Income Taxes - Significant Portions of Deferred Tax Liabilities and Deferred Tax Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Deferred tax liabilities:
Insurance intangible	$ 516,254	$ 559,288
Variable interest entities	107,872	131,137
Investments	199,656	168,653
Unearned premiums and credit fees	39,559	38,826
Other	2,198	2,221
Total deferred tax liabilities	865,539	900,125
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss and capital carryforward	2,120,747	2,177,029
Loss reserves	544,511	634,692
Compensation	9,110	8,724
AMT Credits	4,269	4,269
Other	58,160	58,581
Sub-total deferred tax assets	2,736,797	2,883,295
Valuation allowance	1,873,434	1,985,369
Total deferred tax assets	863,363	897,926
Net deferred tax liability	$ (2,176)	$ (2,199)