XML 105 R91.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.6.0.2

Reinsurance and Policy Provisions (Athene Coinsurance Agreements) (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) coinsurance_agreement | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Coinsurance deposits | $ 4,639,492 | $ 3,187,470
Athene Coinsurance Agreements, All Periods [Member] |  |
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Number of coinsurance agreements | coinsurance_agreement | 3 |
Coinsurance deposits | $ 3,900,000 | 2,400,000
Reinsurance payable | $ 45,800 | $ 12,700
Fixed Index Annuities [Member] | American Equity Life [Member] | Athene, 1st Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010 [Member] |  |
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities | 20.00% |
Years until eligibility for recapture | 7 years |
Fixed Index Annuities [Member] | American Equity Life [Member] | Athene, 3rd Coinsurance Agreement, August 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 [Member] |  |
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities | 80.00% |
Fixed Index Annuities [Member] | Eagle Life [Member] | Athene, 3rd Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2014 Going Forward [Member] |  |
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities | 80.00% |
Fixed Index Annuities [Member] | Eagle Life [Member] | Athene, 3rd Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018 [Member] |  |
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities | 50.00% |
Fixed Index Annuities [Member] | Eagle Life [Member] | Athene, 3rd Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2019 Going Forward [Member] |  |
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities | 20.00% |
Multi-Year Rate Guaranteed Annuities [Member] | American Equity Life [Member] | Athene, 2nd Coinsurance Agreement, July 1, 2009 to December 31, 2013 [Member] |  |
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities | 80.00% |
Multi-Year Rate Guaranteed Annuities [Member] | American Equity Life [Member] | Athene, 3rd Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2014 Going Forward [Member] |  |
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities | 80.00% |
Multi-Year Rate Guaranteed Annuities [Member] | Eagle Life [Member] | Athene, 2nd Coinsurance Agreement, November 20, 2013 to December 31, 2013 [Member] |  |
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities | 80.00% |
Multi-Year Rate Guaranteed Annuities [Member] | Eagle Life [Member] | Athene, 3rd Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2014 Going Forward [Member] |  |
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities | 80.00% |

X
- Definition Item represents the percentage of coinsurance provided under the coinsurance agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_ConinsurancePercentageOnCertainAnnuities
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of coinsurance agreements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_NumberOfCoinsuranceAgreements
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Item represents the number of years under coinsurance agreements that business in not eligible for recapture. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_YearsUntilEligibilityforRecapture
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
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_CededCreditRiskLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition 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. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.2,10) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FundsHeldUnderReinsuranceAgreementsAsset
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the known and estimated amounts owed to insurers under reinsurance treaties or other arrangements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(a)(3),(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReinsurancePayable
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | ael_CoinsuranceAgreementsAxis=ael_AtheneCoinsuranceAgreementsAllPeriodsMember
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: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=ael_AmericanEquityLifeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ael_CoinsuranceAgreementsAxis=ael_AtheneFirstCoinsuranceAgreementJanuary12009toMarch312010Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ael_CoinsuranceAgreementsAxis=ael_AtheneThirdCoinsuranceAgreementAugust12016toDecember312016Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=ael_EagleLifeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ael_CoinsuranceAgreementsAxis=ael_AtheneThirdCoinsuranceAgreementJanuary12014GoingForwardMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ael_CoinsuranceAgreementsAxis=ael_AtheneThirdCoinsuranceAgreementJanuary12017toDecember312018Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ael_CoinsuranceAgreementsAxis=ael_AtheneThirdCoinsuranceAgreementJanuary12019GoingForwardMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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

X
- Details
Name: | ael_CoinsuranceAgreementsAxis=ael_AtheneSecondCoinsuranceAgreementJuly12009toDecember312013Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ael_CoinsuranceAgreementsAxis=ael_AtheneSecondCoinsuranceAgreementNovember202013toDecember312013Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |