Fair Value Measurements - Recurring basis Level 3 rollforward (Details 2) - Recurring basis - Level 3 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Recurring Level 3 financial assets and liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 5,362	$ 252,577	$ 5,878	$ 259,642
Net income (loss)	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(49)	(12,390)	(77)	(5,522)
Settlements	(217)	(13,653)	(705)	(27,586)
Balance at the end of the period	5,096	226,534	5,096	226,534
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	0	0
Fixed maturities available-for-sale, Corporate debt securities
Recurring Level 3 financial assets and liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	5,329	6,523	5,842	6,652
Net income (loss)	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(49)	17	(77)	75
Settlements	(215)	(169)	(700)	(356)
Balance at the end of the period	5,065	6,371	5,065	6,371
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	0	0
Fixed maturities available-for-sale, Asset-backed securities
Recurring Level 3 financial assets and liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	33	246,025	36	252,958
Net income (loss)	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	(12,407)	0	(5,594)
Settlements	(2)	(13,484)	(5)	(27,230)
Balance at the end of the period	31	220,134	31	220,134
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	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	29	0	32
Net income (loss)	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	(3)
Settlements	0	0	0	0
Balance at the end of the period	0	29	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	0	0
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments
Recurring Level 3 financial assets and liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	9,177	0	6,407	0
Net income (loss)	(6,258)	609	(3,488)	609
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Settlements	0	0	0	0
Balance at the end of the period	2,919	609	2,919	609
Total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains and losses relating to assets held	$ (6,258)	$ 609	$ (3,488)	$ 609