Policy Claims and Benefits (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Insurance [Abstract]

Schedule of Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Table Text Block]

The liability for unpaid claims is reported in future policy benefits and other policy-related balances within the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Activity associated with unpaid claims is summarized below (dollars in thousands):

	Nine months ended September 30,
	2019			2018
Balance at beginning of year	$	6,584,668		$	5,896,469
Less: reinsurance recoverable	(432,582		)	(455,547		)
Net balance at beginning of year	6,152,086			5,440,922
Incurred:
Current year	8,203,842			7,534,297
Prior years	108,023			97,336
Total incurred	8,311,865			7,631,633
Payments:
Current year	(2,937,099		)	(2,748,547		)
Prior years	(4,774,623		)	(4,222,550		)
Total payments	(7,711,722		)	(6,971,097		)
Other changes:
Interest accretion	19,887			18,550
Foreign exchange adjustments	(99,788		)	(153,247		)
Total other changes	(79,901		)	(134,697		)
Net balance at end the period	6,672,328			5,966,761
Plus: reinsurance recoverable	508,003			424,545
Balance at end of the period	$	7,180,331		$	6,391,306