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Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Condensed Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Aug. 01, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Operating activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income |  | $ 36,803 | $ 56,957 | $ 26,946 | $ 53,939 | $ 120,796 | $ (7,420) | $ 14,708 | $ (44,841) | $ 174,645 | $ 83,243 | $ 219,830
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of 2015 notes embedded conversion derivative |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 919,735 | 543,465 | (464,698)
Change in fair value of derivatives |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,678,956) | (165,727) | 334,300
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  | 0 | $ 18,389 | $ 428 | 0 |  |  |  |  | 18,817 | 0 | 0
Share-based compensation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,464 | 6,692 | 7,373
Deferred income taxes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (46,730) | (10,408) | 41,916
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 448 | 1,812 | 71
Other liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (84,416) | (55,940) | 75,794
Net cash provided by operating activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,922,393 | 1,414,322 | 504,804
Investing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (4,809) | (1,197) | (1,313)
Net cash used in investing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,591,936) | (4,499,045) | (5,577,205)
Financing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Financing fees incurred and deferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (5,817) | (1,456) | 0
Repayment of notes payable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (413,252) | 0 | (48,152)
Repayment of loan payable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (100,000) | 0 | 0
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 499,650 | 0 | 0
Proceeds from issuance of loan payable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 100,000 | 0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock | $ 134,700 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,028 | 139,654 | 112,481
Net proceeds from settlement of notes hedges and warrants |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 25,775
Dividends paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (23,148) | (21,110) | (17,874)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,312,322 | 3,478,240 | 4,768,636
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 642,779 | 393,517 | (303,765)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |  |  |  |  | 791,266 |  |  |  | 397,749 | 791,266 | 397,749 | 701,514
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |  | 1,434,045 |  |  |  | 791,266 |  |  |  | 1,434,045 | 791,266 | 397,749
Cash paid during the year for interest: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 55,445 | 39,647 | 39,118
Non-cash financing activity: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock issued to settle warrants that have expired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 93 | 48
Parent Company [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 174,645 | 83,243 | 219,830
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of 2015 notes embedded conversion derivative |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | (4,516)
Provision for depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,610 | 1,946 | 1,613
Accrual of discount on equity security |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (7) | (7) | (6)
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (165,572) | (65,635) | (209,698)
Accrual of discount on contingent convertible notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 698
Change in fair value of derivatives |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (657) | (698) | 6,377
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18,817 | 0 | 0
Accrual of discount on debenture issued to subsidiary trust |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 236 | 221 | 207
Share-based compensation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 951 | 818 | 1,026
Deferred income taxes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,583 | 2,117 | 8,967
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Receivable from subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | (125) | 93
Federal income tax recoverable/payable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (4,673) | 11,361 | 2,683
Other assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 158 | (326) | (4)
Other liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (12,427) | 2,546 | (1,664)
Net cash provided by operating activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,680 | 35,461 | 25,606
Investing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital contributions to subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | (255,000) | (120,000)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (45) | (54) | 0
Net cash used in investing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (45) | (255,054) | (120,000)
Financing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Financing fees incurred and deferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (5,817) | (1,456) | 0
Repayment of notes payable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (413,252) | 0 | (48,152)
Repayment of loan payable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (100,000) | 0 | 0
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 499,650 | 0 | 0
Proceeds from issuance of loan payable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 100,000 | 0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,028 | 139,654 | 112,481
Net proceeds from settlement of notes hedges and warrants |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 25,775
Dividends paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (23,152) | (21,114) | (17,946)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (28,543) | 217,084 | 72,158
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (13,908) | (2,509) | (22,236)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |  |  |  |  | $ 36,394 |  |  |  | $ 38,903 | 36,394 | 38,903 | 61,139
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |  | $ 22,486 |  |  |  | $ 36,394 |  |  |  | 22,486 | 36,394 | 38,903
Non-cash financing activity: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock issued to settle warrants that have expired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 93 | 48
Parent Company [Member] | Notes and Loans Payable [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid during the year for interest: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40,537 | 27,164 | 27,283
Parent Company [Member] | Subordinated Debentures [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid during the year for interest: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 14,573 | $ 12,454 | $ 11,833

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- Definition Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from investing activities, including discontinued operations. Investing activity cash flows include making and collecting loans and acquiring and disposing of debt or equity instruments and property, plant, and equipment and other productive assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 24 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3521-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 26 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3574-108585 + Details
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- Definition Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities, including discontinued operations. Operating activity cash flows include transactions, adjustments, and changes in value not defined as investing or financing activities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 24 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3521-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
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- Definition The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(22)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(18)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(20)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
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- Definition Amount of cash outflow in the form of ordinary dividends to common shareholders of the parent entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3291-108585 + Details
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- Definition The cash outflow for loan and debt issuance costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3291-108585 + Details
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- Definition The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3213-108585 + Details
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- Definition The cash inflow from the additional capital contribution to the entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3255-108585 + Details
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- Definition Amount of cash inflow from issuance of long-term debt classified as other. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3255-108585 + Details
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- Definition The cash inflow from the issuance of long-term debt that is not secured by collateral. Excludes proceeds from tax exempt unsecured debt. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3255-108585 + Details
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- Definition The cash outflow to repay long-term debt that is not secured by collateral. Excludes repayments of tax exempt unsecured debt. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3291-108585 + Details
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