Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 7) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2010 Cumulative-Effect Adjustment, Deconsolidation of Variable Interest Entity Tuckerman Fund II	Dec. 31, 2009 Symetra FAS115-2 Symetra
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle
Increase (decrease) in retained earnings	$ (0.4)	$ 2.9

Amount of the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle or new accounting pronouncement on retained earnings or other components of equity or net assets in the statement of financial position as of the beginning of the earliest period presented.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Direct Effects of a Change in Accounting Principle

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510796

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 250

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6801783&loc=d3e22499-107794

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 250

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6801783&loc=d3e22580-107794

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Retrospective Application

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6523989

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 154

-Paragraph 2, 17, 18

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 250

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6801783&loc=d3e22583-107794

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Accounting Change

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6503790

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Indirect Effects of a Change in Accounting Principle

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6515603

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Change in Accounting Principle

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507316

+ Details