Dividend Restrictions And Statutory Financial Information	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Dividend Restrictions And Statutory Financial Information [Abstract]
Dividend Restrictions And Statutory Financial Information	15. DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS AND STATUTORY FINANCIAL INFORMATION Dividend Restrictions. Under Bermuda law, Group is prohibited from declaring or paying a dividend if such payment would reduce the realizable value of its assets to an amount less than the aggregate value of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium (additional paid-in capital) accounts. Group's ability to pay dividends and its operating expenses is dependent upon dividends from its subsidiaries. The payment of such dividends by insurer subsidiaries is limited under Bermuda law and the laws of the various U.S. states in which Group's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are domiciled or deemed domiciled. The limitations are generally based upon net income and compliance with applicable policyholders' surplus or minimum solvency margin and liquidity ratio requirements as determined in accordance with the relevant statutory accounting practices. Under Bermuda law, Bermuda Re and Everest International are prohibited from declaring or making payment of a dividend if they fail to meet their minimum solvency margin or minimum liquidity ratio. As long term insurers, Bermuda Re and Everest International are also unable to declare or pay a dividend to anyone who is not a policyholder unless, after payment of the dividend, the value of the assets in their long term business fund, as certified by their approved actuary, exceeds their liabilities for long term business by at least the $250 thousand minimum solvency margin. Prior approval of the Bermuda Monetary Authority is required if Bermuda Re's or Everest International's dividend payments would exceed 25% of their prior year-end total statutory capital and surplus. Under Irish corporate and regulatory law, Holdings Ireland and its subsidiaries are limited as to the dividends they can pay based on retained earnings and net income (loss) and/or capital and minimum solvency requirements. Delaware law provides that an insurance company which is a member of an insurance holding company system and is domiciled in the state shall not pay dividends without giving prior notice to the Insurance Commissioner of Delaware and may not pay dividends without the approval of the Insurance Commissioner if the value of the proposed dividend, together with all other dividends and distributions made in the preceding twelve months, exceeds the greater of (1) 10% of statutory surplus or (2) net income, not including realized capital gains, each as reported in the prior year's statutory annual statement. In addition, no dividend may be paid in excess of unassigned earned surplus. At December 31, 2011, Everest Re has $232,211 thousand available for payment of dividends in 2012 without the need for prior regulatory approval. Statutory Financial Information. Everest Re prepares its statutory financial statements in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") and the Delaware Insurance Department. Prescribed statutory accounting practices are set forth in the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual. The capital and statutory surplus of Everest Re was $2,322,115 thousand and $2,527,519 thousand at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The statutory net loss of Everest Re was $326,400 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the statutory net income of Everest Re was $218,452 thousand and $442,735 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Bermuda Re prepares its statutory financial statements in conformity with the accounting principles set forth in Bermuda in The Insurance Act 1978, amendments thereto and related regulations. The statutory capital and surplus of Bermuda Re was $2,736,599 thousand and $2,818,655 thousand at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The statutory net income of Bermuda Re was $97,359 thousand, $391,862 thousand and $441,748 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

15. DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS AND STATUTORY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Dividend Restrictions.

Under Bermuda law, Group is prohibited from declaring or paying a dividend if such payment would reduce the realizable value of its assets to an amount less than the aggregate value of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium (additional paid-in capital) accounts. Group's ability to pay dividends and its operating expenses is dependent upon dividends from its subsidiaries. The payment of such dividends by insurer subsidiaries is limited under Bermuda law and the laws of the various U.S. states in which Group's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are domiciled or deemed domiciled. The limitations are generally based upon net income and compliance with applicable policyholders' surplus or minimum solvency margin and liquidity ratio requirements as determined in accordance with the relevant statutory accounting practices.

Under Bermuda law, Bermuda Re and Everest International are prohibited from declaring or making payment of a dividend if they fail to meet their minimum solvency margin or minimum liquidity ratio. As long term insurers, Bermuda Re and Everest International are also unable to declare or pay a dividend to anyone who is not a policyholder unless, after payment of the dividend, the value of the assets in their long term business fund, as certified by their approved actuary, exceeds their liabilities for long term business by at least the $250 thousand minimum solvency margin. Prior approval of the Bermuda Monetary Authority is required if Bermuda Re's or Everest International's dividend payments would exceed 25% of their prior year-end total statutory capital and surplus.

Under Irish corporate and regulatory law, Holdings Ireland and its subsidiaries are limited as to the dividends they can pay based on retained earnings and net income (loss) and/or capital and minimum solvency requirements.

Delaware law provides that an insurance company which is a member of an insurance holding company system and is domiciled in the state shall not pay dividends without giving prior notice to the Insurance Commissioner of Delaware and may not pay dividends without the approval of the Insurance Commissioner if the value of the proposed dividend, together with all other dividends and distributions made in the preceding twelve months, exceeds the greater of (1) 10% of statutory surplus or (2) net income, not including realized capital gains, each as reported in the prior year's statutory annual statement. In addition, no dividend may be paid in excess of unassigned earned surplus. At December 31, 2011, Everest Re has $232,211 thousand available for payment of dividends in 2012 without the need for prior regulatory approval.

Statutory Financial Information.

Everest Re prepares its statutory financial statements in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") and the Delaware Insurance Department. Prescribed statutory accounting practices are set forth in the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual. The capital and statutory surplus of Everest Re was $2,322,115 thousand and $2,527,519 thousand at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The statutory net loss of Everest Re was $326,400 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the statutory net income of Everest Re was $218,452 thousand and $442,735 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Bermuda Re prepares its statutory financial statements in conformity with the accounting principles set forth in Bermuda in The Insurance Act 1978, amendments thereto and related regulations. The statutory capital and surplus of Bermuda Re was $2,736,599 thousand and $2,818,655 thousand at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The statutory net income of Bermuda Re was $97,359 thousand, $391,862 thousand and $441,748 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.