Reinsurance - Business Divestitures Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) reinsurer	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Reinsurance Recoverables
Reinsurance recoverables	$ 388,873	$ 260,281
Minimum
Reinsurance Recoverables
Number of reinsurer insolvency for making company responsible for administering reinsurance business \| reinsurer	1
Sun Life
Reinsurance Recoverables
Reinsurance recoverables	$ 54,376
The Hartford
Reinsurance Recoverables
Reinsurance recoverables	5,627	5,050
John Hancock
Reinsurance Recoverables
Reinsurance recoverables	$ 327,501	$ 248,591

Amount, after valuation allowance, recoverable under reinsurance contracts including premium paid under reinsurance contracts. Examples include, but are not limited to, settled and unsettled claims, incurred but not reported losses, loss adjustment expense, premium paid, policy benefits and policy reserves.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480758&loc=d3e6824-158387

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 310
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6485522&loc=d3e21409-158489

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a),6)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant