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Notes Payable (Repurchase Agreements Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract] |  |
Repurchase agreement, maximum amount borrowed |  | $ 40.6
Repurchase agreement, average borrowings | $ 0.0 | $ 1.9
Repurchase agreement, weighted average interest rate |  | 0.39%

X
- Definition The average amount borrowed during the reporting period on repurchase agreements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_RepurchaseAgreementAverageBorrowings
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The average rate of interest paid on the amount borrowed on securities repurchase agreements during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_RepurchaseAgreementAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The maximum amount borrowed on repurchase agreements during the reporting period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_RepurchaseAgreementMaximumAmountBorrowed
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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