Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash used in operating activities		$ (339,030)	$ (177,666)
Sales of:
Fixed maturity securities available for sale		707,385	452,944
Equity securities available for sale		112,051	14,660
Other invested assets		3,554	6,685
Property and equipment and other		20	10
Subsidiary, net of cash transferred	[1]	914,811	65,002
Maturities, calls, prepayments, and scheduled redemption of:
Fixed maturity securities available for sale		197,638	179,339
Commercial mortgage loans on real estate		25,984	45,887
Purchases of:
Fixed maturity securities available for sale		(750,742)	(708,069)
Equity securities available for sale		(74,925)	(37,886)
Commercial mortgage loans on real estate		(7,500)	(36,180)
Other invested assets		(18,393)	(5,303)
Property and equipment and other		(22,750)	(22,157)
Subsidiary, net of cash transferred	[2]	(10,843)	0
Equity interest	[3]	0	(457)
Change in short-term investments		55,539	95,250
Change in policy loans		1,159	1,544
Change in collateral held/pledged under securities agreements		0	2,746
Net cash provided by investing activities		1,132,988	54,015
Financing activities
Issuance of debt		249,625	0
Change in tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements		1,835	1,559
Acquisition of common stock		(245,804)	(84,329)
Dividends paid		(32,448)	(18,834)
Change in obligation under securities agreements		0	(2,746)
Net cash used in financing activities		(26,792)	(104,350)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(514)	(22,277)
Reversal of Cash included in business classified as held for sale		5,858	(3,213)
Change in cash and cash equivalents		772,510	(253,491)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		1,288,305	1,318,656
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$ 2,060,815	$ 1,065,165

[1] Relates to the sale of Assurant's Employee Benefits segment mainly through reinsurance transactions and supplemental and small group self-funded business.

[2] Relates primarily to an immaterial acquisition and the purchase of renewal rights to the National Flood Insurance block of business of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

[3] Relates to the purchase of equity interest in Iké Asistencia.