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Investments (Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Invesments, Excluding Other Than Temporary Impairments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2017
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Net realized gains (losses) on investments, excluding other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses | $ (2,196) | $ 1,579 | $ (40,275) | $ 7,790
Fixed Maturity Securities |  |  |  |
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Gross realized gains | 505 | 1,520 | 2,845 | 11,571
Gross realized losses | (1,913) | (1) | (43,648) | (4,463)
Gross realized gains (losses), excluding other than temporary impairments | (1,408) | 1,519 | (40,803) | 7,108
Equity Securities |  |  |  |
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Gross realized gains | 0 | 348 | 0 | 348
Other Investments |  |  |  |
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of real estate | 0 | 12 | 0 | 56
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate |  |  |  |
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Decrease (increase) in allowance for credit losses | (1,255) | (300) | (785) | 278
Recovery of specific allowance | 467 | 0 | 1,189 | 0
Gain on sale of mortgage loans | 0 | 0 | 124 | 0
Change in allowance for credit losses and recoveries | $ (788) | $ (300) | $ 528 | $ 278

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- Definition Amount of expense related loan transactions, lease transactions, credit loss from transactions other than loan and lease transactions, and other loss based on assessment of uncollectability from the counterparty to reduce the account to their net realizable value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 11B -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=SL6953423-111524 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.11) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
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