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Reinsurance and Policy Provisions (Equitrust 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
Equitrust Coinsurance Agreements, All Periods [Member] |  |
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Number of coinsurance agreements | coinsurance_agreement | 2 |
Coinsurance deposits | $ 700,000 | 800,000
Reinsurance payable | $ 9,700 | $ 2,500
Equitrust Coinsurance Agreement, August 1, 2001 to December 31, 2001 [Member] |  |
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities | 70.00% |
Equitrust Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2003 [Member] |  |
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities | 40.00% |
Equitrust Coinsurance Agreement, January 1, 2004 to July 31, 2004 [Member] |  |
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Coninsurance percentage on certain annuities | 20.00% |

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

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- Definition Number of coinsurance agreements. + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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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 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
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- 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
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Balance Type: | credit
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- Details
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- Details
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- Details
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