Related Party Transactions (Income Statement Reinsurance Results) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Premiums:
Direct	$ 408,518	$ 383,312	$ 799,698	$ 749,555
Assumed	1	0	149	0
Ceded	(1,260,611)	(359,830)	(1,634,024)	(710,436)
Net premiums	(852,092)	23,482	(834,177)	39,119
Policy charges and fee income:
Direct	509,535	694,126	1,244,512	1,426,691
Assumed	109,910	(13,919)	304,223	155,292
Ceded	(577,597)	(150,174)	(979,480)	(511,185)
Net policy charges and fee income	41,848	530,033	569,255	1,070,798
Net investment income:
Direct	79,518	102,306	185,656	206,354
Assumed	351	364	695	693
Ceded	(1,250)	(1,184)	(2,280)	(2,141)
Net investment income	78,619	101,486	184,071	204,906
Other income:
Direct	12,077	12,841	23,772	25,152
Assumed & Ceded	(20,676)	2,172	(18,849)	7,078
Net other income	(8,599)	15,013	4,923	32,230
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances:
Direct	105,629	73,790	319,111	216,195
Assumed	31,583	32,790	65,418	61,615
Ceded	(109,236)	(58,337)	(170,122)	(112,090)
Net interest credited to policyholders’ account balances	27,976	48,243	214,407	165,720
Policyholders’ benefits (including change in reserves):
Direct	342,039	466,298	951,674	952,425
Assumed	211,698	(12,799)	472,575	223,085
Ceded	(984,174)	(396,233)	(1,756,158)	(1,059,843)
Net policyholders’ benefits (including change in reserves)	(430,437)	57,266	(331,909)	115,667
Realized investment gains (losses), net:
Direct	(1,228,076)	2,834,402	(2,762,428)	2,167,967
Assumed	39	0	0	0
Ceded	2,088,499	(3,005,058)	3,678,041	(2,279,598)
Total realized investment gains (losses), net	860,462	(170,656)	915,613	(111,631)
Net reinsurance expense allowances, net of capitalization and amortization	$ (443,316)	$ (17,371)	$ (537,245)	$ (87,083)