Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Carrying Amounts and Fair Values of Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets
Held for investment	$ 65,377	$ 75,838
Other investments	291,530	286,726
Coinsurance deposits	3,187,470	3,044,342
Liabilities
Policy benefit reserves	45,495,431	39,802,861
Carrying Amount [Member]
Assets
Mortgage loans on real estate	2,435,257	2,434,580
Derivative assets	337,256	731,113
Other investments	285,044	266,488
Cash and cash equivalents	397,749	701,514
Coinsurance deposits	3,187,470	3,044,342
2015 notes hedges	0	30,291
Counterparty collateral	82,312	206,096
Liabilities
Policy benefit reserves	45,151,460	39,463,987
Single premium immediate annuity (SPIA) benefit reserves	324,264	365,440
Notes payable	400,000	421,679
Subordinated debentures	246,450	246,243
2015 notes embedded conversion derivative	0	30,291
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Interest Rate Caps [Member]
Assets
Interest rate derivative assets	1,411	2,778
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Liabilities
Interest rate derivative liabilities	3,139	2,644
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
Assets
Available for sale securities	36,421,839	32,445,202
Held for investment	76,622	76,432
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Assets
Available for sale securities	7,828	7,805
Fair Value [Member]
Assets
Mortgage loans on real estate	2,471,864	2,493,901
Derivative assets	337,256	731,113
Other investments	290,075	273,004
Cash and cash equivalents	397,749	701,514
Coinsurance deposits	2,860,882	2,698,552
2015 notes hedges	0	30,291
Counterparty collateral	82,312	206,096
Liabilities
Policy benefit reserves	38,435,515	33,078,978
Single premium immediate annuity (SPIA) benefit reserves	336,066	377,654
Notes payable	417,752	503,349
Subordinated debentures	216,933	244,437
2015 notes embedded conversion derivative	0	30,291
Fair Value [Member] \| Interest Rate Caps [Member]
Assets
Interest rate derivative assets	1,411	2,778
Fair Value [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Liabilities
Interest rate derivative liabilities	3,139	2,644
Fair Value [Member] \| Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
Assets
Available for sale securities	36,421,839	32,445,202
Held for investment	65,377	75,838
Fair Value [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Assets
Available for sale securities	$ 7,828	$ 7,805

Fair Value Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Notes Payable Embedded Derivative

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Hedge transacation whereby we have the option to receive the cash equivalent of the conversion spread on shares of our common stock based upon a strike price per share, subject to certain conversion rate adjustments in the Notes.

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Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

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Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

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Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets elected not to be offset. Excludes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement.

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Fair value of subordinated debt obligations including, but not limited to, subordinated loan, subordinated bond, subordinated debenture or junior debt.

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Amount of the reinsurer's funds held on its behalf by the ceding insurer, including funds held in trust, under reinsurance treaties or contracts with the assuming insurer as security for the payment of the obligations thereunder.

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Fair value of investments in debt securities classified as held-to-maturity.

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Fair value as of the balance sheet date of interest rate derivative assets, which includes all such derivative instruments in hedging and nonhedging relationships that are recognized as assets.

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Fair value as of the balance sheet date of interest rate derivative liabilities, which includes all such derivative instruments in hedging and nonhedging relationships that are recognized as liabilities.

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Amount of accrued obligation to policyholders that relates to insured events for long-duration contracts.

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Amount of accrued obligation to policyholders that relates to insured events under other insurance contracts.

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Fair value portion of loan receivable, including, but not limited to, mortgage loans held for investment, finance receivables held for investment, policy loans on insurance contracts.

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Fair value portion of notes payable.

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Fair value portion of other assets.

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Other investments not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.

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