XML 54 R56.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.3.a.u2

Investments (Credit Quality of Fixed Maturity Security Portfolio by NAIC Designation) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
--- | --- | ---
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Available for sale securities, amortized cost | $ 48,238,946 | $ 46,131,190
Available for sale securities, fair value | 51,580,490 | 45,923,727
NAIC, Class 1 Designation |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Available for sale securities, amortized cost | 27,781,525 | 26,588,352
Available for sale securities, fair value | 30,122,657 | 26,921,843
NAIC, Class 2 Designation |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Available for sale securities, amortized cost | 19,278,355 | 17,901,161
Available for sale securities, fair value | 20,316,911 | 17,528,072
NAIC, Class 3 Designation |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Available for sale securities, amortized cost | 1,001,087 | 1,396,650
Available for sale securities, fair value | 977,191 | 1,269,242
NAIC, Class 4 Designation |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Available for sale securities, amortized cost | 114,497 | 173,987
Available for sale securities, fair value | 112,534 | 137,991
NAIC, Class 5 Designation |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Available for sale securities, amortized cost | 57,952 | 23,836
Available for sale securities, fair value | 45,205 | 19,453
NAIC, Class 6 Designation |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |
Available for sale securities, amortized cost | 5,530 | 47,204
Available for sale securities, fair value | $ 5,992 | $ 47,126

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=118939692&loc=d3e27161-111563 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 326 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942338&loc=SL82898722-210454 + 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 326 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942338&loc=SL82898722-210454 Reference 2: 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=118954083&loc=d3e26610-111562 Reference 3: 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=118939692&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: | us-gaap_ExternalCreditRatingByGroupingAxis=ael_NAICClass1DesignationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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

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

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

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

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