Income Taxes Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Income Taxes Receivable	$ 1,400,000
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance
Net operating loss	135,108,000	109,893,000
Deferred compensation	23,373,000	38,191,000
Unrealized losses on investments	4,450,000	13,432,000
Goodwill	10,885,000	11,760,000
Legal reserves	803,000	3,592,000
Foreign tax credits	1,756,000	1,837,000
Acquired lease liability	1,036,000	1,456,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Other	3,532,000	1,416,000
Total deferred tax assets	180,943,000	181,577,000
Valuation allowance	(161,181,000)	(157,007,000)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance	19,762,000	24,570,000
Deferred tax liabilities
Basis difference on investments	(15,351,000)	(15,351,000)
Fixed assets	(1,405,000)	(5,207,000)
Intangible assets	(1,230,000)	(2,975,000)
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Other	(1,766,000)	(1,028,000)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(19,752,000)	(24,561,000)
Deferred tax assets, net	10,000	9,000
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	3,000	(21,530,000)	(22,335,000)
Luxembourg Reinsurance Companies [Member]
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance
Deferred Tax Assets, Other	134,900,000
Deferred tax liabilities
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)		21,700,000	22,200,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross, Current	186,400,000
Valuation Allowance, Amount	134,900,000
Financing Interest Expense			$ 4,100,000