Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule Of Uncollectible Reinsurance Recoverable And Premium Receivables

	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2011		2010
Reinsurance receivables and premium receivables	$	33,796	$	34,496

Schedule Of Deferred Acquisition Costs Amortized To Income

	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2011		2010		2009
Deferred acquisition costs	$	950,521	$	931,855	$	928,333

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

		Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)		2011			2010			2009
Net income (loss) per share:
Numerator
Net income (loss)		$	(80,486	)	$	610,754		$	806,989
Less:  dividends declared-common shares and nonvested common shares			(103,848	)		(108,477	)		(116,856	)
Undistributed earnings			(184,334	)		502,277			690,133
Percentage allocated to common shareholders (1)			99.3	%		99.5	%		99.7	%
			(183,134	)		499,882			687,729
Add:  dividends declared-common shareholders			103,150			107,926			116,477
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per common share		$	(79,984	)	$	607,808		$	804,207
Denominator
Denominator for basic earnings per weighted-average common shares			53,792			56,630			60,661
Effect of dilutive securities:
Options			124			156			187
Denominator for diluted earnings per adjusted weighted-average common shares			53,916			56,786			60,847
Per common share net income (loss)
Basic		$	(1.49	)	$	10.73		$	13.26
Diluted		$	(1.49	)	$	10.70		$	13.22
(1)	Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding		53,792			56,630			60,661
	Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding and nonvested common shares expected to vest		54,145			56,902			60,873
	Percentage allocated to common shareholders		99.3	%		99.5	%		99.7	%
(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

Schedule Of Anti-Dilutive Options To Purchase Common Shares, Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011	2010	2009
Anti-dilutive options	1,490,730	1,873,070	1,613,450

Fair Value Of The Equity Index Put Options

(Dollars in thousands)
Derivatives not designated as	Location of fair value	At December 31,
hedging instruments	in balance sheets	2011		2010
Equity index put option contracts	Equity index put option liability	$	69,729	$	58,467
Total		$	69,729	$	58,467

Change In Fair Value Of The Equity Index Put Option Contracts

(Dollars in thousands)
Derivatives not designated as	Location of gain (loss) in statements of	For the Years Ended December 31,
hedging instruments	operations and comprehensive income (loss)	2011			2010			2009
Equity index put option contracts	Net derivative gain (loss)	$	(11,261	)	$	(1,119	)	$	3,204
Total		$	(11,261	)	$	(1,119	)	$	3,204

Schedule Of Cumulative-Effect Adjustment

(Dollars in thousands)
Cumulative-effect adjustment, gross	$	65,658
Tax		(8,346	)
Cumulative-effect adjustment, net	$	57,312