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Mortgage Loans on Real Estate (Allowance for Loan Losses Rollforward) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2018
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward] |  |
Beginning allowance balance | $ (8,239) |
Ending allowance balance | (8,179) |
Specific Allowance |  |
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward] |  |
Beginning allowance balance | (229) | $ (1,418)
Charge-offs | 0 | 0
Recoveries | 0 | 722
Change in provision for credit losses | 0 | 0
Ending allowance balance | (229) | (696)
General Allowance |  |
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward] |  |
Beginning allowance balance | (8,010) | (6,100)
Charge-offs | 0 | 0
Recoveries | 0 | 0
Change in provision for credit losses | 60 | 300
Ending allowance balance | $ (7,950) | $ (5,800)

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- 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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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- 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 + Details
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- 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. + Details
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- 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 + Details
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Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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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://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 + Details
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- Details
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- Details
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