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Reinsurance and Policy Provisions (Hannover Financing Arrangements) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Hannover Reinsurance Agreement, All Agreements [Member]      
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]      
Number of reinsurance agreements 2ael_NumberOfReinsuranceAgreements
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_HannoverReinsuranceAgreementAllAgreementsMember
   
2011 Hannover Reinsurance Agreement [Member]      
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]      
Net pretax statutory surplus benefit $ 49.2ael_ReinsuranceNetPretaxStatutorySurplusBenefit
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2011HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
   
Statutory surplus benefit reduction, duration (years) 5 years    
Reduction in pretax statutory surplus, current period 10.8ael_ReinsuranceReductionInPretaxStatutorySurplusCurrentPeriod
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2011HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
11.3ael_ReinsuranceReductionInPretaxStatutorySurplusCurrentPeriod
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2011HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
11.8ael_ReinsuranceReductionInPretaxStatutorySurplusCurrentPeriod
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2011HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
Reduction in pretax statutory surplus, due in one year 10.3ael_ReinsuranceReductionInPretaxStatutorySurplusDueInOneYears
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2011HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
   
Reduction in pretax statutory surplus, due in two years 2.5ael_ReinsuranceReductionInPretaxStatutorySurplusDueInTwoYears
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2011HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
   
Risk charge rate 1.25%ael_ReinsuranceRiskChargeRate
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2011HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
   
Risk charges 0.8ael_ReinsuranceRiskCharge
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2011HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
1.3ael_ReinsuranceRiskCharge
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2011HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
1.8ael_ReinsuranceRiskCharge
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2011HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
2013 Hannover Reinsurance Agreement [Member]      
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]      
Risk charge rate 1.25%ael_ReinsuranceRiskChargeRate
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2013HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
   
Risk charges 15.7ael_ReinsuranceRiskCharge
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2013HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
7.0ael_ReinsuranceRiskCharge
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2013HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
 
Waived surrender charges on penalty free withdrawals and deaths on certain business, percentage 45.60%ael_ReinsuranceWaivedSurrenderChargesOnPenaltyFreeWithdrawalsAndDeathsOnCertainBusinessPercentage
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2013HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
   
Reserve credit 322.5ael_ReinsuranceReserveCredit
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2013HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
288.2ael_ReinsuranceReserveCredit
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2013HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
 
2005 Hannover Reinsurance Agreement [Member]      
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]      
Risk charges   5.4ael_ReinsuranceRiskCharge
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2005HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
9.9ael_ReinsuranceRiskCharge
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2005HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
Waived surrender charges on penalty free withdrawals and deaths on certain business, percentage 47.00%ael_ReinsuranceWaivedSurrenderChargesOnPenaltyFreeWithdrawalsAndDeathsOnCertainBusinessPercentage
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2005HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
   
2008 Hannover Reinsurance Agreement [Member]      
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]      
Net pretax statutory surplus benefit 29.5ael_ReinsuranceNetPretaxStatutorySurplusBenefit
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2008HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
   
Reduction in pretax statutory surplus, current period   6.9ael_ReinsuranceReductionInPretaxStatutorySurplusCurrentPeriod
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2008HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
6.8ael_ReinsuranceReductionInPretaxStatutorySurplusCurrentPeriod
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2008HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
Risk charge rate 1.25%ael_ReinsuranceRiskChargeRate
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2008HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
   
Risk charges   $ 0.1ael_ReinsuranceRiskCharge
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2008HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember
$ 0.5ael_ReinsuranceRiskCharge
/ us-gaap_CededCreditRiskAxis
= ael_Reinsurance2008HannoverReinsuranceAgreementMember