Schedule II Financial Information of Registrant Parent Company Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net gains on investments	$ 184,888	$ 202,177	$ 139,944
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments	(82,269)	193,329	(211,681)
Other income	5,790	5,599	8,696
Revenues	825,408	1,947,843	417,465
Interest expense	51,832	61,394	41,777
Costs and Expenses	1,269,592	1,579,396	2,011,811
Pretax (loss) income	(444,197)	368,512	(1,579,678)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	7,271	66,362	226,189
Net (loss) income	(451,468)	302,150	(1,805,867)
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Investment Income	9,093	15,890	8,626
Net gains on investments	8,816	24,603	61,120
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments	9,180	1,085	2,496
Other income	3	3	220
Revenues	27,092	41,581	72,462
Operating Expenses	2,690	0	0
Interest expense	17,756	16,132	1,911
Costs and Expenses	20,446	16,132	1,911
Pretax (loss) income	6,646	25,449	70,551
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(40,187)	(201,741)	(209,235)
Equity In Net Income (Loss) Of Affiliate	(498,301)	74,960	(2,085,653)
Net (loss) income	$ (451,468)	$ 302,150	$ (1,805,867)