Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 510,852	$ 207,714
Proceeds from sales, maturities and redemptions of investments:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale	9,157,329	5,439,658
Mortgage loans on real estate	200,913	101,204
Limited partnership interests, other corporation interests and other investments	22,132	39,247
Purchases of investments:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale	(7,876,028)	(4,822,397)
Mortgage loans on real estate	(354,591)	(171,366)
Limited partnership interests, other corporation interests and other investments	(2,518)	(3,689)
Net change in short-term investments	(1,994,378)	(1,398,399)
Net change in policy loans	(4,083)	5,366
Purchases of furniture, equipment and software	(15,668)	(14,101)
Net cash used in investing activities	(866,892)	(824,477)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Contract deposits	1,809,511	1,992,201
Contract withdrawals	(1,324,295)	(1,247,330)
Change in due to / from parent and affiliates	(4,580)	5,554
Dividends paid	(90,936)	(154,800)
Net change in commercial paper borrowings	2,001	1,553
Net change in bank overdrafts	82	16,280
Income tax benefit of stock option exercises	110	188
Net cash provided by financing activities	391,893	613,646
Net increase (decrease) in cash	35,853	(3,117)
Cash, beginning of year	11,387	7,593
Cash, end of period	47,240	4,476
Net cash (paid) received during the year for:
Income taxes	63	16,020
Interest	(18,750)	(18,783)
Non-cash investing and financing transactions during the years:
Share-based compensation expense	1,928	1,719
Assets acquired in settlement of fixed maturity investment		1,125
Assets received from limited partnership investment distributions	(5,119)
Fixed maturity investments, available-for-sale acquired in reinsurance termination (See Note 4)	(44,104)
Policy loans acquired in reinsurance termination (See Note 4)	$ (6,468)