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Investments (Changes in Net Unrealized Gains/Losses on Investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities held for investment carried at amortized cost	$ 3,186	$ (10,651)	$ 14,821
Investments carried at fair value	508,576	(1,642,010)	2,157,460
Adjustment for effect on other balance sheet accounts:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and deferred sales inducements	(295,802)	842,412	(1,118,683)
Deferred income tax asset/liability	(74,471)	279,860	(363,572)
Total adjustment for effect on other balance sheet accounts	(370,273)	1,122,272	(1,482,255)
Change in net unrealized gains on investments carried at fair value	138,303	(519,738)	675,205
Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investments carried at fair value	508,410	(1,642,027)	2,157,439
Equity Securities [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investments carried at fair value	$ 166	$ 17	$ 21

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Adjustments for Assumed Changes in Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements Due to Net Unrealized Gains and Losses on Available for Sale Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities.

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Change in Net Unrealized Gain or Loss, Fixed Maturity Securities, Held for Investment

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Represents the aggregate of the adjustments for the effect on other balance sheet accounts related to the pretax change in net unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities that has been included in accumulated other comprehensive income, a separate component of shareholders' equity, during the period.

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This item represents the pretax change in net unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities that has been included in accumulated other comprehensive income, a separate component of shareholders' equity, during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27357-111563

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The change in unrealized holding gain (loss), net of tax, on available-for-sale securities included in a separate component of shareholders' equity during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27357-111563

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This item represents the tax effects occurring during the period which are related to the net unrealized gain (loss) resulting from changes in the fair [carrying] value during the period of available-for-sale securities. Such tax affects would have been charged or credited directly to other comprehensive income or to related components of shareholders' equity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65896914&loc=d3e39076-109324

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (d)
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