XML 76 R62.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Investments (Credit Quality of Fixed Maturity Security Portfolio by NAIC Designation) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
--- | --- | ---
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost | $ 35,900,332 | $ 30,281,478
Fair value | 36,487,216 | 32,521,040
NAIC, Class 1 Designation [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost | 23,363,259 | 19,223,151
Fair value | 24,207,801 | 20,941,634
NAIC, Class 2 Designation [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost | 11,709,730 | 10,432,593
Fair value | 11,589,325 | 10,981,618
NAIC, Class 3 Designation [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost | 758,531 | 602,191
Fair value | 643,293 | 583,313
NAIC, Class 4 Designation [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost | 60,480 | 22,888
Fair value | 44,312 | 14,089
NAIC, Class 5 Designation [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost | 0 | 0
Fair value | 0 | 0
NAIC, Class 6 Designation [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost | 8,332 | 655
Fair value | $ 2,485 | $ 386

X
- Definition Amortized cost of fixed maturity portfolio, available for sale and held for investment, combined totals. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value of fixed maturity portfolio, available for sale and held for investment, combined totals. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- 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
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentHoldingsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_NAICClass1DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_NAICClass2DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_NAICClass3DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_NAICClass4DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_NAICClass5DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_NAICClass6DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |