CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings (Deficit) [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,196,815	$ 205,047	$ 1,135,821	$ (162,542)	$ 30,124	$ (11,635)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(927,079)	0	0	0	0	(927,079)
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses, net (note 6)	(78,659)	0	0	0	(78,659)	0
Reissuance of treasury stock, net (note 15)	(2,733)	0	(8,749)	57,583	0	(51,567)
Equity compensation (note 18)	8,224	0	8,224	0	0	0
Benefit plans adjustments, net (note 13)	(1,221)	0	0	0	(1,221)	0
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment, net	1,593	0	0	0	1,593	0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	196,940	205,047	1,135,296	(104,959)	(48,163)	(990,281)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(49,848)	0	0	0	0	(49,848)
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses, net (note 6)	(123,591)	0	0	0	(123,591)	0
Common stock issuance (note 15)	663,335	135,000	528,335	0	0	0
Reissuance of treasury stock, net (note 15)	(1,856)	0	(7,892)	40,524	0	(34,488)
Equity compensation (note 18)	5,530	0	5,530	0	0	0
Benefit plans adjustments, net (note 13)	68,038	0	0	0	68,038	0
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment, net	(14,010)	0	0	0	(14,010)	0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	744,538	340,047	1,661,269	(64,435)	(117,726)	(1,074,617)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	251,949	0	0	0	0	251,949
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses, net (note 6)	91,139	0	0	0	91,139	0
Reissuance of treasury stock, net (note 15)	(4,972)	0	(6,680)	31,498	0	(29,790)
Equity compensation (note 18)	9,003	0	9,003	0	0	0
Benefit plans adjustments, net (note 13)	(52,112)	0	0	0	(52,112)	0
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment, net	(2,642)	0	0	0	(2,642)	0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 1,036,903	$ 340,047	$ 1,663,592	$ (32,937)	$ (81,341)	$ (852,458)