Fair Value Measurements - Recurring basis Level 3 rollforward (Details 2) - Recurring basis - Level 3 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Recurring Level 3 financial assets and liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 5,096	$ 226,534	$ 5,878	$ 259,642
Net income (loss)	0	(17)	0	(17)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(66)	(4,080)	(143)	(9,602)
Settlements	(207)	(6,405)	(912)	(33,991)
Balance at the end of the period	4,823	216,032	4,823	216,032
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	5,065	6,371	5,842	6,652
Net income (loss)	0		0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(66)	(111)	(143)	(36)
Settlements	(216)	(155)	(916)	(511)
Balance at the end of the period	4,783	6,105	4,783	6,105
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	31	220,134	36	252,958
Net income (loss)	0		0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	(3,957)	0	(9,551)
Settlements	9	(6,250)	4	(33,480)
Balance at the end of the period	40	209,927	40	209,927
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	(17)	0	(17)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	(12)	0	(15)
Settlements	0	0	0	0
Balance at the end of the period	0	0	0	0
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	2,919	609	6,407	0
Net income (loss)	6,858	1,494	3,370	2,103
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Settlements	0	0	0	0
Balance at the end of the period	9,777	2,103	9,777	2,103
Total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains and losses relating to assets held	$ 6,858	$ 1,494	$ 3,370	$ 2,103