Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Fair Values and Carrying Amounts of Financial Instruments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets
Held for investment	$ 82,984	$ 75,838
Other investments	285,177us-gaap_OtherInvestments	286,726us-gaap_OtherInvestments
Coinsurance deposits	3,101,783	3,044,342
Liabilities
Policy benefit reserves	41,037,401	39,802,861
Carrying Amount [Member]
Assets
Mortgage loans on real estate	2,433,757	2,434,580
Derivative instruments	610,764	731,113
Other investments	270,566	266,488
Cash and cash equivalents	293,764	701,514
Coinsurance deposits	3,101,783	3,044,342
2015 notes hedges	30,858	30,291
Counterparty collateral	331,035	206,096
Liabilities
Policy benefit reserves	40,699,395	39,463,987
Single premium immediate annuity (SPIA) benefit reserves	353,420	365,440
Notes payable	421,919	421,679
Subordinated debentures	246,293	246,243
Amounts due under repurchase agreements	15,075	0
2015 notes embedded conversion derivative	30,858	30,291
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Interest Rate Caps [Member]
Assets
Interest rate derivative assets	2,092	2,778
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Liabilities
Interest rate derivative liabilities	3,940	2,644
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
Assets
Available for sale securities	34,203,641	32,445,202
Held for investment	76,479	76,432
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Assets
Available for sale securities	7,849	7,805
Fair Value [Member]
Assets
Mortgage loans on real estate	2,484,775	2,493,901
Derivative instruments	610,764	731,113
Other investments	277,786	273,004
Cash and cash equivalents	293,764	701,514
Coinsurance deposits	2,755,386	2,698,552
2015 notes hedges	30,858	30,291
Counterparty collateral	331,035	206,096
Liabilities
Policy benefit reserves	34,108,047	33,078,978
Single premium immediate annuity (SPIA) benefit reserves	365,835	377,654
Notes payable	452,950	503,349
Subordinated debentures	255,160	244,437
Amounts due under repurchase agreements	15,075	0
2015 notes embedded conversion derivative	30,858	30,291
Fair Value [Member] \| Interest Rate Caps [Member]
Assets
Interest rate derivative assets	2,092	2,778
Fair Value [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Liabilities
Interest rate derivative liabilities	3,940	2,644
Fair Value [Member] \| Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
Assets
Available for sale securities	34,203,641	32,445,202
Held for investment	82,984	75,838
Fair Value [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Assets
Available for sale securities	$ 7,849	$ 7,805

Fair Value Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Notes Payable Embedded Derivative

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Hedge transacation whereby we have the option to receive the cash equivalent of the conversion spread on shares of our common stock based upon a strike price per share, subject to certain conversion rate adjustments in the Notes.

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Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

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Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

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Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets elected not to be offset. Excludes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement.

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Fair value of subordinated debt obligations including, but not limited to, subordinated loan, subordinated bond, subordinated debenture or junior debt.

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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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Fair value of investments in debt securities classified as held-to-maturity.

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Fair value as of the balance sheet date of interest rate derivative assets, which includes all such derivative instruments in hedging and nonhedging relationships that are recognized as assets.

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Fair value as of the balance sheet date of interest rate derivative liabilities, which includes all such derivative instruments in hedging and nonhedging relationships that are recognized as liabilities.

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Amount of accrued obligation to policyholders that relates to insured events for long-duration contracts.

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Amount of accrued obligation to policyholders that relates to insured events under other insurance contracts.

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Fair value portion of loan receivable, including, but not limited to, mortgage loans held for investment, finance receivables held for investment, policy loans on insurance contracts.

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Fair value portion of notes payable.

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Fair value portion of other assets.

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Other investments not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(f,g))

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Fair value portion of securities that an entity sells and agrees to repurchase at a specified date for a specified price.

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