AmTrust Financial Services (AFSIP) 10-Q 10 Nov 14 2014 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Nov. 03, 2014
Document Documentand Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-14	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Trading Symbol	'AFSI	'
Entity Registrant Name	'AMTRUST FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001365555	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	74,815,409

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Investments:	'	'
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at market value (amortized cost $4,110,606; $3,107,043)	$4,220,364	$3,100,936
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at market value (cost $85,188; $16,010)	86,449	15,148
Market value	22,049	0
Short-term investments	51,373	114,202
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries – related party	118,207	89,756
Other investments	16,442	25,749
Securities pledged (amortized cost of $0; $316,576)	0	311,518
Total investments	4,514,884	3,657,309
Cash and cash equivalents	546,241	830,022
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	172,499	100,439
Accrued interest and dividends	31,146	27,800
Premiums receivable, net	1,828,139	1,593,975
Reinsurance recoverable (related party $1,418,259; $1,144,168)	2,283,765	1,929,848
Prepaid reinsurance premium (related party $876,980; $739,719)	1,259,707	1,011,304
Other assets (related party $125,365, $0; recorded at fair value $283,200; $233,024)	1,076,833	890,333
Deferred policy acquisition costs	631,684	468,404
Property and equipment, net	150,873	104,299
Goodwill	400,338	373,591
Intangible assets	324,198	291,802
Total assets	13,220,307	11,279,126
Liabilities:	'	'
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	5,298,819	4,368,234
Unearned premiums	3,416,453	2,680,982
Ceded reinsurance premiums payable (related party $371,681; $393,941)	640,420	635,588
Reinsurance payable on paid losses	15,541	18,818
Funds held under reinsurance treaties	22,068	27,574
Note payable on collateral loan – related party	167,975	167,975
Securities sold but not yet purchased, at market	18,737	0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value	0	293,222
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (recorded at fair value $13,417; $14,999)	698,318	672,575
Deferred income taxes	205,320	274,519
Debt	592,293	560,174
Total liabilities	11,075,944	9,699,661
Commitments and contingencies	'	'
Redeemable non-controlling interest	600	600
Stockholders’ equity:	'	'
Common stock, $.01 par value; 150,000 shares authorized, 98,206 and 98,122 issued in 2014 and 2013, respectively; 74,886 and 74,765 outstanding in 2014 and 2013, respectively	980	980
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 10,000 shares authorized, 4,785 and 4,600 issued and outstanding in 2014 and 2013, respectively	300,000	115,000
Additional paid-in capital	1,031,340	1,033,084
Treasury stock at cost; 23,320 and 23,357 shares in 2014 and 2013, respectively	-315,178	-284,891
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	69,484	-8,164
Retained earnings	902,564	584,996
Total AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. equity	1,989,190	1,441,005
Non-controlling interest	154,573	137,860
Total stockholders’ equity	2,143,763	1,578,865
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$13,220,307	$11,279,126

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, amortized cost	$4,110,606	$3,107,043
Equity securities, available-for-sale, cost	85,188	16,010
Trading securities, cost basis	21,661	0
Securities pledged	0	316,576
Reinsurance recoverable	2,283,765	1,929,848
Prepaid reinsurance premium	1,259,707	1,011,304
Other assets, fair value	283,200	233,024
Other assets	1,076,833	890,333
Ceded reinsurance premiums payable	640,420	635,588
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	13,417	14,999
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	150,000,000	150,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	98,206,000	98,122,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	74,886,000	74,765,000
Preferred stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred Stock, shares issued	4,785,000	4,600,000
Preferred Stock, shares outstanding	4,785,000	4,600,000
Treasury stock, at cost, shares	23,320,000	23,357,000
Related Party Transactions	'	'
Reinsurance recoverable	1,418,259	1,144,168
Prepaid reinsurance premium	876,980	739,719
Other assets	125,365	0
Ceded reinsurance premiums payable	$371,681	$393,941

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Premium income:	'	'	'	'
Net written premium	$1,004,196	$728,796	$3,058,147	$1,900,899
Change in unearned premium	-89,783	-114,901	-439,746	-342,471
Net earned premium	914,413	613,895	2,618,401	1,558,428
Service and fee income (related parties – three months $14,737; $11,715 and nine months $42,055; $36,636)	117,583	89,981	308,083	238,596
Net investment income	34,552	23,290	95,673	64,019
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments	5,086	1,112	14,431	20,463
Total revenues	1,071,634	728,278	3,036,588	1,881,506
Expenses:	'	'	'	'
Loss and loss adjustment expense	609,352	410,579	1,755,155	1,046,945
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses (net of ceding commission - related party - three months $109,540; $68,219 and nine months $288,891; $199,334)	225,512	137,186	620,181	367,417
Other	103,493	90,195	278,672	223,332
Total expenses	938,357	637,960	2,654,008	1,637,694
Income before other income (expense), income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	133,277	90,318	382,580	243,812
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Interest expense, net of interest income - related party - three months $365; $0 and nine months $365; $0)	-11,801	-9,120	-35,885	-24,089
(Loss) gain on investment in life settlement contracts net of profit commission	-2,910	76	-5,180	80
Foreign currency gain	26,594	368	25,826	2,423
Acquisition gain on purchase	0	0	0	48,715
Gain on sale of subsidiary	0	0	6,631	0
Total other income (expense)	11,883	-8,676	-8,608	27,129
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	145,160	81,642	373,972	270,941
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	-7,664	23,880	37,746	67,391
Income before equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	152,824	57,762	336,226	203,550
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary – related party	4,332	1,927	26,847	10,537
Net income	157,156	59,689	363,073	214,087
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest of subsidiaries	2,939	597	7,029	1,474
Net income attributable to AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.	160,095	60,286	370,102	215,561
Dividends on preference stock	-3,505	-2,048	-7,387	-2,048
Net income attributable to AmTrust common shareholders	156,590	58,238	362,715	213,513
Earnings per common share:	'	'	'	'
Basic earnings per share	$2.09	$0.78	$4.84	$2.88
Diluted earnings per share	$1.97	$0.74	$4.57	$2.75
Dividends declared per common share	$0.20	$0.14	$0.60	$0.42
Net realized gain on investments:	'	'	'	'
Total other-than-temporary impairment loss	-464	0	-4,003	0
Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	-464	0	-4,003	0
Other net realized gain on investments	5,550	1,112	18,434	20,463
Net realized investment gain	$5,086	$1,112	$14,431	$20,463

