INVESTMENTS (DETAILS 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fixed Maturities [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value - 12 months or greater	$ 216,887	$ 176,892
Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	(18,278)	(21,545)
Fair Value - Less than 12 months	2,070,917	2,689,843
Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	(37,805)	(103,339)
Total Fair Value of Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	2,287,804	2,866,735
Total Unrealized Losses	56,083	124,884
Number of Available For Sale Securities In Unrealized Loss Positions	645	791
Number of Available For Sale Securities in Unrealized Loss Positions for 12 Months or Greater	150	138
Fixed Maturities [Member] | Below Investment Grade or Not Rated [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Total Unrealized Losses	9,000	18,000
US Government and Agency [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value - 12 months or greater	0	0
Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	0	0
Fair Value - Less than 12 months	459,042	233,816
Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	(806)	(134)
Total Fair Value of Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	459,042	233,816
Total Unrealized Losses	806	134
Non-US Government [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value - 12 months or greater	4,592	0
Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	(8)	0
Fair Value - Less than 12 months	395,264	786,034
Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	(12,413)	(36,572)
Total Fair Value of Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	399,856	786,034
Total Unrealized Losses	12,421	36,572
Corporate Debt [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value - 12 months or greater	73,199	54,843
Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	(4,816)	(2,437)
Fair Value - Less than 12 months	872,609	1,228,479
Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	(18,726)	(55,058)
Total Fair Value of Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	945,808	1,283,322
Total Unrealized Losses	23,542	57,495
Agency RMBS [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value - 12 months or greater	1,155	0
Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	(6)	0
Fair Value - Less than 12 months	119,744	105,059
Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	(905)	(492)
Total Fair Value of Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	120,899	105,059
Total Unrealized Losses	911	492
CMBS [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value - 12 months or greater	2,007	5,155
Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	(33)	(17)
Fair Value - Less than 12 months	41,116	11,243
Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	(209)	(246)
Total Fair Value of Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	43,123	16,398
Total Unrealized Losses	242	263
Non-Agency RMBS [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value - 12 months or greater	37,885	43,348
Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	(3,955)	(8,127)
Fair Value - Less than 12 months	26,941	85,053
Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	(2,472)	(5,120)
Total Fair Value of Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	64,826	128,401
Total Unrealized Losses	6,427	13,247
ABS [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value - 12 months or greater	94,176	65,096
Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	(9,324)	(9,497)
Fair Value - Less than 12 months	109,031	201,569
Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	(2,096)	(5,504)
Total Fair Value of Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	203,207	266,665
Total Unrealized Losses	11,420	15,001
Municipals [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value - 12 months or greater	3,873	8,450
Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	(136)	(1,467)
Fair Value - Less than 12 months	47,170	38,590
Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	(178)	(213)
Total Fair Value of Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	51,043	47,040
Total Unrealized Losses	314	1,680
Equity Securities [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value - 12 months or greater	16,591	4,445
Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	(3,864)	(2,105)
Fair Value - Less than 12 months	206,214	452,655
Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	(15,725)	(45,121)
Total Fair Value of Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	222,805	457,100
Total Unrealized Losses	19,589	47,226
Number of Available For Sale Securities In Unrealized Loss Positions	140	128
Number of Available For Sale Securities in Unrealized Loss Positions for 12 Months or Greater	35	10
Common Stock [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value - 12 months or greater	16,591	4,445
Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	(3,864)	(2,105)
Fair Value - Less than 12 months	113,505	124,481
Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	(13,209)	(17,186)
Total Fair Value of Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	130,096	128,926
Total Unrealized Losses	17,073	19,291
Exchange Traded Funds [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value - 12 months or greater	0	0
Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	0	0
Fair Value - Less than 12 months	0	212,050
Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	0	(25,507)
Total Fair Value of Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	0	212,050
Total Unrealized Losses	0	25,507
Non-U.S. Bond Mutual Funds [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value - 12 months or greater	0	0
Unrealized Losses - 12 months or greater	0	0
Fair Value - Less than 12 months	92,709	116,124
Unrealized Losses - Less than 12 months	(2,516)	(2,428)
Total Fair Value of Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	92,709	116,124
Total Unrealized Losses	$ 2,516	$ 2,428