Name:	ael_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCollateralDependent
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Mortgage loans that are in a workout period at the end of the reporting period. Workouts are payment periods that are not in compliance with original loan agreement, such as interest only periods, no debt service payment periods, or escrowing principal portion of payments to be used for capital improvements.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInWorkout
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Mortgage loans that are in compliance with contractual terms at end of period.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_MortgageLoansOnRealEstatePerforming
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount, after fee received for commitment to originate or purchase, of financing receivable. Excludes financing receivable covered under loss sharing agreement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119407570&loc=SL82919230-210447

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118936363&loc=d3e5074-111524

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118955255&loc=SL82922352-210448

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
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-Section 55
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118955255&loc=SL82922355-210448

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAfterDeferredIncomeOffset
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.