Investments - Credit loss impairments on fixed income securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 61,595	$ 73,469
Credit loss impairment recognized in the current period on securities not previously impaired	124	10,567
Credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities which matured, paid down, prepaid or were sold during the period	(836)	(4,877)
Additional credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities previously impaired	102	230
Accretion of credit loss impairments previously recognized due to an increase in cash flows expected to be collected	(2,357)	(2,410)
Balance, end of period	$ 58,628	$ 76,979

No definition available.

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- Definition

This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which a previous OTTI was recognized and the investor does not intend to sell the debt security and it is not more likely than not that the investor will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.

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+ Details

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- Definition

This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which no such other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was previously recognized.

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- Definition

The cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings related to debt securities held for which a portion of an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of shareholders' equity).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8B
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=SL6284393-111563

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8B
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=SL6284393-111563

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- Definition

This item represents reductions in the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held due to increases in cash flows expected to be collected and recognized over the remaining life of the security.

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- Definition

This item represents reductions in the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security because of the sale of impaired securities during the period.

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