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Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Deferred Sales Inducements and Liability for Lifetime Income Benefit Riders (Liability for Lifetime Income Benefit Riders) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | $ 56,142,673 |  |
Balance at end of year | 57,606,009 | $ 56,142,673 |
Liability for Lifetime Income Benefit Riders |  |  |
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | 704,441 | 533,391 | $ 351,946
Benefit expense accrual | 157,333 | 149,442 | 139,443
Impact of unlocking | (53,607) | 21,608 | 42,002
Claim payments | 0 | 0 | 0
Balance at end of year | $ 808,167 | $ 704,441 | $ 533,391

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- Definition Amount of accrued obligation to policyholders that relates to insured events for long-duration contracts. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (cc) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99382578&loc=d3e14764-158437 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 25 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28366191&loc=d3e13145-158430 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99382578&loc=d3e14764-158437 + Details
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- Definition Amount of other increase (decrease) in accrued obligations to policyholders pertaining to insured events for the period. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b),(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99382578&loc=d3e14764-158437 + Details
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- Definition Amount of cash outflow to policy and contract holders for long-duration insurance contracts related to benefit claims paid. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99382578&loc=d3e14764-158437 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3367-108585 + Details
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- Definition Amount of expense (income) recognized due to changes in the accrued obligation to policyholders that relates to insured events. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99382578&loc=d3e14764-158437 + Details
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