Income Taxes - Significant Portions of Deferred Tax Assets and Deferred Tax Liabilities (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Fixed maturity investments	$ 16,868	$ 22,387
Carryover of tax losses	11,415	14,177
Other assets	0	4,084
Total gross deferred tax assets	28,283	40,648
Unrealized gains	92,772	481,804
Employee and agent compensation	68,911	65,877
Deferred acquisition costs	829,032	791,254
Future policy benefits, unearned and advance premiums, and policy claims	315,291	311,366
Other Liabilities	1,126	0
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	1,307,132	1,650,301
Net deferred tax liability	$ 1,278,849	$ 1,609,653