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Derivative Instruments (Change in Fair Value of Derivatives Included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of derivatives | $ (351,360) | $ 39,218 | $ (405,484) | $ 358,594
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives | (414,724) | (195,206) | (583,112) | (21,652)
Call Options [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of derivatives | (347,038) | 45,931 | (396,399) | 391,173
2015 Notes Hedges [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of derivatives | (1,141) | (6,823) | (4,516) | (27,124)
Interest Rate Swap [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of derivatives | (2,349) | 254 | (3,283) | (2,996)
Interest Rate Caps [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of derivatives | (832) | (144) | (1,286) | (2,459)
Fixed Index Annuities - Embedded Derivatives [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives | (413,583) | (188,383) | (578,596) | 9,704
2015 Notes Embedded Conversion Derivative [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives | $ (1,141) | $ (6,823) | $ (4,516) | $ (31,356)

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- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) of derivative instruments not designated or qualifying as hedging instruments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -Subparagraph (e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
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- Definition Net Increase or Decrease in the fair value of the embedded derivative or group of embedded derivatives included in earnings in the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
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