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Service and fee income	$117,583	$89,981	$308,083	$238,596
Interest expense	11,801	9,120	35,885	24,089
Related Party Transactions	'	'	'	'
Service and fee income	14,737	11,715	42,055	36,636
Ceding commission - earned	109,540	68,219	288,891	199,334
Interest expense	$365	$0	$365	$0

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme2

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Net income	$157,156	$59,689	$363,073	$214,087
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:	'	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-13,092	10,826	-5,289	-4,739
Change in fair value of interest rate swap	347	-74	581	862
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:	'	'	'	'
Unrealized holding gain (loss) arising during period	-1,725	7,290	85,726	-72,193
Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income	-1,574	578	-3,370	3,839
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-16,044	18,620	77,648	-72,231
Comprehensive income	141,112	78,309	440,721	141,856
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	-2,939	-597	-7,029	-1,474
Comprehensive income attributable to AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.	$144,051	$78,906	$447,750	$143,330

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net income	$363,073	$214,087
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	45,085	35,985
Net amortization of bond premium or discount	13,059	14,002
Equity earnings on investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	-26,847	-10,537
Loss (gain) on investment in life settlement contracts, net	5,180	-80
Realized gain on marketable securities	-18,046	-20,463
Non-cash write-down of marketable securities	4,003	0
Discount on notes payable	2,425	2,226
Stock based compensation	13,911	7,920
Bad debt expense	22,459	17,286
Foreign currency gain	-25,826	-2,423
Gain on acquisition or sale	-6,631	-48,715
Dividend received from equity investment	0	12,203
Changes in assets - (increase) decrease:	'	'
Premiums and note receivables	-259,697	-115,370
Reinsurance recoverable	-352,731	-478,253
Deferred policy acquisition costs, net	-184,997	-108,243
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	-248,403	-202,270
Other assets	-37,931	-168,297
Changes in liabilities - increase (decrease):	'	'
Reinsurance premium payable	5,655	-97,420
Loss and loss expense reserve	910,360	924,679
Unearned premiums	710,590	544,781
Funds held under reinsurance treaties	1,019	-3,570
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	35,511	86,009
Deferred tax liability	-73,654	-25,011
Net cash provided by operating activities	897,567	578,526
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Net purchases of securities with fixed maturities, available-for-sale	-619,152	-695,935
Net (purchases) sales of equity securities, available-for-sale	-56,448	15,491
Net purchases of equity securities, trading	-4,183	0
Net sales (purchases) of other investments	11,709	-3,409
Acquisition of life settlement contracts	-25,419	-11,906
Receipt of life settlement contract proceeds	5,027	9,054
Loan to ACP Re	-125,000	0
Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash obtained	-75,914	-74,859
Sale of subsidiary, net of cash for subsidiary	20,059	0
Increase in restricted cash and cash equivalents	-72,060	-33,375
Purchase of property and equipment	-64,742	-29,311
Net cash used in investing activities	-1,006,123	-824,250
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Common share (purchase) issuance	-44,564	472
Preferred share issuance, net	178,641	111,130
Repurchase agreements, net	-293,222	-30,605
Senior notes proceeds	0	250,000
Secured loan proceeds	30,500	0
Secured loan agreements payments	-806	-1,037
Promissory notes payments	-10,695	0
Financing fees	-967	-2,740
Non-controlling interest capital contribution to consolidated subsidiaries	16,877	16,108
Stock option exercise and other	4,981	5,429
Dividends distributed on common stock	-40,705	-29,337
Dividends distributed on preference stock	-7,387	-2,048
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	-167,347	317,372
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	-7,878	-217
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	-283,781	71,431
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period	830,022	414,370
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period	546,241	485,801
Supplemental Cash Flow Information	'	'
Income tax payments	42,624	26,634
Interest payments on debt	$29,129	$13,056

Basis_of_Reporting

Basis of Reporting	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Basis of Reporting	'
	Basis of Reporting
	The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These interim statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (“AmTrust” or the “Company”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 3, 2014. The balance sheet at December 31, 2013 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.
	These interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim period and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative, if annualized, of those to be expected for the full year. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
	A detailed description of the Company’s significant accounting policies and management judgments is located in the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013, included in the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC.
	As previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company identified and corrected an error in which the Company previously reported ceding commission as a component of revenue and now presents ceding commission earned as a reduction of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses. In addition, the Company identified and corrected an error in which the Company historically recorded reductions in its Luxembourg tax liability as a reduction of policy acquisition expense and now records such reductions as a reduction of its provision for income taxes in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740, Income Taxes. The Company assessed the materiality of these errors in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, and ASC Topic 250-10-S99-1, Assessing Materiality, and determined that both errors were immaterial to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole. The Company revised its consolidated statements of income, as well as related footnotes, for the year ended December 31, 2013 and will reflect these corrections in all future filings that contain such consolidated financial statements. The effect of correcting the immaterial error related to ceding commission on the presentation of the comparative condensed consolidated statements of income for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2013 was a decrease to total revenues and an increase to acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses of $68,219 and $199,334, respectively. The effect of correcting the immaterial error related to reductions in the Company’s Luxembourg tax liability on the presentation of the comparative condensed consolidated statements of income for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2013 was an increase to policy acquisition expenses and a decrease to income tax expense of $8,801 and $20,768, respectively (which reduced the Company’s effective tax rate by approximately 6.9% and 7.7%, respectively). There was no impact to net income or liquidity as a result of these immaterial errors.
	As a result, the Company changed its accounting policy for ceding commission on reinsurance transactions during the three months ended June 30, 2014, which is stated herein below:
	Ceding Commissions on Reinsurance Transactions - Ceding commissions on reinsurance transactions are commissions the Company receives from ceding gross written premiums to third party reinsurers. In connection with the Maiden Quota Share, which is the Company’s primary source of ceding commissions, the amount the Company receives is a blended rate based on a contractual formula contained in the individual reinsurance agreements, and the rate may not correlate specifically to the cost structure of the individual segments. The ceding commissions the Company receives cover a portion of its capitalized direct acquisition costs and a portion of other underwriting expenses. Ceding commissions received from reinsurance transactions that represent recovery of capitalized direct acquisition costs are recorded as a reduction of capitalized unamortized deferred acquisition costs and the net amount is charged to expense in proportion to net premium revenue recognized. Ceding commissions received from reinsurance transactions that represent the recovery of other underwriting expenses are recognized in the income statement over the insurance contract period in proportion to the insurance protection provided and classified as a reduction of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses. Ceding commissions received, but not yet earned, that represent the recovery of other underwriting expenses are classified as a component of accrued expenses and other current liabilities. The Company allocates earned ceding commissions to its segments based on each segment’s proportionate share of total acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses recognized during the period. As a result of adopting this policy, deferred policy acquisition costs, total assets, accrued expenses and other current liabilities and total liabilities increased by approximately $21,717 as of December 31, 2013.
	During the three months ended September 30, 2014, the Company reclassified approximately $16,728 of its equity securities from available-for-sale securities, carried at estimated fair market value, to trading securities. Equity securities classified as trading securities are generally held for resale in anticipation of short-term market movements. Trading securities are stated at estimated fair market value. Gains and losses, both realized and unrealized, are included in the net realized gain or loss on investment on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
	All significant inter-company transactions and accounts have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.
	To facilitate period-to-period comparisons, certain reclassifications have been made to prior period consolidated financial statement amounts to conform to current period presentation.

Recent_Accounting_Pronouncemen

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	With the exception of those discussed below, there have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the nine months ended September 30, 2014, as compared to those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, that are of significance, or potential significance, to the Company.
	In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-11, Transfers and Serving (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures, which amends accounting for repurchase-to-maturity transactions and associated repurchase financing to secured borrowing. The revised guidance also requires expanded disclosure for certain transactions comprising (1) a transfer of a financial asset accounted for as a sale and (2) an agreement with the same transferee entered into in contemplation of the initial transfer that results in the transferor retaining substantially all of the exposure to the economic return on the transferred financial asset throughout the term of the transaction, as well as expands disclosure for repurchase agreements, securities lending transactions, and repurchase-to-maturity transactions that are accounted for as secured borrowings. The updated guidance is effective for the period ending March 31, 2015. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
	In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, Compensation--Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period, to clarify how entities should treat performance targets that can be met after the requisite service period of a share-based payment award. The ASU states that the share-based payment award should be treated as a performance condition that affects vesting and, therefore, an entity would not record compensation expense (measured as of the grant date without taking into account the effect of the performance target) related to an award for which transfer to the employee is contingent on the entity’s satisfaction of a performance target until it becomes probable that the performance target will be met. No new disclosures are required under this ASU. ASU 2014-12 is effective beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. In addition, all entities will have the option of applying the guidance either prospectively (i.e., only to awards granted or modified on or after the effective date of the issue) or retrospectively. Retrospective application would only apply to awards with performance targets outstanding at or after the beginning of the first annual period presented (i.e., the earliest presented comparative period). The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have an impact on the Company's results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue. While insurance contracts are not within the scope of this updated guidance, the Company’s service and fee income will be subject to this updated guidance. The updated guidance requires an entity to recognize revenue as performance obligations are met, in order to reflect the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity is entitled to receive for those goods or services. The following steps are applied in the updated guidance: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when, or as, the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The updated guidance is effective for the quarter ending March 31, 2017. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
	In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statement (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosure of Disposals of Components of an Entity, which provides revised guidance to reduce diversity in practice for reporting discontinued operations. Under the previous guidance, any component of an entity that was a reportable segment, an operating segment, a reporting unit, a subsidiary, or an asset group was eligible for discontinued operations presentation. The revised guidance only allows disposals of components of an entity that represent a strategic shift (e.g., disposal of a major geographical area, a major line of business, a major equity method investment, or other major parts of an entity) and that have a major effect on a reporting entity’s operations and financial results to be reported as discontinued operations. The revised guidance also requires expanded disclosure in the financial statements for discontinued operations as well as for disposals of significant components of an entity that do not qualify for discontinued operations presentation. The updated guidance is effective for the period ending March 31, 2015. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
	In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists, which provides guidance on the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss ("NOL") carry-forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry-forward exists. Under the ASU, an entity must present an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a NOL carry-forward, similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry-forward. There are two exceptions to this form of presentation as follows:
	•	To the extent a NOL carry-forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry-forward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position; or
	•	The entity does not intend to use the deferred tax asset for this purpose.
	If either of these conditions exists, an entity should present an unrecognized benefit in the financial statements as a liability and should net the unrecognizable tax benefit with a deferred tax asset. The Company adopted ASU 2013-11 on January 1, 2014 and the implementation did not have an impact on the Company's results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.
	In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830): Parent's Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity, with the objective of resolving the diversity about whether ASC 810-10, Consolidation - Overall, or ASC 830-30, Foreign Currency Matters - Translation of Financial Statements, applies to the release of the cumulative translation adjustment into net income when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business (other than a sale of in-substance real estate or conveyance of oil and gas mineral rights) within a foreign entity.
	Under this guidance, when a reporting entity that is also the parent entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business (other than a sale of in substance real estate or conveyance of oil and gas mineral rights) within a foreign entity, the parent is required to apply the guidance in ASC 830-30 to release any related cumulative translation adjustment into net income. Accordingly, the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income only if the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity in which the subsidiary or group of assets had resided. Additionally, for an equity method investment that is a foreign entity, the partial sale guidance in ASC 830-30-40 continues to be applicable. As such, a pro rata portion of the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income upon a partial sale of such an equity method investment. However, this treatment does not apply to an equity method investment that is not a foreign entity. In those instances, the cumulative translation adjustment is released into net income only if the partial sale represents a complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity that contains the equity method investment. Furthermore, the amendments in this ASU clarify that the sale of an investment in a foreign entity includes both: (1) events that result in the loss of a controlling financial interest in a foreign entity (that is, irrespective of any retained investment); and (2) events that result in an acquirer obtaining control of an acquiree in which it held an equity interest immediately before the acquisition date (sometimes also referred to as a step acquisition). Accordingly, the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income upon the occurrence of those events. The amendments in this ASU are effective prospectively for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2013. The update was adopted effective January 1, 2014. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company's results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.

Investments

Investments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'
Investments	'
		Investments
	(a) Available-for-Sale Securities
	The amortized cost, estimated market value and gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of available-for-sale securities as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, are presented in the table below:
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Original or amortized cost			Gross unrealized gains			Gross unrealized losses				Market value
	As of September 30, 2014
	Preferred stock		$	4,500		$	251		$	(26	)		$	4,725
	Common stock		80,688			1,760			(724		)		81,724
	U.S. treasury securities		48,484			1,308			(161		)		49,631
	U.S. government agencies		16,439			555			(9		)		16,985
	Municipal bonds		475,133			12,270			(3,887		)		483,516
	Foreign government		104,075			5,421			(147		)		109,349
	Corporate bonds:
	Finance		1,198,838			67,308			(5,005		)		1,261,141
	Industrial		1,109,706			34,718			(11,922		)		1,132,502
	Utilities		103,038			2,546			(1,285		)		104,299
	Commercial mortgage backed securities		46,779			1,120			(210		)		47,689
	Residential mortgage backed securities:
	Agency backed		993,656			14,440			(7,068		)		1,001,028
	Non-agency backed		13,031			148			(381		)		12,798
	Asset-backed securities		1,427			1			(2		)		1,426
			$	4,195,794		$	141,846		$	(30,827	)		$	4,306,813
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Original or amortized cost			Gross unrealized gains			Gross unrealized losses				Market value
	As of December 31, 2013
	Preferred stock		$	1,498		$	82		$	(74	)		$	1,506
	Common stock		14,512			1,156			(2,026		)		13,642
	U.S. treasury securities		158,915			1,196			(851		)		159,260
	U.S. government agencies		10,466			107			(84		)		10,489
	Municipal bonds		461,325			4,781			(19,923		)		446,183
	Foreign government		160,459			971			(1,325		)		160,105
	Corporate bonds:
	Finance		1,057,542			41,027			(13,970		)		1,084,599
	Industrial		768,161			7,695			(21,439		)		754,417
	Utilities		70,924			1,310			(2,008		)		70,226
	Commercial mortgage backed securities		28,970			—			(404		)		28,566
	Residential mortgage backed securities:
	Agency backed		694,001			5,657			(13,918		)		685,740
	Non-agency backed		6,737			19			(7		)		6,749
	Asset backed securities		6,119			4			(3		)		6,120
			$	3,439,629		$	64,005		$	(76,032	)		$	3,427,602
	Less: Securities pledged		316,576			506			(5,564		)		311,518
			$	3,123,053		$	63,499		$	(70,468	)		$	3,116,084
	Investments in foreign government securities include securities issued by national entities as well as instruments that are unconditionally guaranteed by such entities. As of September 30, 2014, the Company's foreign government securities were issued or guaranteed primarily by governments in Canada, Europe, and Israel.
	Proceeds from the sale of investments in available-for-sale securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were approximately $1,568,126 and $976,396, respectively.
	A summary of the Company’s available-for-sale fixed securities as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, by contractual maturity, is shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
			30-Sep-14						31-Dec-13
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Amortized Cost			Fair Value			Amortized Cost				Fair Value
	Due in one year or less		$	110,336		$	110,161		$	128,128			$	128,214
	Due after one through five years		643,905			667,327			592,703				603,942
	Due after five through ten years		1,988,673			2,064,616			1,632,115				1,631,751
	Due after ten years		312,799			315,320			334,846				321,372
	Mortgage and asset backed securities		1,054,893			1,062,940			735,827				727,175
	Total fixed maturities		$	4,110,606		$	4,220,364		$	3,423,619			$	3,412,454
	Other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") charges of our fixed-maturities and equity securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 are presented in the table below:
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Amounts in Thousands)		2014			2013			2014				2013
	Equity securities recognized in earnings		$	—		$	—		$	2,291			$	—
	Fixed-maturity securities recognized in earnings		464			—			1,712				—
			$	464		$	—		$	4,003			$	—
	The table below summarizes the gross unrealized losses of our fixed maturity and equity securities by length of time the security has continuously been in an unrealized position as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
			Less Than 12 Months									12 Months or More								Total
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Fair Market Value			Unrealized Losses			No. of Positions Held			Fair Market Value				Unrealized Losses			No. of Positions Held	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
	As of September 30, 2014
	Common and preferred stock		$	14,412		$	(567	)	26			$	315			$	(183	)	2	$	14,727	$	(750	)
U.S. treasury securities		30,753			(120		)	35			2,046				(41		)	5	32,799		(161		)
U.S. government agencies		—			—			—			1,369				(9		)	6	1,369		(9		)
Municipal bonds		46,652			(1,029		)	68			89,680				(2,858		)	109	136,332		(3,887		)
Foreign government		13,351			(147		)	11			—				—			—	13,351		(147		)
Corporate bonds:
Finance		204,075			(3,997		)	184			63,182				(1,008		)	15	267,257		(5,005		)
Industrial		232,809			(10,407		)	209			49,044				(1,515		)	34	281,853		(11,922		)
Utilities		20,348			(1,274		)	20			377				(11		)	2	20,725		(1,285		)
Commercial mortgage backed securities		14			—			2			5,155				(210		)	8	5,169		(210		)
Residential mortgage backed securities:
Agency backed		172,828			(3,972		)	35			122,718				(3,096		)	42	295,546		(7,068		)
Non-agency backed		5,190			(380		)	3			30				(1		)	2	5,220		(381		)
Asset-backed securities		661			(1		)	3			631				(1		)	3	1,292		(2		)
Total temporarily impaired securities		$	741,093		$	(21,894	)	596			$	334,547			$	(8,933	)	228	$	1,075,640	$	(30,827	)
		Less Than 12 Months									12 Months or More								Total
(Amounts in Thousands)		Fair Market Value			Unrealized Losses			No. of Positions Held			Fair Market Value				Unrealized Losses			No. of Positions Held	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
31-Dec-13
Common and preferred stock		$	4,875		$	(2,100	)	51			$	—			$	—		—	$	4,875	$	(2,100	)
U.S. treasury securities		52,757			(851		)	18			—				—			—	52,757		(851		)
U.S. government agencies		4,135			(84		)	11			—				—			—	4,135		(84		)
Municipal bonds		254,219			(17,986		)	302			24,169				(1,937		)	9	278,388		(19,923		)
Foreign government		68,102			(1,324		)	16			999				(1		)	1	69,101		(1,325		)
Corporate bonds:
Finance		500,564			(13,402		)	182			58,923				(568		)	9	559,487		(13,970		)
Industrial		500,366			(21,203		)	263			3,383				(236		)	2	503,749		(21,439		)
Utilities		45,663			(2,008		)	21			—				—			—	45,663		(2,008		)
Commercial mortgage backed securities		28,552			(404		)	18			—				—			—	28,552		(404		)
Residential mortgage backed securities:
Agency backed		492,740			(13,918		)	120			—				—			—	492,740		(13,918		)
Non-agency backed		205			(5		)	6			23				(2		)	1	228		(7		)
Asset-backed securities		1,463			(3		)	4			—				—			—	1,463		(3		)
Total temporarily impaired securities		$	1,953,641		$	(73,288	)	1,012			$	87,497			$	(2,744	)	22	$	2,041,138	$	(76,032	)
There are 824 and 1,034 securities at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, that account for the gross unrealized loss, none of which is deemed by the Company to be OTTI. Significant factors influencing the Company’s determination that unrealized losses were temporary included the magnitude of the unrealized losses in relation to each security’s cost, the nature of the investment and management’s intent not to sell these securities and it being not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell these investments before anticipated recovery of fair value to the Company’s cost basis.
(b) Trading Securities
The amortized cost, estimated market value and gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of trading securities as of September 30, 2014 are presented in the table below:
(Amounts in Thousands)		Original or amortized cost			Gross unrealized gains			Gross unrealized losses				Market value
As of September 30, 2014
Common stock		$	21,661		$	716		$	(328	)		$	22,049
Proceeds from the sale of investments in trading securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was approximately $9,520. As of December 31, 2013, the Company did not have any securities classified as trading securities.
(c) Investment Income
Net investment income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was derived from the following sources:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Amounts in Thousands)		2014			2013			2014				2013
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		$	34,112		$	21,766		$	92,852			$	57,354
Equity securities, available-for-sale		249			1,086			550				5,375
Equity securities, trading		77			—			77				—
Cash and short term investments		854			782			4,278				2,530
		35,292			23,634			97,757				65,259
Less:
Investment expenses and interest expense on securities sold under agreement to repurchase		(740		)	(344		)	(2,084		)		(1,240		)
		$	34,552		$	23,290		$	95,673			$	64,019
(d) Derivatives
The Company from time to time invests in a limited number of derivatives and other financial instruments as part of its investment portfolio to manage interest rate changes or other exposures to a particular financial market. The Company records changes in valuation on its derivative positions not designated as a hedge as a component of net realized gains and losses.
The Company records changes in valuation on its hedge positions as a component of other comprehensive income. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had two interest rate swaps designated as hedges that were recorded as a liability in the total amount of $2,160 and $3,054, respectively, and were included as a component of accrued expenses and other liabilities.
The following table presents the notional amounts by remaining maturity of the Company’s interest rate swaps as of September 30, 2014:
		Remaining Life of Notional Amount (1)
		One Year			Two Through Five Years			Six Through Ten Years				After Ten Years				Total
(Amounts in Thousands)
Interest rate swaps		$	—		$	70,000		$	—			$	—			$	70,000
(1)	Notional amount is not representative of either market risk or credit risk and is not recorded in the consolidated balance sheet.
(e) Restricted Cash and Investments
The Company, in order to conduct business in certain states, is required to maintain letters of credit or assets on deposit to support state mandated regulatory requirements and certain third party agreements. The Company also utilizes trust accounts to collateralize business with its reinsurance counterparties. These assets are primarily in the form of cash and certain high grade securities. The fair values of our restricted assets as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are as follows:
(Amounts in Thousands)		2014			2013
Restricted cash		$	172,499		$	100,439
Restricted investments		775,115			978,910
Total restricted cash and investments		$	947,614		$	1,079,349
(f) Other
Securities sold but not yet purchased represent obligations of the Company to deliver the specified security at the contracted price and, thereby, create a liability to purchase the security in the market at prevailing prices. The Company’s liability for securities to be delivered is measured at their fair value and as of September 30, 2014 was $18,737, which consisted primarily of equity securities. These transactions result in off-balance sheet risk, as the Company’s ultimate cost to satisfy the delivery of securities sold but not yet purchased may exceed the amount reflected at September 30, 2014. Substantially all securities owned under these arrangements are pledged to the clearing broker to sell or repledge the securities to others subject to certain limitations. The Company did not have any securities sold but not yet purchased as of December 31, 2013.
From time to time, the Company enters into repurchase agreements that are subject to a master netting arrangement, which are accounted for as collateralized borrowing transactions and are recorded at contract amounts. The Company receives cash or securities that it invests or holds in short term or fixed income securities. As of September 30, 2014, the Company had no repurchase agreements outstanding. Interest expense associated with these repurchase agreements, which was recorded as a component of investment income, was $2 and $275 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and $197 and $688 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, for repurchase agreements outstanding during these periods.

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The following tables present the level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities are measured on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Total				Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	As of September 30, 2014
	Assets:
	U.S. treasury securities		$	49,631			$	49,631		$	—		$	—
	U.S. government agencies		16,985				—			16,985			—
	Municipal bonds		483,516				—			483,516			—
	Foreign government		109,349				—			109,349			—
	Corporate bonds and other bonds:
	Finance		1,261,141				—			1,261,141			—
	Industrial		1,132,502				—			1,132,502			—
	Utilities		104,299				—			104,299			—
	Commercial mortgage backed securities		47,689				—			47,689			—
	Residential mortgage backed securities:
	Agency backed		1,001,028				—			1,001,028			—
	Non-agency backed		12,798				—			12,798			—
	Asset-backed securities		1,426				—			1,426			—
	Equity securities, available-for-sale		86,449				33,013			53,436			—
	Equity securities, trading		22,049				22,049			—			—
	Short term investments		51,373				51,373			—			—
	Other investments		16,442				—			—			16,442
	Life settlement contracts		283,200				—			—			283,200
			$	4,679,877			$	156,066		$	4,224,169		$	299,642
	Liabilities:
	Equity securities sold but not yet purchased, market		$	18,737			$	18,737		$	—		$	—
	Life settlement contract profit commission		11,257				—			—			11,257
	Derivatives		2,160				—			2,160			—
			$	32,154			$	18,737		$	2,160		$	11,257
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Total				Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	As of December 31, 2013
	Assets:
	U.S. treasury securities		$	110,345			$	110,345		$	—		$	—
	U.S. government agencies		10,489				—			10,489			—
	Municipal bonds		446,183				—			446,183			—
	Foreign government		160,105				—			160,105			—
	Corporate bonds and other bonds:
	Finance		1,084,599				—			1,084,599			—
	Industrial		754,417				—			754,417			—
	Utilities		70,226				—			70,226			—
	Commercial mortgage backed securities		28,566				—			28,566			—
	Residential mortgage backed securities:
	Agency backed		423,137				—			423,137			—
	Non-agency backed		6,749				—			6,749			—
	Asset-backed securities		6,120				—			6,120			—
	Equity securities		15,148				15,148			—			—
	Short term investments		114,202				114,202			—			—
	Other investments		25,749				—			—			25,749
	Securities held as collateral		311,518				48,915			262,603			—
	Life settlement contracts		233,024				—			—			233,024
			$	3,800,577			$	288,610		$	3,253,194		$	258,773
	Liabilities:
	Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at carrying value		$	293,222			$	—		$	293,222		$	—
	Life settlement contract profit commission		11,945				—			—			11,945
	Derivatives		3,054				—			3,054			—
			$	308,221			$	—		$	296,276		$	11,945
	The Company classifies its financial assets and liabilities in the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  This classification requires judgment in assessing the market and pricing methodologies for a particular security.  The fair value hierarchy includes the following three levels:
	•	Level 1 – Valuations are based on unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical financial assets or liabilities.
	Examples of instruments utilizing Level 1 inputs include: exchange-traded securities and U.S. Treasury bonds.
	•	Level 2 – Valuations of financial assets and liabilities are based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets obtained from third party pricing services or valuations based on models where the significant inputs are observable (e.g., interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, default rates, loss severities, etc.) or can be corroborated by observable market data. The fair value of securities in this category are determined by management after reviewing market prices obtained from independent pricing services and brokers.
	Examples of instruments utilizing Level 2 inputs include: U.S. government-sponsored agency securities; non-U.S. government obligations; corporate and municipal bonds; mortgage-backed bonds; asset-backed securities, listed derivatives that are not actively traded and equity securities that are not publicly traded.
	•	Level 3 – Valuations are based on unobservable inputs for assets and liabilities where there is little or no market activity.  Management’s assumptions are used in internal valuation pricing models to determine the fair value of financial assets or liabilities, which may include projected cash flows, collateral performance or liquidity circumstances in the security or similar securities that may have occurred since the prior pricing period.
	Examples of instruments utilizing Level 3 inputs include: hedge and credit funds with partial transparency.
For additional discussion regarding techniques used to value the Company’s investment portfolio, refer to Note 2. “Significant Accounting Policies” in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in its 2013 Form 10-K.
The following tables provides a summary of changes in fair value of the Company’s Level 3 financial assets and liabilities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
(Amounts in Thousands)		Balance as of June 30, 2014				Net income			Other comprehensive income			Purchases and issuances			Sales and settlements			Net transfers into (out of) Level 3		Balance as of September 30,
																				2014
Other investments		$	14,095			$	—		$	—		$	2,828		$	(481	)	$	—	$	16,442
Life settlement contracts		276,199				7,001			—			—			—			—		283,200
Life settlement contract profit commission		(12,529		)		1,272			—			—			—			—		(11,257		)
Total		$	277,765			$	8,273		$	—		$	2,828		$	(481	)	$	—	$	288,385
(Amounts in Thousands)		Balance as of December 31, 2013				Net income			Other comprehensive income			Purchases and issuances			Sales and settlements			Net transfers into (out of) Level 3		Balance as of September 30,
																				2014
Other investments		$	25,749			$	2,402		$	—		$	6,145		$	(17,854	)	$	—	$	16,442
Life settlement contracts		233,024				29,784			—			25,419			(5,027		)	—		283,200
Life settlement contract profit commission		(11,945		)		688			—			—			—			—		(11,257		)
Total		$	246,828			$	32,874		$	—		$	31,564		$	(22,881	)	$	—	$	288,385
(Amounts in Thousands)		Balance as of June 30, 2013				Net income			Other comprehensive income			Purchases and issuances			Sales and settlements			Net transfers into (out of) Level 3		Balance as of September 30, 2013
Other investments		$	24,779			$	296		$	—		$	2,304		$	(2,868	)	$	—	$	24,511
Life settlement contracts		208,694				9,575			—			11,906			(3,011		)	—		227,164
Life settlement contract profit commission		(12,513		)		1,468			—			—			—			—		(11,045		)
Total		$	220,960			$	11,339		$	—		$	14,210		$	(5,879	)	$	—	$	240,630
(Amounts in Thousands)		Balance as of December 31, 2012				Net income			Other comprehensive income			Purchases and issuances			Sales and settlements			Net transfers into (out of) Level 3		Balance as of September 30, 2013
Other investments		$	11,144			$	973		$	—		$	17,185		$	(4,791	)	$	—	$	24,511
Life settlement contracts		193,927				30,385			—			11,906			(9,054		)	—		227,164
Life settlement contract profit commission		(11,750		)		705			—			—			—			—		(11,045		)
Total		$	193,321			$	32,063		$	—		$	29,091		$	(13,845	)	$	—	$	240,630
The Company had transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of $17,861 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 due to change in valuation methodology. There were no transfers during the equivalent periods in 2013.
A reconciliation of net income for life settlement contracts in the above table to (loss) gain on investment in life settlement contracts net of profit commission included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:
		Three Months Ended September 30,							Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Amounts in Thousands)		2014				2013			2014			2013
Net income		$	7,001			$	9,575		$	29,784		$	30,385
Premiums paid		(10,728		)		(9,718		)	(33,200		)	(28,259		)
Profit commission		1,272				1,468			688			705
Other expenses		(455		)		(1,249		)	(2,452		)	(2,751		)
(Loss) gain on investment in life settlement contracts		$	(2,910	)		$	76		$	(5,180	)	$	80
The Company uses the following methods and assumptions in estimating its fair value disclosures for financial instruments:
•	Equity and Fixed Income Investments: Fair value disclosures for these investments are disclosed above in this note. The carrying values of cash, short term investments and investment income accrued approximate their fair values and are classified as Level 1 in the financial hierarchy.
•	Premiums Receivable: The carrying values reported in the accompanying balance sheets for these financial instruments approximate their fair values due to the short term nature of the asset and are classified as Level 1 in the financial hierarchy.
•	Other Investments: The Company has approximately 0.3% of its investment portfolio in limited partnerships or hedge funds where the fair value estimate is determined by a fund manager based on recent filings, operating results, balance sheet stability, growth and other business and market sector fundamentals. Due to the significant unobservable inputs in these valuations, the Company includes the estimate in the amount disclosed in Level 3 hierarchy.
•	Equity Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries - Related Party: The Company has an approximate ownership percentage of 13.2% in National General Holdings Corp. ("NGHC"). The Company accounts for this investment under the equity method of accounting as it has the ability to exert significant influence on NGHC. The fair value of the investment was approximately $207,670 as of September 30, 2014. The carrying value was $118,207 as of September 30, 2014.
•	Subordinated Debentures and Debt: The current fair value of the Company's convertible senior notes, subordinated debentures, and 6.125% Notes was $311,520, $63,620, and $262,448 as of September 30, 2014, respectively. The convertible senior notes and the 6.125% Notes are publicly traded instruments and are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The subordinated debentures are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the subordinated debentures was determined using the Black-Derman-Toy interest rate lattice model.
•	Derivatives: The Company classifies interest rate swaps as Level 2 in fair value hierarchy.  The Company uses these interest rate swaps to hedge floating interest rates on its debt, thereby changing the variable rate exposure to a fixed rate exposure for interest on these obligations.  The estimated fair value of the interest rate swaps, which is obtained from a third party pricing service, is measured using discounted cash flow analysis that incorporates significant observable inputs, including the LIBOR forward curve and a measurement of volatility.
•	Repurchase Agreements: The carrying value of repurchase agreements in the accompanying balance sheets represents their fair values and are classified as Level 2 in the financial hierarchy.
The fair value of life settlement contracts as well as life settlement profit commission liability is based on information available to the Company at the end of the reporting period. The Company considers the following factors in its fair value estimates: cost at date of purchase, recent purchases and sales of similar investments (if available and applicable), financial standing of the issuer, changes in economic conditions affecting the issuer, maintenance cost, premiums, benefits, standard actuarially developed mortality tables and life expectancy reports prepared by nationally recognized and independent third party medical underwriters. The Company estimates the fair value of a life insurance policy by applying an investment discount rate based on the cost of funding the Company's life settlement contracts as compared to returns on investments in asset classes with comparable credit quality, which the Company has determined to be 7.5%, to the expected cash flow generated by the policies in the Company's life settlement portfolio (death benefits less premium payments), net of policy specific adjustments and reserves. In order to confirm the integrity of their calculation of fair value, the Company, quarterly, retains an independent third-party actuary to verify that the actuarial modeling used by the Company to determine fair value was performed correctly and that the valuation, as determined through the Company’s actuarial modeling, is consistent with other methodologies. The Company considers this information in its assessment of the reasonableness of the life expectancy and discount rate inputs used in the valuation of these investments.
The Company adjusts the standard mortality for each insured for the insured's life expectancy based on reviews of the insured's medical records. The Company establishes policy specific reserves for the following uncertainties: improvements in mortality, the possibility that the high net worth individuals represented in its portfolio may have access to better health care, the volatility inherent in determining the life expectancy of insureds with significant reported health impairments, the possibility that the issuer of the policy or a third party will contest the payment of the death benefit payable to the Company, and the future expenses related to the administration of the portfolio. The application of the investment discount rate to the expected cash flow generated by the portfolio, net of the policy specific reserves, yields the fair value of the portfolio. The effective discount rate reflects the relationship between the fair value and the expected cash flow gross of these reserves.
The following summarizes data utilized in estimating the fair value of the portfolio of life insurance policies as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 and, as described in Note 5. "Investments in Life Settlements", only includes data for policies to which the Company assigned value at those dates:
	September 30,				December 31,
	2014				2013
Average age of insured	81.1 years				80.1 years
Average life expectancy, months (1)	121				131
Average face amount per policy	$	6,616,000			$	6,611,000
Effective discount rate (2)	13.9		%		14.2		%
(1)	Standard life expectancy as adjusted for specific circumstances.
(2)	Effective Discount Rate ("EDR") is the Company's estimated internal rate of return on its life settlement contract portfolio and is determined from the gross expected cash flows and valuation of the portfolio. The valuation of the portfolio is calculated net of all reserves using a 7.5% discount rate. The EDR is implicit of the reserves and the gross expected cash flows of the portfolio. The Company anticipates that the EDR's range is between 12.5% and 17.5% and reflects the uncertainty that exists surrounding the information available as of the reporting date. As the accuracy and reliability of information improves (declines), the EDR will decrease (increase). The change in the EDR from December 31, 2013 to September 30, 2014 resulted from routine updating of life expectancies and other factors relating to operational risk.
The Company's assumptions are, by their nature, inherently uncertain and the effect of changes in estimates may be significant. The fair value measurements used in estimating the present value calculation are derived from valuation techniques generally used in the industry that include inputs for the asset that are not based on observable market data. The extent to which the fair value could reasonably vary in the near term has been quantified by evaluating the effect of changes in significant underlying assumptions used to estimate the fair value amount. If the life expectancies were increased or decreased by 4 months and the discount factors were increased or decreased by 1% while all other variables were held constant, the carrying value of the investment in life insurance policies would increase or (decrease) by the unaudited amounts summarized below as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
	Change in life expectancy
(Amounts in Thousands)	Plus 4 Months				Minus 4 Months
Investment in life policies:
September 30, 2014	$	(35,729	)		$	37,059
December 31, 2013	$	(29,537	)		$	31,313
	Change in discount rate (1)
(Amounts in Thousands)	Plus 1%				Minus 1%
Investment in life policies:
September 30, 2014	$	(23,470	)		$	26,361
December 31, 2013	$	(20,055	)		$	22,605
-1	Discount rate is a present value calculation that considers legal risk, credit risk and liquidity risk and is a component of EDR.

Investment_in_Life_Settlements

Investment in Life Settlements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Investments, All Other Investments [Abstract]	'
Investment in Life Settlements	'
	Investment in Life Settlements
	The Company currently owns and periodically acquires life settlement contracts. A life settlement contract is a contract between the owner of a life insurance policy and a third-party who obtains the ownership and beneficiary rights of the underlying life insurance policy. The LSC entities may also acquire premium finance loans made in connection with the borrowers’ purchase of life insurance policies that are secured by the policies. The LSC entities acquire the underlying policies through the borrowers’ voluntary surrender of the policy in satisfaction of the loan or foreclosure. The Company currently has a fifty percent ownership interest in four subsidiaries (collectively, the “LSC entities”) that acquire life settlement contracts. A subsidiary of NGHC owns the remaining fifty percent interest in the LSC entities. A third party serves as the administrator for two of the life settlement contract portfolios, for which it receives an administrative fee. The third party administrator is eligible to receive a percentage of profits after certain time and performance thresholds have been met. The Company provides certain actuarial and finance functions related to the LSC entities. In conjunction with the Company’s 13.2% ownership percentage of NGHC, the Company ultimately receives 56.6% of the profits and losses of the LSC entities. As such, in accordance with ASC 810-10, