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Investments (Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Invesments, Excluding Other Than Temporary Impairments) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]    
Net realized gains (losses) on investments, excluding other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses $ 4,879us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairments $ (714)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairments
Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]    
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]    
Gross realized gains 2,288us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
184us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
Gross realized losses (289)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
(691)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
Gross realized gains (losses), excluding other than temporary impairments 1,999us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGainLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairments
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
(507)us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGainLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairments
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
Other Investments [Member]    
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]    
Gain on sale of real estate 838ael_GainsOnSalesOfOtherRealEstate
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember
756ael_GainsOnSalesOfOtherRealEstate
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember
Loss on sale of real estate (382)ael_LossesOnSalesOfOtherRealEstate
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember
0ael_LossesOnSalesOfOtherRealEstate
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember
Impairment losses on real estate (629)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember
(799)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember
Gain (loss) on other investments (173)ael_GainLossonOtherInvestments
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember
(43)ael_GainLossonOtherInvestments
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]    
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]    
Decrease (increase) in allowance for credit losses 1,798us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateMember
(164)us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateMember
Recovery of specific allowance 1,255us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesRecovery
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateMember
0us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesRecovery
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateMember
Change in allowance for credit losses and recoveries $ 3,053ael_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesPeriodIncreaseDecreaseProvisionAndRecoveriesTotal
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateMember
$ (164)ael_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesPeriodIncreaseDecreaseProvisionAndRecoveriesTotal
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateMember