XML 105 R90.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Reinsurance and Policy Provisions (Equitrust Coinsurance Agreements) (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) coinsurance_agreement | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Coinsurance deposits | $ 4,858,289 | $ 4,639,492
Equitrust Coinsurance Agreements, All Periods [Member] |  |
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items] |  |
Number of coinsurance agreements | coinsurance_agreement | 2 |
Coinsurance deposits | $ 600,000 | 700,000
Reinsurance payable | $ 11,000 | $ 9,700
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% |

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

X
- Definition Number of coinsurance agreements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_NumberOfCoinsuranceAgreements
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
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_CededCreditRiskLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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
Name: | us-gaap_ReinsurancePayable
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount, after valuation allowance, recoverable under reinsurance contracts including premium paid under reinsurance contracts. Examples include, but are not limited to, settled and unsettled claims, incurred but not reported losses, loss adjustment expense, premium paid, policy benefits and policy reserves. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480758&loc=d3e6824-158387 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6485522&loc=d3e21409-158489 Reference 3: 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.(a),6) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReinsuranceRecoverables
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | ael_CoinsuranceAgreementsAxis=ael_EquitrustCoinsuranceAgreementsAllPeriodsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ael_CoinsuranceAgreementsAxis=ael_EquitrustCoinsuranceAgreementAugust12001ToDecember312001Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ael_CoinsuranceAgreementsAxis=ael_EquitrustCoinsuranceAgreementJanuary12002ToDecember312003Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ael_CoinsuranceAgreementsAxis=ael_EquitrustCoinsuranceAgreementJanuary12004ToJuly312004Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |