Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Operating activities
Net income	$ 10,471	$ 31,343
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Interest sensitive and index product benefits	139,123	159,665
Amortization of deferred sales inducements	16,710	30,692
Annuity product charges	(19,393)	(16,962)
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives	359,066	128,303
Increase in traditional life and accident and health insurance reserves	6,032	24,356
Policy acquisition costs deferred	(91,177)	(117,501)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	34,284	55,223
Provision for depreciation and other amortization	4,547	4,515
Amortization of discounts and premiums on investments	(39,738)	(45,564)
Realized gains on investments and net OTTI losses recognized	8,957	7,764
Change in fair value of derivatives	(259,161)	(149,241)
Deferred income taxes	(12,443)	(41,597)
Share-based compensation	1,106	1,719
Change in accrued investment income	(7,685)	(30,003)
Change in income taxes recoverable/payable	17,441	56,581
Change in other assets	(682)	253
Change in other policy funds and contract claims	18,224	45,816
Change in collateral held for derivatives	292,043	122,437
Change in other liabilities	(19,523)	(28,408)
Other	(482)	318
Net cash provided by operating activities	457,720	239,709
Sales, maturities, or repayments of investments:
Fixed maturity securities - available for sale	965,283	1,732,408
Fixed maturity securities - held for investment	1,140,816	0
Equity securities - available for sale	2,605	0
Mortgage loans on real estate	99,199	52,768
Derivative instruments	57,015	97,878
Other investments	4,568	0
Acquisition of investments:
Fixed maturity securities - available for sale	(988,547)	(1,824,696)
Fixed maturity securities - held for investment	0	(760,505)
Equity securities - available for sale	0	(1,600)
Mortgage loans on real estate	(43,678)	(191,583)
Derivative instruments	(83,201)	(83,409)
Other investments	(17)	(33)
Purchases of property, furniture and equipment	(191)	(2,656)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	1,153,852	(981,428)
Financing activities
Receipts credited to annuity policyholder account balances	979,445	1,341,844
Coinsurance deposits	(49,478)	(16,207)
Return of annuity policyholder account balances	(414,521)	(438,371)
Financing fees incurred and deferred	0	(1,566)
Excess tax benefits realized from share-based compensation plans	665	935
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	721	3,052
Change in checks in excess of cash balance	(6,243)	1,003
Net cash provided by financing activities	510,589	890,690
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	2,122,161	148,971
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	404,952	597,766
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,527,113	746,737
Cash paid during period for:
Interest expense	7,014	6,792
Income taxes	0	1,000
Income tax refunds received	0	0
Non-cash operating activity:
Deferral of sales inducements	70,019	106,249
Non-cash investing activity:
Real estate acquired in satisfaction of mortgage loans	3,303	3,781
Non-cash financing activities:
Conversion of subordinated debentures	$ 60	$ 0