SCHEDULE II-CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Fixed maturities (amortized cost, 2013-$548,528; 2012-$137,330)	$ 4,863,925				$ 4,227,339					$ 4,863,925	$ 4,227,339
Cash and cash equivalents	332,692				1,027,625					332,692	1,027,625	995,799
Accrued investment income	31,660				27,243					31,660	27,243
Other assets	143,819				61,624					143,819	61,624
Total assets	5,601,390				5,574,324					5,601,390	5,574,324
Liabilities:
Senior notes	82,773				99,910					82,773	99,910
Convertible senior notes	845,000				345,000					845,000	345,000
Convertible junior debentures	389,522				379,609					389,522	379,609
Total liabilities	4,856,852				5,377,384					4,856,852	5,377,384
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, (one dollar par value, shares authorized 1,000,000; shares issued 2013 - 340,047; 2012 - 205,047; shares outstanding 2013 - 337,758; 2012 - 202,032)	340,047				205,047					340,047	205,047
Paid-in capital	1,661,269				1,135,296					1,661,269	1,135,296
Treasury stock (shares at cost 2013 - 2,289; 2012 - 3,015)	(64,435)				(104,959)					(64,435)	(104,959)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(117,726)				(48,163)					(117,726)	(48,163)	30,124
Retained deficit	(1,074,617)				(990,281)					(1,074,617)	(990,281)
Total shareholders' equity	744,538				196,940					744,538	196,940
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	5,601,390				5,574,324					5,601,390	5,574,324
Parenthetical information [Abstract]
Fixed maturities, amortized cost	4,948,543				4,185,937					4,948,543	4,185,937
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1				$ 1					$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	1,000,000		680,000		680,000					1,000,000	680,000	460,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	340,047				205,047					340,047	205,047
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	337,758				202,032					337,758	202,032
Treasury stock, shares at cost (in shares)	2,289				3,015					2,289	3,015
Revenues:
Investment income, net of expenses	21,278	20,250	20,883	18,328	21,660	[1]	30,394	32,178	37,408	80,739	121,640	201,270
Realized investment gains, net										6,059	197,719	143,430
Other income										9,914	28,145	36,459
Total revenues										1,039,435	1,378,364	1,504,279
Expenses:
Interest expense	17,662	17,653	17,942	26,406	25,327	[1]	24,478	24,912	24,627	79,663	99,344	103,271
Total expenses										1,085,587	2,307,008	1,988,578
Loss before tax										(46,152)	(928,644)	(484,299)
Benefit from income taxes										3,696	(1,565)	1,593
Net loss	(1,407)	12,114	12,375	(72,930)	(386,691)	[1]	(246,942)	(273,891)	(19,555)	(49,848)	(927,079)	(485,892)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net										(69,563)	(78,287)	7,988
Comprehensive loss										(119,411)	(1,005,366)	(477,904)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	(1,407)	12,114	12,375	(72,930)	(386,691)	[1]	(246,942)	(273,891)	(19,555)	(49,848)	(927,079)	(485,892)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Other										27,709	(21,802)	(15,238)
Change in certain assets and liabilities:
Accrued investment income										(4,417)	28,423	14,639
Net cash used in operating activities										(971,531)	(1,568,600)	(1,883,851)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of fixed maturities										(3,248,602)	(5,025,204)	(4,393,471)
Sale of fixed maturities										1,054,985	5,216,934	4,742,213
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities										(854,127)	1,653,533	1,754,217
Cash flows from financing activities:
Common stock shares issued										663,335	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities										1,130,725	(53,107)	(178,721)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents										(694,933)	31,826	(308,355)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				1,027,625					995,799	1,027,625	995,799	1,304,154
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	332,692				1,027,625					332,692	1,027,625	995,799
Dividends and Dividend Restrictions [Abstract]
Percentage of statutory policyholders' surplus used to determine maximum allowable dividends (in hundredths)	10.00%									10.00%
Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS
Fixed maturities (amortized cost, 2013-$548,528; 2012-$137,330)	539,124				139,019					539,124	139,019
Cash and cash equivalents	20,725				175,880					20,725	175,880	57,636
Investment in subsidiaries, at equity in net assets	1,475,956				709,946					1,475,956	709,946
Accounts receivable - affiliates	380				669					380	669
Income taxes receivable	17,958				17,955					17,958	17,955
Accrued investment income	3,629				1,018					3,629	1,018
Other assets	18,943				7,431					18,943	7,431
Total assets	2,076,715				1,051,918					2,076,715	1,051,918
Liabilities:
Senior notes	82,773				99,910					82,773	99,910
Convertible senior notes	845,000				345,000					845,000	345,000
Convertible junior debentures	389,522				379,609					389,522	379,609
Accrued interest	14,882				30,459					14,882	30,459
Total liabilities	1,332,177				854,978					1,332,177	854,978
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, (one dollar par value, shares authorized 1,000,000; shares issued 2013 - 340,047; 2012 - 205,047; shares outstanding 2013 - 337,758; 2012 - 202,032)	340,047				205,047					340,047	205,047
Paid-in capital	1,661,269				1,135,296					1,661,269	1,135,296
Treasury stock (shares at cost 2013 - 2,289; 2012 - 3,015)	(64,435)				(104,959)					(64,435)	(104,959)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(117,726)				(48,163)					(117,726)	(48,163)
Retained deficit	(1,074,617)				(990,281)					(1,074,617)	(990,281)
Total shareholders' equity	744,538				196,940					744,538	196,940
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,076,715				1,051,918					2,076,715	1,051,918
Parenthetical information [Abstract]
Fixed maturities, amortized cost	548,528				137,330					548,528	137,330
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1				$ 1					$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	1,000,000				680,000					1,000,000	680,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	340,047				205,047					340,047	205,047
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	337,758				202,032					337,758	202,032
Treasury stock, shares at cost (in shares)	2,289				3,015					2,289	3,015
Revenues:
Investment income, net of expenses										5,033	6,921	15,693
Realized investment gains, net										830	9,895	4,724
Other income										0	17,775	27,688
Total revenues										5,863	34,591	48,105
Expenses:
Operating expenses										511	2,227	(133)
Interest expense										79,663	99,344	103,271
Total expenses										80,174	101,571	103,138
Loss before tax										(74,311)	(66,980)	(55,033)
Benefit from income taxes										0	0	(6,872)
Equity in undistributed net income (loss) of subsidiaries										24,463	(860,099)	(437,731)
Net loss										(49,848)	(927,079)	(485,892)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net										(69,563)	(78,287)	7,988
Comprehensive loss										(119,411)	(1,005,366)	(477,904)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss										(49,848)	(927,079)	(485,892)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Equity in undistributed net (income) loss of subsidiaries										(24,463)	860,099	437,731
Other										21,693	23,765	7,378
Change in certain assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable - affiliates										289	(753)	770
Income taxes receivable										(3)	5,909	(2,452)
Accrued investment income										(2,611)	2,702	1,890
Accrued interest										(15,577)	17,288	(2,438)
Net cash used in operating activities										(70,520)	(18,069)	(43,013)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Transactions with subsidiaries										(800,000)	(100,000)	(200,000)
Purchase of fixed maturities										(563,968)	(120,181)	(130,503)
Sale of fixed maturities										148,608	409,601	551,493
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities										(1,215,360)	189,420	220,990
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of long-term debt										(17,235)	(53,107)	(178,721)
Net proceeds from convertible senior notes										484,625	0	0
Common stock shares issued										663,335	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities										1,130,725	(53,107)	(178,721)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents										(155,155)	118,244	(744)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				175,880					57,636	175,880	57,636	58,380
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 20,725				$ 175,880					$ 20,725	$ 175,880	$ 57,636
Dividends and Dividend Restrictions [Abstract]
Percentage of statutory policyholders' surplus used to determine maximum allowable dividends (in hundredths)	10.00%									10.00%

[1] The results for the fourth quarter of 2012 include a loss of approximately $267 million related to our settlement with Freddie Mac and approximately $100 million related to our probable rescission settlement agreements. See Note 20 – “Litigation and Contingencies.”