Financial Condition and Net Income on a Statutory Basis - Significant Subsidiaries (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Statutory Basis [Abstract]

Statutory Accounting Practices Disclosure [Table Text Block]

Statutory net income, and capital and surplus of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries, determined in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed by the applicable state insurance department or local regulatory authority are as follows (dollars in thousands):

	Statutory Capital & Surplus				Statutory Net Income (Loss)
	2013		2012		2013			2012			2011
RGA Reinsurance (U.S.)	$	1,550,070	$	1,644,589	$	115,814		$	3,497		$	129,717
RCM (U.S.)	1,633,356		1,692,200		109,084			58,549			37,142
RGA Canada	767,108		725,738		89,428			95,861			102,229
RGA Barbados	716,116		596,388		70,941			81,942			149,015
RGA Australia	406,437		437,055		(36,548		)	37,180			47,211
RGA Atlantic	379,889		449,769		(27,159		)	91,898			70,160
RGA Americas	261,404		330,064		50,833			59,531			65,283
Other reinsurance subsidiaries	1,004,479		818,759		255,418			(428,049		)	(439,625		)

Reconciliation Of NAIC SAP And Prescribed Practice [Text Block]

A reconciliation of the Company’s surplus between NAIC SAP and practices prescribed by the state of domicile is shown below (dollars in thousands):

	December 31,
	2013			2012
Prescribed practice – surplus note	$	343,780		$	230,291
Prescribed practice – letters of credit	(436,300		)	(488,000		)
Surplus (deficit) – NAIC SAP	$	(92,520	)	$	(257,709	)