XML 76 R61.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.8.0.1

Investments (Credit Quality of Fixed Maturity Security Portfolio by NAIC Designation) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Amortized cost	$ 43,193,800	$ 40,030,780
Fair value	45,449,449	41,129,260
NAIC, Class 1 Designation [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Amortized cost	26,669,427	25,607,268
Fair value	28,274,379	26,507,798
NAIC, Class 2 Designation [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Amortized cost	15,198,551	13,037,592
Fair value	15,869,219	13,295,648
NAIC, Class 3 Designation [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Amortized cost	1,161,737	1,201,059
Fair value	1,157,420	1,155,702
NAIC, Class 4 Designation [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Amortized cost	134,838	154,226
Fair value	117,542	137,188
NAIC, Class 5 Designation [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Amortized cost	17,015	17,475
Fair value	20,927	24,664
NAIC, Class 6 Designation [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Amortized cost	12,232	13,160
Fair value	$ 9,962	$ 8,260

X

- Definition

Amortized cost of fixed maturity portfolio, available for sale and held for investment, combined totals.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Fair value of fixed maturity portfolio, available for sale and held for investment, combined totals.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue
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:	invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_NAICClass1DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_NAICClass2DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_NAICClass3DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_NAICClass4DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_NAICClass5DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_NAICClass6DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: