SCHEDULE IV - REINSURANCE (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Reinsurance
Gross Amount	$ 2,496,389,000	$ 2,523,680,000	$ 2,451,619,000
Ceded to Other Companies	1,345,836,000	1,394,675,000	1,408,340,000
Assumed from Other Companies	317,889,000	276,460,000	173,775,000
Net premiums	1,468,442,000	1,405,465,000	1,217,054,000
Annuity policy fees	103,800,000	74,900,000	43,400,000
Life insurance in-force
Reinsurance
Gross Amount	706,415,969,000	728,670,260,000	753,518,782,000
Ceded to Other Companies	444,950,866,000	469,530,487,000	495,056,077,000
Assumed from Other Companies	30,470,432,000	32,812,882,000	18,799,243,000
Net premiums	291,935,535,000	291,952,655,000	277,261,948,000
Percentage of Amount Assumed to Net	10.40%	11.20%	6.80%
Life insurance
Reinsurance
Gross Amount	2,226,615,000	2,245,320,000	2,153,278,000
Ceded to Other Companies	1,228,444,000	1,278,232,000	1,284,428,000
Assumed from Other Companies	281,712,000	248,468,000	166,606,000
Net premiums	1,279,883,000	1,215,556,000	1,035,456,000
Percentage of Amount Assumed to Net	22.00%	20.40%	16.10%
Accident/health insurance
Reinsurance
Gross Amount	38,875,000	43,200,000	49,563,000
Ceded to Other Companies	12,065,000	14,456,000	17,137,000
Assumed from Other Companies	29,412,000	21,719,000	63,000
Net premiums	56,222,000	50,463,000	32,489,000
Percentage of Amount Assumed to Net	52.30%	43.00%	0.20%
Property and liability insurance
Reinsurance
Gross Amount	230,899,000	235,160,000	248,778,000
Ceded to Other Companies	105,327,000	101,987,000	106,775,000
Assumed from Other Companies	6,765,000	6,273,000	7,106,000
Net premiums	$ 132,337,000	$ 139,446,000	$ 149,109,000
Percentage of Amount Assumed to Net	5.10%	4.50%	4.80%