XML 141 R127.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.6.0.2

Schedule IV - Reinsurance (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Reinsurance Premiums for Insurance Companies, by Product Segment [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross amount, life insurance in force | $ 1,996,446 | $ 2,036,690 | $ 2,171,426
Ceded to other companies, life insurance in force | 10,045 | 10,677 | 11,548
Assumed from other companies, life insurance in force | 57,849 | 56,882 | 56,509
Net amount, life insurance in force | 2,044,250 | 2,082,895 | 2,216,387
Net amount, insurance premiums and other considerations | $ 43,767 | $ 36,048 | $ 32,623
Percent of amount assumed to net, life insurance in force | 2.83% | 2.73% | 2.55%
Insurance Premiums and Other Considerations [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance Premiums for Insurance Companies, by Product Segment [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross amount, insurance premiums and other considerations | $ 222,466 | $ 177,310 | $ 157,254
Ceded to other companies, insurance premiums and other considerations | 5,617 | 5,683 | 6,292
Assumed from other companies, insurance premiums and other considerations | 497 | 589 | 651
Net amount, insurance premiums and other considerations | $ 217,346 | $ 172,216 | $ 151,613
Percent of amount assumed to net, insurance premiums and other considerations | 0.23% | 0.34% | 0.43%
Annuity Product Charges [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance Premiums for Insurance Companies, by Product Segment [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross amount, insurance premiums and other considerations | $ 178,945 | $ 141,595 | $ 124,946
Ceded to other companies, insurance premiums and other considerations | 5,366 | 5,427 | 5,956
Assumed from other companies, insurance premiums and other considerations | 0 | 0 | 0
Net amount, insurance premiums and other considerations | $ 173,579 | $ 136,168 | $ 118,990
Percent of amount assumed to net, insurance premiums and other considerations | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00%
Traditional Life, Accident and Health Insurance, and Life Contingent Immediate Annuity Premiums [Member] |  |  |
Reinsurance Premiums for Insurance Companies, by Product Segment [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross amount, insurance premiums and other considerations | $ 43,521 | $ 35,715 | $ 32,308
Ceded to other companies, insurance premiums and other considerations | 251 | 256 | 336
Assumed from other companies, insurance premiums and other considerations | 497 | 589 | 651
Net amount, insurance premiums and other considerations | $ 43,767 | $ 36,048 | $ 32,623
Percent of amount assumed to net, insurance premiums and other considerations | 1.14% | 1.63% | 2.00%

X
- Definition Amount of earned premiums assumed from other entities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574992-122915 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b),(c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssumedPremiumsEarned
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of earned premiums ceded to other entities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b),(c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486662&loc=d3e27175-158546 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574992-122915 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CededPremiumsEarned
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount, before premiums ceded to other entities and premiums assumed by the entity, of premiums earned. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b),(c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574992-122915 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DirectPremiumsEarned
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of life insurance issued and outstanding assumed from other entities. Includes, but not limited to, dividends and adjustments to face value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574992-122915 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LifeInsuranceInForceAssumed
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of life insurance issued and outstanding ceded to other entities. Includes, but not limited to, dividends and adjustments to face value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574992-122915 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LifeInsuranceInForceCeded
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before contracts ceded to other entities and contracts assumed by the entity of life insurance issued and outstanding. Includes, but not limited to, dividends and adjustments to face value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574992-122915 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LifeInsuranceInForceGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount after contracts ceded to other entities and contracts assumed by the entity of life insurance issued and outstanding. Includes, but not limited to, dividends and adjustments to face value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574992-122915 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LifeInsuranceInForceNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Percentage of assumed life insurance issued and outstanding contracts to life insurance issued and outstanding after contracts ceded to other entities and contracts assumed by the entity. Includes, but not limited to, dividends and adjustments to face value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574992-122915 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LifeInsuranceInForcePercentageAssumedToNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount, after premiums ceded to other entities and premiums assumed by the entity, of premiums earned. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574992-122915 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of assumed premiums earned by the entity to net premiums earned. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574992-122915 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PremiumsPercentageAssumedToNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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_ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=ael_InsurancePremiumAndOtherConsiderationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_FixedAnnuityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=ael_TraditionalLifeandAccidentandHealthInsuranceProductsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |