v2.4.0.6

Acquisition Costs and Other Underwriting Expenses (Tables) | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2012
Acquisition Costs and Other Underwriting Expenses [Abstract] |
Business Acquisitions Components Of Acquisition Related Costs Table | The following table summarizes the components of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011:
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Amounts in Thousands) | 2012 |  | 2011 |  | 2012 |  | 2011
Policy acquisition expenses | $ | 108,427 |  |  | $ | 76,944 |  |  | $ | 279,476 |  |  | $ | 180,260 |
Salaries and benefits | 32,557 |  |  | 27,418 |  |  | 109,174 |  |  | 87,309 |
Other insurance general and administrative expenses | 2,752 |  |  | 8,908 |  |  | 8,824 |  |  | 16,515 |
| $ | 143,736 |  |  | $ | 113,270 |  |  | $ | 397,474 |  |  | $ | 284,084 |

X
- Details
Name: | afsi_AcquisitionCostsAndOtherUnderwritingExpensesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | afsi_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Business Acquisitions, Components of Acquisition Related Costs + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | afsi_BusinessAcquisitionsComponentsOfAcquisitionRelatedCostsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | afsi_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration