Policy Claims and Benefits (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Insurance [Abstract]

Schedule of Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Table Text Block]

The liability for unpaid claims is reported in future policy benefits and other policy-related balances within the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Activity associated with unpaid claims is summarized below (dollars in thousands):

	Six months ended June 30,
	2019			2018
Balance at beginning of year	$	6,584,668		$	5,896,469
Less: reinsurance recoverable	(432,582		)	(455,547		)
Net balance at beginning of year	6,152,086			5,440,922
Incurred:
Current year	5,457,193			5,046,146
Prior years	58,249			66,022
Total incurred	5,515,442			5,112,168
Payments:
Current year	(1,063,092		)	(1,097,105		)
Prior years	(3,978,853		)	(3,518,791		)
Total payments	(5,041,945		)	(4,615,896		)
Other changes:
Interest accretion	13,185			12,299
Foreign exchange adjustments	2,663			(117,352		)
Total other changes	15,848			(105,053		)
Net balance at end the period	6,641,431			5,832,141
Plus: reinsurance recoverable	524,808			439,568
Balance at end of the period	$	7,166,239		$	6,271,709