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Investments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
country
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Investment [Line Items]      
Maximum individual state exposure 0.50%aiz_MaximumIndividualStateExposure 0.50%aiz_MaximumIndividualStateExposure  
Advance refunded or escrowed-to-maturity securities $ 270,107,000aiz_AdvanceRefundedOrEscrowedToMaturitySecurities $ 234,640,000aiz_AdvanceRefundedOrEscrowedToMaturitySecurities  
Percentage of revenue securities 51.00%aiz_PercentageOfRevenueSecurities 53.00%aiz_PercentageOfRevenueSecurities  
Foreign country representing more than three percent of investments in foreign government securities 0aiz_ForeignCountryRepresentingMoreThanThreePercentOfInvestmentsInForeignGovernmentSecurities    
Non-income producing material investments 0aiz_NonIncomeProducingMaterialInvestments 0aiz_NonIncomeProducingMaterialInvestments 0aiz_NonIncomeProducingMaterialInvestments
Securities traded continuously at a price below book value, months 10 months    
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses (69,000)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments (4,516,000)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments (1,939,000)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
Other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings (30,000)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetAvailableforsaleSecurities (4,387,000)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetAvailableforsaleSecurities (1,843,000)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetAvailableforsaleSecurities
Other-than-temporary impairment losses recorded as a component of AOCI 39,000us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParentAvailableforsaleSecurities 129,000us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParentAvailableforsaleSecurities 96,000us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParentAvailableforsaleSecurities
Net other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings 30,000us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet 4,387,000us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet 1,843,000us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
Percentage of securities representing gross unrealized losses 2.00%aiz_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossesPercentage 3.00%aiz_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossesPercentage  
Percentage of gross unrealized losses in a continuous loss position less than twelve months 63.00%aiz_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLossesPercentage 94.00%aiz_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLossesPercentage  
Individual securities comprising total gross unrealized losses (in shares) 385aiz_NumberOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesComprisingGrossUnrealizedLoss 667aiz_NumberOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesComprisingGrossUnrealizedLoss  
Total gross unrealized losses of twelve months or more 2,203,000aiz_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerAggregatedLossesTopConcentration    
Total gross unrealized losses of twelve months or more percentage 63.00%aiz_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerAggregateLossesTopConcentrationPercentage    
Percentage of residential mortgage-backed holdings exposure to sub-prime mortgage collateral 3.00%aiz_PercentageOfResidentialMortgageBackedHoldingsExposureToSubPrimeMortgageCollateral    
Percentage of fixed income portfolio represents security with sub-prime exposure 0.20%aiz_PercentageOfFixedIncomePortfolioRepresentsSecurityWithSubprimeExposure    
Percentage of unrealized gain position represents security with sub-prime exposure 1.00%aiz_PercentageOfUnrealizedGainPositionRepresentsSecurityWithSubPrimeExposure    
Percentage of security with sub-prime exposure rated as investment grade 11.00%aiz_PercentageOfSecurityWithSubPrimeExposureRatedAsInvestmentGrade    
Approximate percentage, outstanding principal balance of commercial mortgage loans 39.00%aiz_ApproximatePercentageOutstandingPrincipalBalanceOfCommercialMortgageLoans    
Outstanding balance of commercial mortgage loans 1,276,015,000us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage 1,291,514,000us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage  
Commercial mortgage loan valuation allowance 3,399,000us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableRelatedAllowance 4,482,000us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableRelatedAllowance  
Loan valuation allowance increase (decrease) (1,083,000)us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesPeriodIncreaseDecrease (2,515,000)us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesPeriodIncreaseDecrease  
Mortgage loan commitments outstanding 26,959,000us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCarryingAmountOfMortgages    
Committed to fund additional capital contributions to joint ventures 5,320,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInterestInSubsidiariesAndAffiliates    
Short term investments and fixed maturities 519,659,000aiz_ShortTermInvestmentsAndFixedMaturities 543,344,000aiz_ShortTermInvestmentsAndFixedMaturities  
Other assets 847,860,000us-gaap_OtherAssets 258,942,000us-gaap_OtherAssets  
(Loss) gain on investments (60,783,000)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments (34,525,000)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments (64,353,000)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
Percentage of securities received as collateral 102.00%aiz_PercentageOfSecuritiesReceivedAsCollateral    
Collateral held under securities lending 95,985,000us-gaap_SecuritiesReceivedAsCollateral 95,215,000us-gaap_SecuritiesReceivedAsCollateral  
Liability to the borrower for collateral 95,986,000us-gaap_ObligationToReturnSecuritiesReceivedAsCollateral 95,206,000us-gaap_ObligationToReturnSecuritiesReceivedAsCollateral  
Minimum      
Investment [Line Items]      
Outstanding balance of commercial mortgage loans 77,000us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		 9,000us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		  
Maximum      
Investment [Line Items]      
Outstanding balance of commercial mortgage loans 15,190,000us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		 15,574,000us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		  
Canadian Government/Provincials      
Investment [Line Items]      
Percentage of investments in foreign governments fixed maturity securities 76.00%aiz_PercentageOfInvestmentsInForeignGovernmentsFixedMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis
= aiz_CanadianGovernmentProvincialsMember		 70.00%aiz_PercentageOfInvestmentsInForeignGovernmentsFixedMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis
= aiz_CanadianGovernmentProvincialsMember		  
Governments Of Brazil      
Investment [Line Items]      
Percentage of investments in foreign governments fixed maturity securities 10.00%aiz_PercentageOfInvestmentsInForeignGovernmentsFixedMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis
