Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Quantitative Information for Level 3 Inputs) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 40,451,670	$ 39,177,513
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 630,328	$ 173,579
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.01	0.01
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.05	0.02
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Asset-backed securities
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 64,475	$ 0
Asset-backed securities | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.01	0.00
Asset-backed securities | Maximum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.01	0.00
Asset-backed securities | Minimum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Longevity Swap [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 46,090	$ 40,659
US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 20,252	$ 22,511
US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.01	0.01
US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.01	0.01
US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 0	$ 4,616
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.00	0.01
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.00	0.01
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.00	0.01
Debt Security, Corporate, Non-US [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.01	0.00
Debt Security, Corporate, Non-US [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.01	0.00
Debt Security, Corporate, Non-US [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.01	0.00
Foreign Government Debt [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 5,012	$ 0
Equity securities | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 33,074	$ 0
Equity securities | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Equity Securities, FV-NI, Measurement Input	0.04	0.00
Equity securities | Maximum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Equity Securities, FV-NI, Measurement Input	0.04	0.00
Equity securities | Minimum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Equity Securities, FV-NI, Measurement Input	0.04	0.00
Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 142,529	$ 122,194
Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Financial and Nonfinancial Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 815,970	$ 861,758
Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.02	0.02
Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.04	0.04
Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.02	0.02
Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Financial and Nonfinancial Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 90,229	$ 152,470
Mortality Swap [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Financial and Nonfinancial Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 308	$ 1,683
Measurement Input, Mortality Rate [Member] | Longevity Swap [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.02	0.02
Measurement Input, Mortality Rate [Member] | Longevity Swap [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	1.00	1.00
Measurement Input, Mortality Rate [Member] | Longevity Swap [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Measurement Input, Mortality Rate [Member] | Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Asset, Measurement Input	0.02	0.02
Measurement Input, Mortality Rate [Member] | Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Asset, Measurement Input	1.00	1.00
Measurement Input, Mortality Rate [Member] | Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Asset, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Measurement Input, Mortality Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.02	0.02
Measurement Input, Mortality Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	1.00	1.00
Measurement Input, Mortality Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Measurement Input, Mortality Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.01	0.01
Measurement Input, Mortality Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	1.00	1.00
Measurement Input, Mortality Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Measurement Input, Mortality Rate [Member] | Mortality Swap [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.01	0.01
Measurement Input, Mortality Rate [Member] | Mortality Swap [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	1.00	1.00
Measurement Input, Mortality Rate [Member] | Mortality Swap [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Measurement Input, Lapse Rate [Member] | Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Asset, Measurement Input	0.09	0.09
Measurement Input, Lapse Rate [Member] | Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Asset, Measurement Input	0.35	0.35
Measurement Input, Lapse Rate [Member] | Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Asset, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Measurement Input, Lapse Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.09	0.09
Measurement Input, Lapse Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.35	0.35
Measurement Input, Lapse Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Measurement Input, Lapse Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.05	0.05
Measurement Input, Lapse Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.25	0.25
Measurement Input, Lapse Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Measurement Input, Withdrawal Rate [Member] | Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Asset, Measurement Input	0.03	0.03
Measurement Input, Withdrawal Rate [Member] | Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Asset, Measurement Input	0.05	0.05
Measurement Input, Withdrawal Rate [Member] | Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Asset, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Measurement Input, Withdrawal Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.03	0.03
Measurement Input, Withdrawal Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.05	0.05
Measurement Input, Withdrawal Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Measurement Input, Withdrawal Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.04	0.03
Measurement Input, Withdrawal Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.07	0.07
Measurement Input, Withdrawal Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Measurement Input, Counterparty Credit Risk [Member] | Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Asset, Measurement Input	0.01	0.01
Measurement Input, Counterparty Credit Risk [Member] | Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Asset, Measurement Input	0.05	0.05
Measurement Input, Counterparty Credit Risk [Member] | Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Asset, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Measurement Input, Counterparty Credit Risk [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.01	0.01
Measurement Input, Counterparty Credit Risk [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.05	0.05
Measurement Input, Counterparty Credit Risk [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.13	0.08
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.27	0.27
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.00	0.00
Measurement Input Crediting Rate [Member] | Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Asset, Measurement Input	0.02	0.02
Measurement Input Crediting Rate [Member] | Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Asset, Measurement Input	0.04	0.04
Measurement Input Crediting Rate [Member] | Funds Withheld At Interest Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative Asset, Measurement Input	0.02	0.02
Measurement Input, EBITDA Multiple [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	6.9	0
Measurement Input, EBITDA Multiple [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	7.5	0
Measurement Input, EBITDA Multiple [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	5.9	0
Measurement Input, EBITDA Multiple [Member] | Equity securities | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Equity Securities, FV-NI, Measurement Input	7.9	0
Measurement Input, EBITDA Multiple [Member] | Equity securities | Maximum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Equity Securities, FV-NI, Measurement Input	12.3	0
Measurement Input, EBITDA Multiple [Member] | Equity securities | Minimum [Member] | Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Equity Securities, FV-NI, Measurement Input	6.9	0
Measurement Input Mortality Improvement [Member] | Longevity Swap [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.03	0.03
Measurement Input Mortality Improvement [Member] | Longevity Swap [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	0.10	0.10
Measurement Input Mortality Improvement [Member] | Longevity Swap [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow [Member]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Measurement Input	(0.10)	(0.10)