Investments (Net Unrealized Gains on Available for Sale Fixed Maturity Securities and Equity Securities Reported as a Separate Component of Stockholders' Equity) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Investments [Abstract]
Net unrealized gains on available for sale fixed maturity securities and equity securities	$ 2,115,022	$ 1,107,018
Adjustments for assumed changes in amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and deferred sales inducements	(1,135,088)	(618,661)
Deferred income tax valuation allowance reversal	22,534	22,534
Deferred income tax expense	(342,977)	(170,925)
Net unrealized gains reported as accumulated other comprehensive income	$ 659,491	$ 339,966

Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66004124&loc=d3e637-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66004124&loc=d3e681-108580

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66004124&loc=SL7669686-108580

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant