XML 64 R50.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) states NMOs | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) NMOs | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) NMOs
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |  |  |
Number of states in which entity is licensed to sell insurance products | states | 50 |  |
Number of days past due, non-accrual status | 90 days |  |
Provision for annual experience refunds of premiums | $ | $ 1.5 | $ 1.7 | $ 1.1
National marketing organizations, number of organizations accounting for more than 10% of annuity deposits and insurance premium collections | NMOs | 1 | 2 | 1
Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Interest crediting rate, range for fixed index annuities and other deferred annuity products | 1.00% | 1.00% | 1.00%
Reserve interest assumptions, range | 3.00% |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Interest crediting rate, range for fixed index annuities and other deferred annuity products | 3.50% | 3.50% | 3.50%
Reserve interest assumptions, range | 5.50% |  |
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] |  |  |
Investment maturity period (less than) | 3 months |  |
Repurchase Agreements [Member] |  |  |
Investment maturity period (less than) | 42 days |  |
National Marketing Organization, Greater than 10%, NMO 1 [Member] |  |  |
National marketing organizations, percent of annuity deposits and insurance premiums collected individually | 24.00% | 10.00% | 11.00%
National Marketing Organization, Greater than 10%, NMO 2 [Member] |  |  |
National marketing organizations, percent of annuity deposits and insurance premiums collected individually |  | 10.00% |

X
- Definition Interest crediting rate, range for fixed index annuities + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_InterestCreditingRateRangeForFixedIndexAnnuities
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Investment maturity period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_InvestmentMaturityPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the percentage of total production of National Marketing Organizations whose individual production was in excess of 10%. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_NationalMarketingOrganizationsGreaterThan10
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of organizations whose production exceeded 10% of total company production during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_NationalMarketingOrganizationsNumberOfOrganizationsGreaterThan10
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of days past due for loans to be placed on non-accrual status. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_NonAccrualStatusNumberofDays
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of states in which the entity is licensed to sell insurance products. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_NumberOfStatesInWhichEntityIsLicensedToSellInsuranceProducts
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Provision for annual experience refunds of permiums equal to net premiums less a 16% administrative fee and less claims incurred. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_ProvisionForAnnualExperienceRefundsOfPremiums
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Reserve interest assumptions, range + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_ReserveInterestAssumptionsRange
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountingPoliciesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_RepurchaseAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ael_NationalMarketingOrganizationsGreaterThan10Axis=ael_NationalMarketingOrganizationGreaterThan10Nmo1Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ael_NationalMarketingOrganizationsGreaterThan10Axis=ael_NationalMarketingOrganizationGreaterThan10Nmo2Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |