Related Party (Reinsurance With Affiliates Pruco Re) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011
Ceded Rider Fees [Line Items]
HD6 Plus Living Benefits Fees Ceded	$ 12,436		$ 11,759		$ 36,885		$ 35,160
SHD6 Plus Living Benefits Fees Ceded	5,368		5,060		15,948		15,025
HD7 Plus Living Benefits Fees Ceded	13,259		12,577		39,228		37,521
SHD7 Plus Living Benefits Fees Ceded	7,023		6,599		20,717		19,661
HD7 Living Benefits Fees Ceded	7,427		7,337		22,206		21,961
SHD7 Living Benefits Fees Ceded	2,276		2,257		6,812		6,722
GRO Plus and GRO Plus 2 Living Benefits Fees Ceded	2,130	[1]	2,261	[1]	6,446	[1]	6,596	[1]
HDGRO Living Benefits Fees Ceded	824	[1]	850	[1]	2,503	[1]	2,591	[1]
HDGRO 2 Living Benefits Fees Ceded	840	[1]	837	[1]	2,530	[1]	2,468	[1]
HDLT5 Living Benefits Fees Ceded	3,284		3,441		9,951		10,574
SLT5 Living Benefits Fees Ceded	2,638		2,688		7,959		8,427
LT5 Living Benefits Fees Ceded	8,580	[2]	8,817	[2]	25,992	[2]	27,865	[2]
GRO Fees Ceded	514		909		1,621		3,362
GMWB Fees Ceded	348		442		1,097		1,499
Total Fees Ceded to Pruco Reinsurance	66,599		65,392		198,798		197,933
Total Fees Ceded to Prudential Insurance	348		442		1,097		1,499
Total Fees Ceded	$ 66,947		$ 65,834		$ 199,895		$ 199,432

[1] GRO Plus and HD GRO were amended effective January 1, 2010 to include an amended version of the GRO Plus and HD GRO benefit features (GRO Plus II and HD GRO II).

[2] Effective August 1, 2007, the Company amended this coinsurance agreement to include the reinsurance of business sold prior to May 6, 2005 that was previously reinsured to Prudential Insurance.