XML 53 R41.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.7.0.1

Investments (Cumulative Noncredit Portion of Other Than Temporary Impairment Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income and Change in Fair Value Since Other Than Temporary Impairment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
--- | --- | ---
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost | $ 363,261 | $ 399,690
OTTI recognized in other comprehensive income | (175,705) | (177,494)
Change in fair value since OTTI was recognized | 207,282 | 217,747
Fair value | 394,838 | 439,943
Corporate Securities [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost | 10,496 | 17,549
OTTI recognized in other comprehensive income | (4,263) | (5,910)
Change in fair value since OTTI was recognized | 10,356 | 13,566
Fair value | 16,589 | 25,205
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost | 347,911 | 368,862
OTTI recognized in other comprehensive income | (169,799) | (169,941)
Change in fair value since OTTI was recognized | 198,785 | 205,854
Fair value | 376,897 | 404,775
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost |  | 6,596
OTTI recognized in other comprehensive income |  | 0
Change in fair value since OTTI was recognized |  | (107)
Fair value |  | 6,489
Other Asset Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost | 4,854 | 6,683
OTTI recognized in other comprehensive income | (1,643) | (1,643)
Change in fair value since OTTI was recognized | (1,859) | (1,566)
Fair value | $ 1,352 | $ 3,474

X
- Definition Change in Fair Value of Securities with Noncredit Other Than Temporary impairment Losses + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_ChangeInFairValueOfSecuritiesWithNoncreditOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLosses
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the fair value of securities with noncredit other than temporary impairment losses as of the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_FairValueOfSecuritiesWithNoncreditOtherThanTemporaryImpairments
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The cummulative amount of other than temporary impairment (OTTI) loss on a debt security, categorized as either Available-for-sale or Held-to-maturity, related to factors other than credit losses when the entity does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis that has been recognized since this accounting standard became effective. This amount which is attributable to the parent, is a portion of the deduction from the total impairment losses of Investments (before taxes) presented on the income statement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsCummulativePortionOfRecognizedInComprehensiveIncome
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amortized cost of securities with noncredit OTTI losses recognized during the reporting period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_SecuritiesWithNoncreditOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentAtAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtSecurityAxis=us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtSecurityAxis=us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtSecurityAxis=us-gaap_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtSecurityAxis=us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |