| **SOI OTTI table (Details 7) (Fixed maturities, USD $)In Thousands, unless otherwise specified**                    | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                               |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| Fixed maturities                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                          |   |   |
| **Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Roll Forward]**                            |                                                                                                                                                                                          |   |   |
| Beginning balance                                                                                                   | $ 167,961us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember | $ 167,788us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember | $ 186,999us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember |
| Initial impairments - credit loss on securities not previously impaired                                             | 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsNoPreviousImpairment/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember            | 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsNoPreviousImpairment/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember | 4,429us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsNoPreviousImpairment/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember |
| Credit loss recognized on securities previously impaired                                                            | 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsAdditionalCreditLosses/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember          | 173us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsAdditionalCreditLosses/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember | 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsAdditionalCreditLosses/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember |
| Due to sales, maturities, or payoffs during the period                                                              | (646)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsSecuritiesSold/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember             | 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsSecuritiesSold/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember | (23,640)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsSecuritiesSold/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember |
| Due to increases in cash flows expected to be collected that are recognized over the remaining life of the security | (47,783)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsCashFlows/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember               | 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsCashFlows/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember | 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsCashFlows/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember |
| Ending balance                                                                                                      | $ 119,532us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember | $ 167,961us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember | $ 167,788us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which a previous OTTI was recognized and the investor does not intend to sell the debt security and it is not more likely than not that the investor will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27340-111563
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which no such other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was previously recognized.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27340-111563
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsNoPreviousImpairment**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings related to debt securities held for which a portion of an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of shareholders' equity).
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27340-111563
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This item represents reductions in the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held due to increases in cash flows expected to be collected and recognized over the remaining life of the security.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27340-111563
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This item represents reductions in the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security because of the sale of impaired securities during the period.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27340-111563
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsSecuritiesSold**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsRollForward**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |