CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 76,472	$ 125,114
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accrued investment income	(24,379)	(28,443)
Premiums receivable and other reinsurance balances	(51,778)	(19,816)
Deferred policy acquisition costs	(79,468)	2,380
Reinsurance ceded receivable balances	(68,918)	(64,299)
Future policy benefits, other policy claims and benefits, and other reinsurance balances	375,670	251,570
Deferred income taxes	23,406	13,144
Other assets and other liabilities, net	(18,513)	5,973
Amortization of net investment premiums, discounts and other	(15,782)	(21,666)
Investment related (gains) losses, net	120,886	(7,583)
Other, net	30,976	59,837
Net cash provided by operating activities	368,572	316,211
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Sales of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	977,314	639,676
Maturities of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	116,644	94,994
Payments to Acquire Mortgage Notes Receivable	(141,228)	(69,322)
Payments to Fund Policy Loans	(16,939)	(200)
Payments to Acquire Available-for-sale Securities	1,768,881	1,000,335
Proceeds from Sale and Collection of Mortgage Notes Receivable	(305,252)	(272,287)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Policy Loans	0	1
Increase (Decrease) in Funds Held under Reinsurance Agreements	4,980	32,196
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	0	(21,504)
Change in short-term investments	124,653	4,325
Change in other invested assets	(7,262)	14,092
Net cash used in investing activities	(709,597)	(503,714)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Dividends to stockholders	(24,019)	(22,669)
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Secured Debt	(6,877)	(7,367)
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs	0	(1,184)
Repayments of Long-term Debt	(610)	(586)
Purchases of treasury stock	(105,803)	(214,665)
Exercise of stock options, net	3,239	5,759
Change in cash collateral for derivative positions and other arrangements	40,392	31,109
Deposits on universal life and other investment type policies and contracts	432,684	66,329
Withdrawals on universal life and other investment type policies and contracts	(41,613)	(196,623)
Net cash provided in (used in) financing activities	297,393	(339,897)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	20,439	(35,090)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(23,193)	(562,490)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,525,275	1,645,669
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,502,082	1,083,179
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest Paid, Net	29,112	29,849
Income Taxes Paid, Net	12,322	(58,864)
Transfer to Investments	689	118
Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid	$ 0	$ 4,514