Fair Value (Details - Level 3 inputs and transfers) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 618,498,000	$ 571,579,000	$ 609,489,000	$ 500,286,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income	13,478,000	9,368,000	21,575,000	(34,172,000)
Purchases and issuances	52,677,000	78,480,000	133,974,000	182,968,000
Sales and settlements	43,470,000	110,187,000	123,855,000	140,022,000
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3	0	0	0	40,180,000
Balance, end of period	641,183,000	549,240,000	641,183,000	549,240,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	4,815,000	(3,019,000)	14,862,000	(3,603,000)
Fair value of financial instrument liabilities [Line Items]
Debt related to senior notes	750,000,000		750,000,000		750,000,000
Debt related to capital efficient notes	70,989,000		70,989,000		70,989,000
[NotesIssuedByPartnerReFinanceALlcMember]
Fair value of financial instrument liabilities [Line Items]
Face amount of debt instrument	250,000,000		250,000,000		250,000,000
[NotesIssuedByPartnerReFinanceBLlcMember]
Fair value of financial instrument liabilities [Line Items]
Face amount of debt instrument	500,000,000		500,000,000		500,000,000
[NotesIssuedByPartnerReFinanceIiIncMember]
Fair value of financial instrument liabilities [Line Items]
Face amount of debt instrument	63,000,000		63,000,000		63,000,000
[EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember]
Fair value of financial instrument liabilities [Line Items]
Debt related to senior notes	823,229,000		823,229,000		781,449,000
Debt related to capital efficient notes	59,898,000		59,898,000		55,678,000
[CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember]
Fair value of financial instrument liabilities [Line Items]
Debt related to senior notes	750,000,000		750,000,000		750,000,000
Debt related to capital efficient notes	63,384,000		63,384,000		63,384,000
[FixedMaturitiesMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	491,987,000	438,321,000	480,530,000	345,535,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income	10,359,000	11,230,000	8,905,000	(23,603,000)
Purchases and issuances	32,486,000	77,278,000	87,354,000	177,206,000
Sales and settlements	16,156,000	61,775,000	58,113,000	74,264,000
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3	0	0	0	40,180,000
Balance, end of period	518,676,000	465,054,000	518,676,000	465,054,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	10,143,000	42,000	8,744,000	8,046,000
[FixedMaturitiesMember] | [USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	115,580,000	55,929,000	111,415,000	55,124,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income	1,744,000	819,000	1,282,000	1,624,000
Purchases and issuances	0	30,064,000	4,700,000	30,064,000
Sales and settlements	89,000	30,000	162,000	30,000
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Balance, end of period	117,235,000	86,782,000	117,235,000	86,782,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	1,744,000	819,000	1,282,000	1,624,000
[FixedMaturitiesMember] | [CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	111,951,000	115,107,000	111,700,000	76,982,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income	(897,000)	2,049,000	(570,000)	(37,066,000)
Purchases and issuances	16,000	84,000	64,000	40,878,000
Sales and settlements	0	812,000	124,000	4,546,000
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3	0	0	0	40,180,000
Balance, end of period	111,070,000	116,428,000	111,070,000	116,428,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(897,000)	2,049,000	(570,000)	2,368,000
[FixedMaturitiesMember] | [AssetBackedSecuritiesSecuritizedLoansAndReceivablesMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	264,456,000	262,408,000	257,415,000	213,139,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income	9,512,000	7,707,000	8,193,000	10,678,000
Purchases and issuances	32,470,000	47,130,000	82,590,000	101,644,000
Sales and settlements	16,067,000	55,402,000	57,827,000	63,618,000
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Balance, end of period	290,371,000	261,843,000	290,371,000	261,843,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	9,296,000	(2,660,000)	8,032,000	4,257,000
[FixedMaturitiesMember] | [ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period		4,301,000		0
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income		846,000		1,385,000
Purchases and issuances		0		4,212,000
Sales and settlements		5,147,000		5,597,000
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3		0		0
Balance, end of period		0		0
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period		0		0
[FixedMaturitiesMember] | [CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period		576,000		290,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income		(191,000)		(224,000)
Purchases and issuances		0		408,000
Sales and settlements		384,000		473,000
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3		0		0
Balance, end of period		1,000		1,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period		(166,000)		(203,000)
[ShortTermInvestmentsMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period		1,204,000		0
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income		(730,000)		(1,069,000)
Purchases and issuances		2,449,000		3,992,000
Sales and settlements		0		0
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3		0		0
Balance, end of period		2,923,000		2,923,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period		(730,000)		(1,069,000)
[EquitySecuritiesMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	19,379,000	41,612,000	16,165,000	43,413,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income	3,000	596,000	3,217,000	1,481,000
Purchases and issuances	13,992,000	0	13,992,000	0
Sales and settlements	0	35,503,000	0	38,189,000
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Balance, end of period	33,374,000	6,705,000	33,374,000	6,705,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	3,000	(802,000)	3,217,000	(369,000)
[EquitySecuritiesMember] | [FinanceMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	12,730,000	161,000	9,670,000	2,486,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income	(108,000)	2,000	2,952,000	239,000
Purchases and issuances	6,800,000	0	6,800,000	0
Sales and settlements	0	0	0	2,562,000
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Balance, end of period	19,422,000	163,000	19,422,000	163,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(108,000)	2,000	2,952,000	13,000
[EquitySecuritiesMember] | [MutualFundsAndExchangeTradedFundsMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	6,649,000	41,451,000	6,495,000	40,927,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income	111,000	594,000	265,000	1,242,000
Purchases and issuances	0	0	0	0
Sales and settlements	0	35,503,000	0	35,627,000
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Balance, end of period	6,760,000	6,542,000	6,760,000	6,542,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	111,000	(804,000)	265,000	(382,000)
[EquitySecuritiesMember] | [TechnologyMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	0		0
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income	0		0
Purchases and issuances	7,192,000		7,192,000
Sales and settlements	0		0
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3	0		0
Balance, end of period	7,192,000		7,192,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	0		0
[OtherInvestedAssetsMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	89,120,000	67,620,000	97,027,000	78,324,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income	5,731,000	(981,000)	9,823,000	(12,010,000)
Purchases and issuances	6,199,000	(1,247,000)	32,628,000	1,770,000
Sales and settlements	27,314,000	12,909,000	65,742,000	15,601,000
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Balance, end of period	73,736,000	52,483,000	73,736,000	52,483,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(2,716,000)	(782,000)	3,271,000	(11,390,000)
[OtherInvestedAssetsMember] | [DerivativeMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	2,585,000	(17,042,000)	5,622,000	(7,954,000)
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income	742,000	322,000	1,005,000	(8,803,000)
Purchases and issuances	(2,120,000)	(4,815,000)	(5,420,000)	(4,778,000)
Sales and settlements	0	0	0	0
Issuances	2,400,000	5,100,000	5,700,000	5,100,000
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Balance, end of period	1,207,000	(21,535,000)	1,207,000	(21,535,000)
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(99,000)	234,000	164,000	(8,893,000)
[OtherInvestedAssetsMember] | [OtherInvestedAssetsOtherAssetsMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	86,535,000	84,662,000	91,405,000	86,278,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income	4,989,000	(1,303,000)	8,818,000	(3,207,000)
Purchases and issuances	8,319,000	3,568,000	38,048,000	6,548,000
Sales and settlements	27,314,000	12,909,000	65,742,000	15,601,000
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Balance, end of period	72,529,000	74,018,000	72,529,000	74,018,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(2,617,000)	(1,016,000)	3,107,000	(2,497,000)
[FundsHeldDirectlyManagedInvestmentMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	18,012,000	22,822,000	15,767,000	33,014,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income	(2,615,000)	(747,000)	(370,000)	1,029,000
Purchases and issuances	0	0	0	0
Sales and settlements	0	0	0	11,968,000
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Balance, end of period	15,397,000	22,075,000	15,397,000	22,075,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(2,615,000)	(747,000)	(370,000)	1,179,000
[FundsHeldDirectlyManagedInvestmentMember] | [OtherInvestedAssetsFundsHeldDirectlyManagedMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	17,683,000	22,456,000	15,433,000	20,528,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income	(2,607,000)	(736,000)	(357,000)	1,192,000
Purchases and issuances	0	0	0	0
Sales and settlements	0	0	0	0
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Balance, end of period	15,076,000	21,720,000	15,076,000	21,720,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(2,607,000)	(736,000)	(357,000)	1,192,000
[FundsHeldDirectlyManagedInvestmentMember] | [USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	329,000	366,000	334,000	368,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income	(8,000)	(11,000)	(13,000)	(13,000)
Purchases and issuances	0	0	0	0
Sales and settlements	0	0	0	0
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Balance, end of period	321,000	355,000	321,000	355,000
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period	(8,000)	(11,000)	(13,000)	(13,000)
[FundsHeldDirectlyManagedInvestmentMember] | [AssetBackedSecuritiesMember]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period				12,118,000
Realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) included in net (loss) income				(150,000)
Purchases and issuances				0
Sales and settlements				11,968,000
Net transfers (out of)/ into Level 3				0
Balance, end of period		0		0
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of period				$ 0