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Notes Payable (Liability and Equity Components of Convertible Senior Notes) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest expense on convertible notes	$ 7,339us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt	$ 10,264us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt
September 2015 Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of liability component	22,377us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member		22,377us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member
Unamortized discount	(458)us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member		(698)us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member
Net carrying amount of liability component	21,919us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member		21,679us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member
Amount by which the if-converted value exceeds principal	30,389us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleIfConvertedValueInExcessOfPrincipal / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member		30,497us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleIfConvertedValueInExcessOfPrincipal / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member
Interest rate, effective percentage	8.90%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member
Convertible Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest expense on convertible notes	$ 500us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember	$ 3,400us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember

X

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying amount of debt identified as being convertible into another form of financial instrument (typically the entity's common stock) as of the balance sheet date, which originally required full repayment more than twelve months after issuance or greater than the normal operating cycle of the company.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

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Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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X

- Definition

The amount by which the convertible debt's if-converted value exceeds its principle amount at the balance sheet date, regardless of whether the instrument is currently convertible. This element applies to public companies only.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (c)

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X

- Definition

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

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- Definition

The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1A

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-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

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X

- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense for debt.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

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