CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 293,704	$ 249,458
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accrued investment income	(31,378)	(38,770)
Premiums receivable and other reinsurance balances	66,922	(118,265)
Deferred policy acquisition costs	33,008	37,995
Reinsurance ceded balances	(11,307)	(5,351)
Future policy benefits, other policy claims and benefits, and other reinsurance balances	332,611	1,176,366
Deferred income taxes CF	(34,698)	105,285
Other assets and other liabilities, net	41,262	(190,883)
Amortization of net investment premiums, discounts and other	(67,755)	(64,779)
Investment related gains, net	(151,008)	(154,177)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement	(2,690)	(782)
Other, net	69,143	39,116
Net cash provided by operating activities	537,814	1,035,213
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Sales of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	1,791,826	1,490,869
Maturities of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	164,043	72,758
Purchases of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	(2,341,291)	(2,372,035)
Cash invested in mortgage loans	(44,679)	(61,676)
Cash invested in policy loans	(8,928)	(38,864)
Cash invested in funds withheld at interest	(10,563)	(74,093)
Principal payments on mortgage loans on real estate	19,283	12,500
Principal payments on policy loans	7,683	2,412
Change in short-term investments and other invested assets	(74,600)	91,175
Net cash used in investing activities	(497,226)	(876,954)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Dividends to stockholders	(17,703)	(17,561)
Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt	394,410	0
Repurchase of long-term debt	(7,586)	0
Proceeds from redemption and remarketing of trust preferred securities	154,588	0
Maturity of trust preferred securities	159,455	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(340,220)	(718)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement	2,690	782
Exercise of stock options, net	15,605	8,008
Change in cash collateral for derivative positions	8,010	72,894
Deposits on universal life and other investment type policies and contracts	288,424	81,214
Withdrawals on universal life and other investment type policies and contracts	147,774	251,990
Net cash used in financing activities	190,989	(107,371)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	15,735	(5,159)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	247,312	45,729
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	463,661	512,027
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	710,973	557,756
Supplementary information:
Cash paid for interest	47,054	48,353
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds	$ 105,107	$ 32,981