Income Taxes - Significant Portions of Deferred Tax Liabilities and Deferred Tax Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Deferred tax liabilities:
Insurance intangible	$ 549,525	$ 559,288
Variable interest entities	127,399	131,137
Investments	180,607	168,653
Unearned premiums and credit fees	45,265	38,826
Other	2,224	2,221
Total deferred tax liabilities	905,020	900,125
Deferred tax assets:
Unrealized losses & impairments on investments	0	0
Net operating loss and capital carryforward	2,127,884	2,177,029
Loss reserves	590,032	634,692
Compensation	9,005	8,724
AMT Credits	6,903	4,269
Other	58,597	58,581
Sub-total deferred tax assets	2,792,421	2,883,295
Valuation allowance	1,889,603	1,985,369
Total deferred tax assets	902,818	897,926
Net deferred tax liability	$ (2,202)	$ (2,199)