Name:	ael_CashInExcessOfRequiredByCovenants
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the minimum risk-based capital ratio required under debt covenants.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_DebtCovenantsMinimumRiskBasedCapitalRatio
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Line of credit, additional borrowing capacity, aggregate amount

No definition available.

Name:	ael_LineOfCreditAdditionalBorrowingCapacityAggregateAmount
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The variable interest rate on a revolving line of credit that is equal to an alternate base rate (as defined in the drecit agreement) plus the adjusted LIBOR rate that is equal to this value.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_LineOfCreditInterestRateFloatingAdjustedLibor
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The variable interest rate on a revolving line of credit that is equal to an alternate base rate (as defined in the credit agreement) plus the applicable margin that is equal to this value.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_LineOfCreditInterestRateFloatingApplicableMargin
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Line of credit, maturity date extension

No definition available.

Name:	ael_LineOfCreditMaturityDateExtension
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of banks listed in the revolving line of credit agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_LineOfCreditNumberOfBanksInAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Line of credit, number of guarantors

No definition available.

Name:	ael_LineOfCreditNumberofGuarantors
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Line of credit, number of occasions borrowing capacity can be increased

No definition available.

Name:	ael_LineOfCreditNumberOfOccasionsBorrowingCapacityCanBeIncreased
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the maximum debt to capital ratio in relation to the 2011 line of credit agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_MaximumDebtToCapitalRatio
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the minimum captial contributions subsequent to 9/30/10 that are to be retained under the debt coventants related to the 2011 line of credit agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_MinimumCapitalContributionsToBeRetained
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the percentage of minimum capital that must be retained from the balance at 12/31/10 under the debt coventants for the 2011 line of credit agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_MinimumCapitalToBeRetained
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the minimum portion of net income that is to be retained subsequent to 12/31/10 under the debt covenants related to the 2011 line of credit agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_MinimumPortionOfNetIncomeToBeRetained
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

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)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

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

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

No definition available.