Reinsurance (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Reinsurance [Abstract]

Effect of reinsurance transactions on our premium, loss and loss adjustment expense and policy acquisition costs

	2012		2011		2010
Direct written premium	$	2,422,517	$	2,305,190	$	2,269,858
Reinsurance assumed		361,555		343,936		309,050
Reinsurance ceded		(530,676)		(466,968)		(552,711)
Net written premium	$	2,253,396	$	2,182,158	$	2,026,197
Direct earned premium	$	2,396,756	$	2,308,810	$	2,284,396
Reinsurance assumed		351,611		340,745		298,475
Reinsurance ceded		(505,742)		(522,385)		(540,947)
Net earned premium	$	2,242,625	$	2,127,170	$	2,041,924
Direct loss and loss adjustment expense	$	1,434,830	$	1,535,270	$	1,360,761
Reinsurance assumed		162,534		224,655		176,096
Reinsurance ceded		(291,853)		(360,678)		(323,828)
Net loss and loss adjustment expense	$	1,305,511	$	1,399,247	$	1,213,029

Policy acquisition costs	$	398,453	$	392,172	$	373,500
Ceding commissions		(117,252)		(126,047)		(118,364)
Net policy acquisition costs	$	281,201	$	266,125	$	255,136

Components of our reinsurance recoverables

	2012		2011
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses	$	54,675	$	83,109
Reinsurance recoverable on outstanding losses		479,026		477,760
Reinsurance recoverable on incurred but not reported losses		539,021		497,074
Reserve for uncollectible reinsurance		(1,500)		(1,875)
Total reinsurance recoverables	$	1,071,222	$	1,056,068