Investments - Credit loss impairments on fixed income securities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 131,942	$ 174,805
Credit loss impairment recognized in the current period on securities not previously impaired	7,560	12
Credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities which matured, paid down, prepaid or were sold during the period	(28,539)	(3,348)
Additional credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities previously impaired	141	2,261
Accretion of credit loss impairments previously recognized due to an increase in cash flows expected to be collected	(2,646)	(2,347)
Balance, end of period	$ 108,458	$ 171,383

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This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which a previous OTTI was recognized and the investor does not intend to sell the debt security and it is not more likely than not that the investor will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27340-111563

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- Definition

This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which no such other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was previously recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27340-111563

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- Definition

The cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings related to debt securities held for which a portion of an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of shareholders' equity).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27340-111563

+ Details

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- Definition

This item represents reductions in the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held due to increases in cash flows expected to be collected and recognized over the remaining life of the security.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph (f)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27340-111563

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- Definition

This item represents reductions in the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security because of the sale of impaired securities during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27340-111563

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