Fair Value Measurements - Recurring basis Level 3 rollforward (Details 2) (Recurring basis, Level 3, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Recurring Level 3 financial assets and liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 5,878	$ 259,642
Net income (loss)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(28)	6,868
Settlements	(488)	(13,933)
Balance at the end of the period	5,362	252,577
Total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains and losses relating to assets held	0	0
Fixed maturities available-for-sale, Corporate debt securities
Recurring Level 3 financial assets and liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	5,842	6,652
Net income (loss)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(28)	58
Settlements	(485)	(187)
Balance at the end of the period	5,329	6,523
Total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains and losses relating to assets held	0	0
Fixed maturities available-for-sale, Asset-backed securities
Recurring Level 3 financial assets and liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	36	252,958
Net income (loss)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	6,813
Settlements	(3)	(13,746)
Balance at the end of the period	33	246,025
Total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains and losses relating to assets held	0	0
Fixed maturities available-for-sale, Collateralized debt obligations
Recurring Level 3 financial assets and liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	0	32
Net income (loss)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	(3)
Settlements	0	0
Balance at the end of the period	0	29
Total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains and losses relating to assets held	0	0
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments
Recurring Level 3 financial assets and liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	6,407	0
Net income (loss)	2,770
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Settlements	0	0
Balance at the end of the period	9,177	0
Total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains and losses relating to assets held	$ 2,770	$ 0