Significant Accounting Policies and Pronouncements - Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements - Impact of DAC Restatement IS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
REVENUES
Total revenues	$ 310,807	$ 280,135	$ 375,418	$ 313,201	$ 335,148	$ 413,949	$ 402,919	$ 370,862	$ 1,279,561	$ 1,522,878	[1]	$ 1,574,025	[1]
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs									(188,042)	716,088	[1]	178,669	[1]
General, administrative and other expenses									424,764	442,062	[1]	449,351	[1]
Total benefits and expenses	55,114	(131,867)	716,619	(217,998)	138,059	1,133,796	358,357	210,284	421,868	1,840,496	[1]	1,040,729	[1]
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES	255,693	412,002	(341,201)	531,199	197,089	(719,847)	44,562	160,578	857,693	(317,618)	[1]	533,296	[1]
Income tax expense									223,634	(166,063)	[1]	119,506	[1]
NET INCOME	189,112	309,747	(237,147)	372,347	132,003	(439,731)	34,652	121,521	634,059	(151,555)	[1]	413,790	[1]
Restatement Adjustment [Member]
REVENUES
Total revenues										0		0
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs										(98,043)		(23,899)
General, administrative and other expenses										4,605		35,885
Total benefits and expenses										(93,438)		11,986
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES										93,438		(11,986)
Income tax expense										32,703		(4,195)
NET INCOME										60,735		(7,791)
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]
REVENUES
Total revenues										1,522,878	[1]	1,574,025	[1]
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs										814,131	[1]	202,568	[1]
General, administrative and other expenses										437,457	[1]	413,466	[1]
Total benefits and expenses										1,933,934	[1]	1,028,743	[1]
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES										(411,056)	[1]	545,282	[1]
Income tax expense										(198,766)	[1]	123,701	[1]
NET INCOME										$ (212,290)	[1]	$ 421,581	[1]

[1] “As previously reported” column represents balances reported in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, originally filed with the SEC on March 9, 2012. “As currently reported” column was included in the 8-K filed with the SEC on November 28, 2012.