Related Party Transactions (Amounts Included In IS) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Premiums:
Direct	$ 1,519,992	$ 1,408,833	$ 1,319,390
Assumed	0	0	0
Ceded	(1,442,358)	(1,342,627)	(1,262,539)
Net premiums	77,634	66,206	56,851
Policy charges and fee income:
Direct	2,940,786	2,763,536	2,356,617
Assumed	434,560	477,921	294,689
Ceded	(1,215,918)	(1,166,605)	(770,381)
Net policy charges and fee income:	2,159,428	2,074,852	1,880,925
Net investment income
Direct	419,357	406,620	421,107
Assumed	1,394	1,362	1,288
Ceded	(4,164)	(3,964)	(3,384)
Net investment income	416,587	404,018	419,011
Other income:
Direct	44,223	49,891	51,268
Assumed & Ceded	11,292	7,936	(31,119)
Net other income	55,515	57,827	20,149
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances:
Direct	477,667	459,982	118,714
Assumed	124,954	117,725	146,011
Ceded	(228,410)	(209,392)	(218,988)
Net interest credited to policyholders’ account balances	374,211	368,315	45,737
Policyholders’ benefits (including change in reserves):
Direct	2,034,123	1,824,994	1,504,351
Assumed	541,371	792,616	76,425
Ceded	(2,284,309)	(2,273,896)	(1,401,852)
Net policyholders’ benefits (including change in reserves)	291,185	343,714	178,924
Realized investment gains (losses), net:
Direct	571,702	(4,375,107)	2,045,435
Assumed	0	0	0
Ceded	(780,240)	4,489,174	(2,058,885)
Total realized investment gains (losses), net	(208,538)	114,067	(13,450)
Net reinsurance expense allowances, net of capitalization and amortization	$ (208,494)	$ (266,048)	$ (143,100)