7. Fair Value of Financial Instruments by Level (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS:
U.S. government and agency	$ 216,518	$ 175,328
State and political subdivision	110,637	82,397
Foreign government	48,616	31,877
Corporate	1,537,944	1,208,377
Commercial mortgage-backed (“CMBS”)	278,140	289,955
Residential mortgage-backed (“RMBS”)	525,888	553,519
CDO/CLO	62,521	68,016
Other asset-backed	132,938	136,923
Derivative assets	129,649	113,222
Separate account assets	2,076,772	2,497,980
Fair value option investments	7,337	7,299
Total assets	5,126,960	5,164,893
LIABILITIES:
Derivative liabilities	39,479	22,457
Embedded derivatives	154,035	120,862
Total liabilities	193,514	143,319
Level1
ASSETS:
U.S. government and agency	183,772	138,947
State and political subdivision	0	0
Foreign government	0	0
Corporate	0	0
Commercial mortgage-backed (“CMBS”)	0	0
Residential mortgage-backed (“RMBS”)	0	0
CDO/CLO	0	0
Other asset-backed	0	0
Derivative assets	15,418	16,185
Separate account assets	2,076,772	2,419,655
Fair value option investments	0	0
Total assets	2,275,962	2,574,787
Level2
ASSETS:
U.S. government and agency	32,746	36,381
State and political subdivision	110,637	82,397
Foreign government	48,616	31,877
Corporate	1,496,823	1,179,889
Commercial mortgage-backed (“CMBS”)	269,613	269,514
Residential mortgage-backed (“RMBS”)	519,427	546,975
CDO/CLO	0	1,044
Other asset-backed	125,500	128,861
Derivative assets	114,231	97,037
Separate account assets	0	78,325
Fair value option investments	0	0
Total assets	2,717,593	2,452,300
LIABILITIES:
Derivative liabilities	39,479	22,457
Embedded derivatives	0	0
Total liabilities	39,479	22,457
Level3
ASSETS:
U.S. government and agency	0	0
State and political subdivision	0	0
Foreign government	0	0
Corporate	41,121	28,488
Commercial mortgage-backed (“CMBS”)	8,527	20,441
Residential mortgage-backed (“RMBS”)	6,461	6,544
CDO/CLO	62,521	66,972
Other asset-backed	7,438	8,062
Derivative assets	0	0
Separate account assets	0	0
Fair value option investments	7,337	7,299
Total assets	133,405	137,806
LIABILITIES:
Derivative liabilities	0	0
Embedded derivatives	154,035	120,862
Total liabilities	$ 154,035	$ 120,862