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Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Deferred Sales Inducements and Liability for Lifetime Income Benefit Riders (Deferred Sales Inducements) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Movement in Deferred Sales Inducements [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | $ 2,001,892 | $ 2,208,218 | $ 2,232,148
Costs deferred during the year | 179,465 | 216,172 | 353,966
Amortization: Amortization | (243,666) | (210,886) | (215,406)
Amortization: Impact of unlocking | 21,465 | 34,274 | (35,760)
Effect of net unrealized gains/losses | 557,565 | (245,886) | (126,730)
Balance at end of year | $ 2,516,721 | $ 2,001,892 | $ 2,208,218
Assumptions, revision to extend period of time related to investment spread targets |  |  | 2 years

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- Definition Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements, Assumptions, Revision To Period of Time Related to Investment Spread Targets + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for deferred sales inducement cost from accrued interest on unamortized balance. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense (reversal of amortization expense) for deferred sales inducement cost from assumption change. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of addition in deferred sales inducement cost. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481800&loc=d3e11332-158416 + Details
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- Definition Amount, after accumulated amortization, of deferred sales inducement cost. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481654&loc=d3e11214-158414 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481800&loc=d3e11332-158416 + Details
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