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Mortgage Loans on Real Estate (Rollforward of Allowance for Loan Losses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Beginning allowance balance	$ (7,518)
Ending allowance balance	(8,239)	$ (7,518)
Specific Allowance
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Beginning allowance balance	(1,418)	(1,327)	$ (7,842)
Charge-offs	852	0	5,078
Recoveries	1,592	631	5,483
Change in provision for credit losses	(1,255)	(722)	(4,046)
Ending allowance balance	(229)	(1,418)	(1,327)
General Allowance
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Beginning allowance balance	(6,100)	(7,100)	(6,300)
Charge-offs	0	0	0
Recoveries	0	0	0
Change in provision for credit losses	(1,910)	1,000	(800)
Ending allowance balance	$ (8,010)	$ (6,100)	$ (7,100)

X

- Definition

The reserve to cover probable credit losses related to specifically identified fixed maturity real estate loans as well as probable credit losses inherent in the remainder of that loan portfolio.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 310
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82921503&loc=d3e21338-158488

+ Details

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X

- Definition

Amount of recovery of financing receivables doubtful of collection that were previously charged off.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11B
-Subparagraph (c)(4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=SL6953423-111524

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X

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

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X

- Definition

Amount of direct write-downs of financing receivables charged against the allowance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11B
-Subparagraph (c)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=SL6953423-111524

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X

- 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://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-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://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.11)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873765&loc=SL114874048-224260

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585

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