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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, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of derivatives | $ 103,794 | $ (351,360) | $ 68,828 | $ (405,484)
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives | 144,404 | (414,724) | 694,564 | (583,112)
Call Options [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of derivatives | 103,267 | (347,038) | 72,910 | (396,399)
2015 Notes Hedges [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of derivatives | 0 | (1,141) | 0 | (4,516)
Interest Rate Swap [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of derivatives | 647 | (2,349) | (2,979) | (3,283)
Interest Rate Caps [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of derivatives | (120) | (832) | (1,103) | (1,286)
Fixed Index Annuities - Embedded Derivatives [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives | 41,561 | (460,031) | 421,193 | (864,389)
Other Changes in Difference Between Policy Benefit Reserves Computed Using Derivative Accounting Vs. Long-Duration Contracts Accounting [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives | 102,843 | 46,448 | 273,371 | 285,793
2015 Notes Embedded Conversion Derivative [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives | $ 0 | $ (1,141) | $ 0 | $ (4,516)

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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=56946850&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=56946850&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
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