= aiz_GovernmentsOfBrazilMember		 15.00%aiz_PercentageOfInvestmentsInForeignGovernmentsFixedMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis
= aiz_GovernmentsOfBrazilMember		  
Governments Of Germany      
Investment [Line Items]      
Percentage of investments in foreign governments fixed maturity securities 5.00%aiz_PercentageOfInvestmentsInForeignGovernmentsFixedMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis
= aiz_GovernmentsOfGermanyMember		 6.00%aiz_PercentageOfInvestmentsInForeignGovernmentsFixedMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis
= aiz_GovernmentsOfGermanyMember		  
Other Country      
Investment [Line Items]      
Percentage of investments in foreign governments fixed maturity securities 3.00%aiz_PercentageOfInvestmentsInForeignGovernmentsFixedMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis
= aiz_OtherCountryMember		 0.00%aiz_PercentageOfInvestmentsInForeignGovernmentsFixedMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis
= aiz_OtherCountryMember		  
Consumer Price Index Caps      
Investment [Line Items]      
Other assets 807,000us-gaap_OtherAssets
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= aiz_ConsumerPriceIndexCapsMember		 2,491,000us-gaap_OtherAssets
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= aiz_ConsumerPriceIndexCapsMember		  
(Loss) gain on investments 1,684,000us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= aiz_ConsumerPriceIndexCapsMember		 3,395,000us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= aiz_ConsumerPriceIndexCapsMember		 2,635,000us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= aiz_ConsumerPriceIndexCapsMember
Energy Sector | Corporate Debt Securities      
Investment [Line Items]      
Investment in securities 992,012,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= aiz_EnergySectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember		 996,901,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= aiz_EnergySectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember		  
Unrealized gain on investments 89,590,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= aiz_EnergySectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember		 78,667,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= aiz_EnergySectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember		  
Europe | Corporate Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities      
Investment [Line Items]      
Investment in securities 1,060,655,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis
= us-gaap_EuropeMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= aiz_CorporateFixedMaturityandEquitySecuritiesMember		 1,082,129,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis
= us-gaap_EuropeMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= aiz_CorporateFixedMaturityandEquitySecuritiesMember		  
Unrealized gain on investments $ 116,975,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax
/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis
= us-gaap_EuropeMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= aiz_CorporateFixedMaturityandEquitySecuritiesMember		 $ 78,126,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax
/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis
= us-gaap_EuropeMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= aiz_CorporateFixedMaturityandEquitySecuritiesMember		  
Investment Sector Concentration Risk | Investments | Europe | Financial Services Sector | Corporate Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities      
Investment [Line Items]      
Percentage of European investments held in financial industry classification 22.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_InvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= aiz_InvestmentSectorConcentrationRiskMember
/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis
= us-gaap_EuropeMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= aiz_FinancialServicesSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= aiz_CorporateFixedMaturityandEquitySecuritiesMember		 25.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_InvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= aiz_InvestmentSectorConcentrationRiskMember
/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis
= us-gaap_EuropeMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= aiz_FinancialServicesSectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= aiz_CorporateFixedMaturityandEquitySecuritiesMember		  
Geographic Concentration Risk | Investments | Unspecified European Country | Corporate Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities      
Investment [Line Items]      
Percentage of European investments held in financial industry classification 5.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_InvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GeographicConcentrationRiskMember
/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis
= aiz_UnspecifiedEuropeanCountryMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= aiz_CorporateFixedMaturityandEquitySecuritiesMember		 6.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_InvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GeographicConcentrationRiskMember
/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis
= aiz_UnspecifiedEuropeanCountryMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= aiz_CorporateFixedMaturityandEquitySecuritiesMember		  
Internal Investment Grade | Investments | Energy Sector | Corporate Debt Securities      
Investment [Line Items]      
Percentage of European investments held in financial industry classification 89.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_InvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= aiz_InternalInvestmentGradeMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= aiz_EnergySectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember		 87.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_InvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= aiz_InternalInvestmentGradeMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= aiz_EnergySectorMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember		  
Not Hedged to U.S. Dollars | United Kingdom, Pounds and Euro Countries, Euro [Member] | Investment Hedging Concentration Risk | Investments | Europe | Corporate Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities      
Investment [Line Items]      
Percentage of European investments held in financial industry classification 5.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_InvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= aiz_InvestmentHedgingConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= aiz_UnitedKingdomPoundsandEuroCountriesEuroMember
/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis
= us-gaap_EuropeMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentSecondaryCategorizationAxis
= aiz_NotHedgedtoU.S.DollarsMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= aiz_CorporateFixedMaturityandEquitySecuritiesMember