Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Level 3 by Pricing Source) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other long-term investments	$ 178,715		$ 152,345
Reinsurance recoverable	1,761,274		1,747,757
Subtotal excluding separate account assets	6,856,804		7,486,456
Separate account assets	43,645,528		42,942,758	[1]
Total assets	50,502,332		50,429,214
Future policy benefits	1,795,715		1,783,595
Total liabilities	1,795,715		1,783,595
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Internal Pricing [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable Securities, Equity Securities	0	[2]
Other long-term investments	0	[2]
Reinsurance recoverable	1,761,274	[2]
Total assets	1,850,446	[2]
Future policy benefits	1,795,715	[2]
Total liabilities	1,795,715	[2]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | External Priced [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable Securities, Equity Securities	197	[3]
Other long-term investments	305	[3]
Reinsurance recoverable	0	[3]
Total assets	55,557	[3]
Future policy benefits	0	[3]
Total liabilities	0	[3]
Corporate Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Internal Pricing [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable Securities, Fixed Maturities	89,172	[2]
Corporate Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | External Priced [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable Securities, Fixed Maturities	3,289	[3]
Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Internal Pricing [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable Securities, Fixed Maturities	0	[2]
Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | External Priced [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable Securities, Fixed Maturities	51,766	[3]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable Securities, Equity Securities	197
Other long-term investments	305
Reinsurance recoverable	1,761,274
Total assets	1,906,003
Future policy benefits	1,795,715
Total liabilities	1,795,715
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other long-term investments	305		1,213
Reinsurance recoverable	1,761,274		1,747,757
Subtotal excluding separate account assets	1,906,003		1,887,394
Separate account assets	0		0	[1]
Total assets	1,906,003		1,887,394
Future policy benefits	1,795,715		1,783,595
Total liabilities	1,795,715		1,783,595
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Corporate Securities [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable Securities, Fixed Maturities	92,461
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Asset-backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable Securities, Fixed Maturities	$ 51,766

[1] Separate account assets represent segregated funds that are invested for certain customers. Investment risks associated with market value changes are borne by the customers, except to the extent of minimum guarantees made by the Company with respect to certain accounts. Separate account liabilities are not included in the above table as they are reported at contract value and not fair value in the Company’s Unaudited Interim Statements of Financial Position.

[2] Represents valuations reflecting both internally-derived and market inputs, as well as third-party pricing information or quotes. See below for additional information related to internally-developed valuation for significant items in the above table.

[3] Represents unadjusted prices from independent pricing services and independent non-binding broker quotes where pricing inputs are not readily available.