Segment Information (Total Revenues of Reportable Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 2,438,634	$ 2,716,588	$ 7,589,587	$ 8,206,781
Americas [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	1,399,737	1,572,007	4,381,723	4,765,795
CANADA
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	252,478	297,340	810,904	884,202
EMEA [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	353,588	392,912	1,063,696	1,150,087
Asia Pacific [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	433,390	428,432	1,265,225	1,326,632
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	(559)	25,897	68,039	80,065
Life Insurance Product Line [Member] | Americas [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	1,312,638	1,310,879	3,910,176	3,922,598
Life Insurance Product Line [Member] | CANADA
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	241,438	289,678	776,532	862,523
Life Insurance Product Line [Member] | EMEA [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	284,350	310,483	863,774	925,333
Life Insurance Product Line [Member] | Asia Pacific [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	421,970	418,017	1,227,159	1,270,444
Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts [Member] | Americas [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	87,099	261,128	471,547	843,197
Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts [Member] | CANADA
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	11,040	7,662	34,372	21,679
Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts [Member] | EMEA [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	69,238	82,429	199,922	224,754
Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts [Member] | Asia Pacific [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 11,420	$ 10,415	$ 38,066	$ 56,188