Investments (Other Than Temporary Impairments by Asset Type) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) Securities
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments [Abstract]
Total OTTI losses	$ 0	$ (907)
Portion of OTTI losses recognized in (from) other comprehensive income	0	0
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations	$ 0	$ (907)
Corporate Securities \| Consumer Discretionary
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments [Abstract]
Other than temporary impairment, number of securities \| Securities		1
Total OTTI losses		$ (907)
Portion of OTTI losses recognized in (from) other comprehensive income		0
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations		$ (907)

Item represents the number of securites for which other than temporary impairment was recognized.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentNumberOfSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount by which the fair value of an investment is less than the amortized cost basis or carrying amount of that investment at the balance sheet date and the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary, before considering whether or not such amount is recognized in earnings or other comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109979856&loc=SL6284422-111562

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) on investment in debt security, recognized in earnings.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossDebtSecuritiesPortionRecognizedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before tax of other than temporary impairment loss (OTTI) on investments in available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities, recognized in other comprehensive loss and attributable to parent entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4569643-111683

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669646-108580

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=d3e637-108580

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (c)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109239629&loc=SL4573702-111684

Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669686-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_ConsumerDiscretionarySectorMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: