Funds Held - Directly Managed (Details - cost, unrealized gains and losses and fair value) ([FundsHeldDirectlyManagedMember], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	$ 797,920	[1]	$ 1,030,912	[1]
Gross unrealized gains	44,882		39,879
Gross unrealized losses	9,432		13,106
Fair value	833,370		1,057,685
[FixedMaturitiesMember]
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	771,143	[1]	987,187	[1]
Gross unrealized gains	44,263		39,879
Gross unrealized losses	135		3,043
Fair value	815,271		1,024,023
[FixedMaturitiesMember] | [USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember]
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	211,104	[1]	255,573	[1]
Gross unrealized gains	7,669		12,966
Gross unrealized losses	77		0
Fair value	218,696		268,539
[FixedMaturitiesMember] | [USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember]
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	373	[1]	373	[1]
Gross unrealized gains	0		0
Gross unrealized losses	28		39
Fair value	345		334
[FixedMaturitiesMember] | [NonUsSovereignGovernmentSupranationalAndGovernmentRelatedDebtSecuritiesMember]
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	217,961	[1]	260,695	[1]
Gross unrealized gains	16,039		14,024
Gross unrealized losses	13		54
Fair value	233,987		274,665
[FixedMaturitiesMember] | [CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember]
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	341,705	[1]	470,546	[1]
Gross unrealized gains	20,555		12,889
Gross unrealized losses	17		2,950
Fair value	362,243		480,485
[ShortTermInvestmentsMember]
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost			18,097	[1]
Gross unrealized gains			0
Gross unrealized losses			0
Fair value			18,097
[OtherInvestedAssetsFundsHeldDirectlyManagedMember]
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	26,777	[1]	25,628	[1]
Gross unrealized gains	619		0
Gross unrealized losses	9,297		10,063
Fair value	$ 18,099		$ 15,565

[1] Cost is amortized cost for fixed maturities and short-term investments.