
Corporate Securities [Member] | Industrial [Member]                      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]                      
Other than temporary impairment, number of securities                   1ael_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentNumberOfSecurities
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_IndustrialSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
 
Total OTTI losses                   (1,761)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_IndustrialSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
 
Portion of OTTI losses recognized from other comprehensive income                   0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_IndustrialSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
 
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations                   (1,761)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_IndustrialSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
 
Corporate Securities [Member] | Finance [Member]                      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]                      
Other than temporary impairment, number of securities                     1ael_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentNumberOfSecurities
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_FinanceSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Total OTTI losses                     (1,765)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_FinanceSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Portion of OTTI losses recognized from other comprehensive income                     0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_FinanceSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations                     (1,765)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_FinanceSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Corporate Securities [Member] | Retail [Member]                      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]                      
Other than temporary impairment, number of securities                     1ael_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentNumberOfSecurities
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_RetailSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Total OTTI losses                     (622)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_RetailSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Portion of OTTI losses recognized from other comprehensive income                     0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_RetailSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations                     (622)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_RetailSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Equity Securities [Member] | Industrial [Member]                      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]                      
Other than temporary impairment, number of securities                   1ael_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentNumberOfSecurities
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_IndustrialSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
 
Total OTTI losses                   (428)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_IndustrialSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
 
Portion of OTTI losses recognized from other comprehensive income                   0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_IndustrialSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
 
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations                   $ (428)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= ael_IndustrialSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember