CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 136,664	$ 185,535
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accrued investment income	34,480	(30,083)
Premiums receivable and other reinsurance balances	(15,627)	72,864
Deferred policy acquisition costs	64,559	42,741
Reinsurance ceded receivable balances	4,254	28,131
Future policy benefits, other policy claims and benefits, and other reinsurance balances	392,876	275,091
Deferred income taxes	41,472	16,343
Other assets and other liabilities, net	(29,340)	(12,317)
Amortization of net investment premiums, discounts and other	(25,357)	(22,497)
Investment related gains, net	(84,571)	(94,371)
Gain on repurchase of collateral finance facility securities	0	(46,506)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement	(668)	(143)
Other, net	22,486	80,142
Net cash provided by operating activities	541,228	494,930
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Sales of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	584,491	795,575
Maturities of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	111,854	36,028
Purchases of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	(917,715)	(1,277,240)
Cash invested in mortgage loans	(135,802)	(79,361)
Cash invested in policy loans	(52,913)	0
Cash invested in funds withheld at interest	(21,466)	(29,829)
Principal payments on mortgage loans on real estate	105,622	52,157
Principal payments on policy loans	485	32,378
Change in short-term investments	20,740	101,722
Change in other invested assets	160,427	(16,805)
Net cash used in investing activities	(144,277)	(385,375)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Dividends to stockholders	(21,244)	(17,753)
Repurchase and repayment of collateral finance facility securities	0	(112,000)
Repayments of Short-term Debt	50,000	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(86,837)	(47,640)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement	668	143
Exercise of stock options, net	6,364	1,071
Change in cash collateral for derivatives and other arrangements	29,680	11,532
Deposits on universal life and other investment type policies and contracts	36,257	17,241
Withdrawals on universal life and other investment type policies and contracts	(215,660)	(204,196)
Net cash used in financing activities	(200,772)	(351,602)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	7,306	(16,004)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	203,485	(258,051)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	923,647	1,259,892
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,127,132	1,001,841
Supplementary information:
Cash paid for interest	25,434	16,552
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds	$ 8,611	$ 9,125