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Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) states NMOs	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) NMOs	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) NMOs
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Number of states in which entity is licensed to sell insurance products | states	50
Number of days past due, non-accrual status	90 days
Provision for annual experience refunds of premiums | $	$ 1.5	$ 1.5	$ 1.7
National marketing organizations, number of organizations accounting for more than 10% of annuity deposits and insurance premium collections | NMOs	2	1	2
Minimum [Member]
Interest crediting rate, range for fixed index annuities and other deferred annuity products	1.00%	1.00%	1.00%
Reserve interest assumptions, range	3.00%
Maximum [Member]
Interest crediting rate, range for fixed index annuities and other deferred annuity products	3.30%	3.30%	3.30%
Reserve interest assumptions, range	5.50%
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Investment maturity period (less than)	3 months
Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Investment maturity period (less than)	42 days
National Marketing Organization, Greater than 10%, NMO 1 [Member]
National marketing organizations, percent of annuity deposits and insurance premiums collected individually	19.00%	24.00%	10.00%
National Marketing Organization, Greater than 10%, NMO 2 [Member]
National marketing organizations, percent of annuity deposits and insurance premiums collected individually	10.00%		10.00%

X

- Definition

Investment maturity period.

+ References

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Represents the percentage of American Equity Life production from National Marketing Organizations whose individual production was in excess of 10%.

+ References

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- Definition

Represents the number of organizations whose production exceeded 10% of the annuity deposits and insurance premiums collected by American Equity Life production during the period.

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- Definition

Number of days past due for loans to be placed on non-accrual status.

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- Definition

The number of states in which the entity is licensed to sell insurance products.

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- Definition

Provision for annual experience refunds of permiums equal to net premiums less a 16% administrative fee and less claims incurred.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Rate of interest used to calculate the liability for future policy benefits.

+ 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(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482852&loc=d3e14931-158439

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Rate of interest credited to policyholder deposits.

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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(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482852&loc=d3e14931-158439

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