Fair Value - Recurring basis Level 3 rollforward (Details 2) - Recurring basis - Level 3 - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Recurring Level 3 financial assets and liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period		$ 5,878		$ 259,642		$ 267,392
Net income		0		(17)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(178)		(193)		34,526
Settlements		(1,126)		(651)		(48,108)
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3		(36)	[1]	(252,903)	[2]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Transfers Into Level 3	[3]					5,832
Balance at the end of the period		4,538		5,878		259,642
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss)		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		5,842		6,652		1,822
Net income		0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(178)		(178)		(240)
Settlements		(1,126)		(632)		(762)
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3		0	[1]	0	[2]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Transfers Into Level 3	[3]					5,832
Balance at the end of the period		4,538		5,842		6,652
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss)		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		36		252,958		265,538
Net income		0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss)		0		0		34,766
Settlements		0		(19)		(47,346)
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3		(36)	[1]	(252,903)	[2]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Transfers Into Level 3	[3]					0
Balance at the end of the period		0		36		252,958
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss)		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		32		32
Net income		0		(17)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		0		(15)		0
Settlements		0				0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3		0	[1]	0	[2]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Transfers Into Level 3	[3]					0
Balance at the end of the period		0		0		32
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss)		0		0		$ 0
Embedded derivatives - GLWB
Recurring Level 3 financial assets and liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period		0
Net income		11,257
Other comprehensive income (loss)		0
Settlements		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3	[1]	0
Balance at the end of the period		11,257		$ 0
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss)		$ 11,257

[1] Transfers out of Level 3 are due primarily to increased observability of inputs in valuation methodologies as evidenced by corroboration of market prices with multiple pricing vendors and internal models.

[2] 1) Transfers out of Level 3 are due primarily to increased observability of inputs in valuation methodologies as evidenced by corroboration of market prices with multiple pricing vendors and internal models.

[3] 1) Transfers into Level 3 are due primarily to decreased observability of inputs in valuation methodologies.