Investments - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Schedule of Investments
Fair Value of Fixed Maturity Securities	$ 44,623,200,000		$ 44,217,300,000
Fixed Maturity Securities Other Than Temporary Impairments in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	0		0
Commitment to Fund Private Placement Fixed Maturity Securities	38,000,000
Carrying Amount of Variable Interest Entity Investments	527,700,000		509,300,000
Unfunded Commitments to Investment Partnerships	4,400,000
Unfunded Unconditional Commitment to Fund Private Equity Partnerships	300,000
Commitment to Fund Partnership Equity Investments	252,000,000
Other Long-term Investments	645,300,000		$ 631,500,000
Gain (Loss) on Investments, Excluding Other than Temporary Impairments	$ (11,000,000)	$ (600,000)
Mortgage Loan Policy is not to Exceed a Loan-to-value Ratio, Percent	75.00%
Loan to Value Ratio Update Frequency	3 years
Mortgage Loan Inspection Frequency	2 years
Mortage Loan Policy Debt Service Coverage Ratio Lower Range	125.00%
Mortgage Loans Issuance, Term Years	25
Number of Financing Receivables on Nonaccrual Status	0		0
Number of Changes to Accounting Policy for Estimating Credit Losses on Mortgage Loans	0
Committments to Fund Commercial Mortgage Loans	$ 56,600,000
Repurchase agreements - Typical Days Outstanding	30 days
Minimum Percent of Fair Value of Securities Loaned or Securities Purchased Under Repurchase Agreements to be Maintained as Collateral	102.00%
Net Securities Borrowed Reported in Balance Sheet	$ 169,000,000		$ 178,500,000
Outstanding Repurchase Agreements	0		0
Federal Home Loan Bank Stock	31,600,000		31,600,000
Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) Funding Agreements	350,000,000		350,000,000
Fixed Maturity Securities
Schedule of Investments
Fair Value of Fixed Maturity Securities	44,623,200,000		44,217,300,000
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain on Securities	5,087,200,000		4,883,200,000
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss on Securities	161,600,000		218,600,000
Collateral Pledged to Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB)	221,000,000		323,700,000
Mortgage Loans as Collateral
Schedule of Investments
Collateral Pledged to Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB)	349,300,000		288,500,000
Off Balance Sheet Amount
Schedule of Investments
Cash Collateral for Borrowed Securities	25,100,000		29,900,000
Securities Received as Collateral	150,400,000		155,300,000
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment
Schedule of Investments
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses	0		0
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	$ 0	$ 0
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment
Schedule of Investments
Number of Loan Modifications due to Loan Foreclosure	0	0
Special Purpose Entity | Bonds
Schedule of Investments
Fair Value of Fixed Maturity Securities	$ 152,800,000		151,900,000
Special Purpose Entity | Partnership Interest
Schedule of Investments
Other Long-term Investments			1,000,000
Gain (Loss) on Investments, Excluding Other than Temporary Impairments	200,000
Partnership Interests In Tax Credit Investments
Schedule of Investments
Carrying Amount of Variable Interest Entity Investments	156,000,000		165,200,000
Equity Method Investments
Schedule of Investments
Carrying Amount of Variable Interest Entity Investments	371,700,000		$ 344,100,000
External Credit Rating, Investment Grade
Schedule of Investments
Fair Value of Fixed Maturity Securities	41,262,500,000
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain on Securities	4,948,700,000
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss on Securities	$ 108,100,000
Percent of Fixed Maturity Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	66.90%
Number of Fixed Maturity Securities in an Unrealized Loss Position	299
Number of Fixed Maturity Securities in an Unrealized Loss Position Continuously for Over One year	16
External Credit Rating, Non Investment Grade
Schedule of Investments
Fair Value of Fixed Maturity Securities	$ 3,360,700,000
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain on Securities	138,500,000
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss on Securities	$ 53,500,000
Percent of Fixed Maturity Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	33.10%
Number of Fixed Maturity Securities in an Unrealized Loss Position	59
Number of Fixed Maturity Securities in an Unrealized Loss Position Continuously for Over One year	32
Starmount
Schedule of Investments
Fair Value of Fixed Maturity Securities	$ 39,200,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gain (Loss)	$ 1,200,000
Starmount | External Credit Rating, Investment Grade
Schedule of Investments
Number of Fixed Maturity Securities in an Unrealized Loss Position	123