XML 69 R56.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Investments (Credit Quality of Fixed Maturity Security Portfolio by NAIC Designation) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
--- | --- | ---
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Available for sale securities, amortized cost | $ 46,131,190 | $ 43,116,759
Available for sale securities, fair value | 45,923,727 | 45,372,989
Available for sale securities and held for investment, amortized cost |  | 43,193,800
Available for sale securities and held for investment, fair value |  | 45,449,449
NAIC, Class 1 Designation |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Available for sale securities, amortized cost | 26,588,352 |
Available for sale securities, fair value | 26,921,843 |
Available for sale securities and held for investment, amortized cost |  | 26,669,427
Available for sale securities and held for investment, fair value |  | 28,274,379
NAIC, Class 2 Designation |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Available for sale securities, amortized cost | 17,901,161 |
Available for sale securities, fair value | 17,528,072 |
Available for sale securities and held for investment, amortized cost |  | 15,198,551
Available for sale securities and held for investment, fair value |  | 15,869,219
NAIC, Class 3 Designation |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Available for sale securities, amortized cost | 1,396,650 |
Available for sale securities, fair value | 1,269,242 |
Available for sale securities and held for investment, amortized cost |  | 1,161,737
Available for sale securities and held for investment, fair value |  | 1,157,420
NAIC, Class 4 Designation |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Available for sale securities, amortized cost | 173,987 |
Available for sale securities, fair value | 137,991 |
Available for sale securities and held for investment, amortized cost |  | 134,838
Available for sale securities and held for investment, fair value |  | 117,542
NAIC, Class 5 Designation |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Available for sale securities, amortized cost | 23,836 |
Available for sale securities, fair value | 19,453 |
Available for sale securities and held for investment, amortized cost |  | 17,015
Available for sale securities and held for investment, fair value |  | 20,927
NAIC, Class 6 Designation |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Available for sale securities, amortized cost | 47,204 |
Available for sale securities, fair value | $ 47,126 |
Available for sale securities and held for investment, amortized cost |  | 12,232
Available for sale securities and held for investment, fair value |  | $ 9,962

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 Amortized cost of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109979856&loc=d3e26610-111562 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (aa) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
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_CreditRatingSourceAxis=ael_NAICClass1DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis=ael_NAICClass2DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis=ael_NAICClass3DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis=ael_NAICClass4DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis=ael_NAICClass5DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis=ael_NAICClass6DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |