Collateral Finance and Securitization Notes	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Collateral Finance Facility [Abstract]
Collateral Finance and Securitization Notes	COLLATERAL FINANCE AND SECURITIZATION NOTES Collateral Finance Notes In June 2006, RGA’s subsidiary, Timberlake Financial L.L.C. (“Timberlake Financial”), issued $850.0 million of Series A Floating Rate Insured Notes, due June 2036, in a private placement. The notes were issued to fund the collateral requirements for statutory reserves required by Regulation XXX on specified term life insurance policies reinsured by RGA Reinsurance and retroceded to Timberlake Re. Proceeds from the notes, along with a $112.8 million direct investment by the Company, were deposited into a series of accounts that collateralize the notes and are not available to satisfy the general obligations of the Company. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, the Company held assets in trust and in custody of $922.8 million and $913.5 million, of which $15.7 million and $20.5 million were held in a Debt Service Coverage account to cover interest payments on the notes. Interest on the notes accrues at an annual rate of 1-month LIBOR plus a base rate margin, payable monthly, and totaled $4.0 million, $5.1 million and $6.9 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The payment of interest and principal on the notes is insured through a financial guaranty insurance policy by a monoline insurance company, the parent company of which emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2013. The notes represent senior, secured indebtedness of Timberlake Financial without legal recourse to RGA or its other subsidiaries. Timberlake Financial relies primarily upon the receipt of interest and principal payments on a surplus note and dividend payments from its wholly-owned subsidiary, Timberlake Re, a South Carolina captive insurance company, to make payments of interest and principal on the notes. The ability of Timberlake Re to make interest and principal payments on the surplus note and dividend payments to Timberlake Financial is contingent upon the South Carolina Department of Insurance’s regulatory approval. Approval to pay interest on the surplus note was granted through March 30, 2015. During 2013, the Company repurchased $160.0 million face amount of the Timberlake Financial notes for $112.0 million, which was the market value at the date of the purchase. The notes were purchased by RGA Reinsurance. As a result, the Company recorded pre-tax gains of $46.5 million, after fees, in other revenues in 2013. The Company’s consolidated balance sheets include the assets of Timberlake Financial, a wholly-owned subsidiary, recorded as fixed maturity investments and other invested assets, which consists of restricted cash and cash equivalents, with the liability for the notes recorded as collateral finance and securitization notes. The Company’s consolidated statements of income include the investment return of Timberlake Financial as investment income and the cost of the facility is reflected in collateral finance and securitization expense. Securitization Notes In December 2014, RGA's subsidiary, Chesterfield Financial Holdings LLC, ("Chesterfield Financial"), issued $300.0 million of asset-backed notes due December 2034 in a private placement. The notes were issued as part of an embedded value securitization transaction covering a closed block of policies assumed by RGA Reinsurance and retroceded to Chesterfield Re. Proceeds from the notes, along with a $79.0 million direct investment by the Company, were applied by Chesterfield Financial to (i) pay certain transaction-related expenses, (ii) establish a $27.0 million Reserve Account owned by Chesterfield Financial and pledged to the indenture trustee for the benefit of the holders of the notes (primarily to cover interest payments on the notes), and (iii) to fund an initial stock purchase from and capital contribution to Chesterfield Re of $346.5 million to capitalize Chesterfield Re and to finance the payment of a $256.5 million ceding commission by Chesterfield Re to RGA Reinsurance under the retrocession agreement. Interest on the notes accrues at an annual rate of 4.50%, payable quarterly, and totaled $0.6 million in 2014. Capitalized issue costs were approximately $5.4 million. The notes represent senior, secured indebtedness of Chesterfield Financial. Limited support is provided by RGA for temporary potential liquidity events at Chesterfield Financial and for temporary potential statutory capital and surplus events at Chesterfield Re. Otherwise, there is no legal recourse to RGA or its other subsidiaries. The notes are not insured or guaranteed by any other person or entity. Chesterfield Financial relies primarily upon dividend payments from its wholly-owned subsidiary, Chesterfield Re, a Missouri domiciled life insurance company, to make payments of interest and principal on the notes. The ability of Chesterfield Re to make dividend payments to Chesterfield Financial is contingent upon regulatory approval by the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institution and Professional Registration.

COLLATERAL FINANCE AND SECURITIZATION NOTES

Collateral Finance Notes

In June 2006, RGA’s subsidiary, Timberlake Financial L.L.C. (“Timberlake Financial”), issued $850.0 million of Series A Floating Rate Insured Notes, due June 2036, in a private placement. The notes were issued to fund the collateral requirements for statutory reserves required by Regulation XXX on specified term life insurance policies reinsured by RGA Reinsurance and retroceded to Timberlake Re. Proceeds from the notes, along with a $112.8 million direct investment by the Company, were deposited into a series of accounts that collateralize the notes and are not available to satisfy the general obligations of the Company. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, the Company held assets in trust and in custody of $922.8 million and $913.5 million, of which $15.7 million and $20.5 million were held in a Debt Service Coverage account to cover interest payments on the notes. Interest on the notes accrues at an annual rate of 1-month LIBOR plus a base rate margin, payable monthly, and totaled $4.0 million, $5.1 million and $6.9 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The payment of interest and principal on the notes is insured through a financial guaranty insurance policy by a monoline insurance company, the parent company of which emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2013. The notes represent senior, secured indebtedness of Timberlake Financial without legal recourse to RGA or its other subsidiaries.

Timberlake Financial relies primarily upon the receipt of interest and principal payments on a surplus note and dividend payments from its wholly-owned subsidiary, Timberlake Re, a South Carolina captive insurance company, to make payments of interest and principal on the notes. The ability of Timberlake Re to make interest and principal payments on the surplus note and dividend payments to Timberlake Financial is contingent upon the South Carolina Department of Insurance’s regulatory approval. Approval to pay interest on the surplus note was granted through March 30, 2015.

During 2013, the Company repurchased $160.0 million face amount of the Timberlake Financial notes for $112.0 million, which was the market value at the date of the purchase. The notes were purchased by RGA Reinsurance. As a result, the Company recorded pre-tax gains of $46.5 million, after fees, in other revenues in 2013.

The Company’s consolidated balance sheets include the assets of Timberlake Financial, a wholly-owned subsidiary, recorded as fixed maturity investments and other invested assets, which consists of restricted cash and cash equivalents, with the liability for the notes recorded as collateral finance and securitization notes. The Company’s consolidated statements of income include the investment return of Timberlake Financial as investment income and the cost of the facility is reflected in collateral finance and securitization expense.

Securitization Notes

In December 2014, RGA's subsidiary, Chesterfield Financial Holdings LLC, ("Chesterfield Financial"), issued $300.0 million of asset-backed notes due December 2034 in a private placement. The notes were issued as part of an embedded value securitization transaction covering a closed block of policies assumed by RGA Reinsurance and retroceded to Chesterfield Re. Proceeds from the notes, along with a $79.0 million direct investment by the Company, were applied by Chesterfield Financial to (i) pay certain transaction-related expenses, (ii) establish a $27.0 million Reserve Account owned by Chesterfield Financial and pledged to the indenture trustee for the benefit of the holders of the notes (primarily to cover interest payments on the notes), and (iii) to fund an initial stock purchase from and capital contribution to Chesterfield Re of $346.5 million to capitalize Chesterfield Re and to finance the payment of a $256.5 million ceding commission by Chesterfield Re to RGA Reinsurance under the retrocession agreement. Interest on the notes accrues at an annual rate of 4.50%, payable quarterly, and totaled $0.6 million in 2014. Capitalized issue costs were approximately $5.4 million. The notes represent senior, secured indebtedness of Chesterfield Financial. Limited support is provided by RGA for temporary potential liquidity events at Chesterfield Financial and for temporary potential statutory capital and surplus events at Chesterfield Re. Otherwise, there is no legal recourse to RGA or its other subsidiaries. The notes are not insured or guaranteed by any other person or entity.

Chesterfield Financial relies primarily upon dividend payments from its wholly-owned subsidiary, Chesterfield Re, a Missouri domiciled life insurance company, to make payments of interest and principal on the notes. The ability of Chesterfield Re to make dividend payments to Chesterfield Financial is contingent upon regulatory approval by the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institution and Professional Registration.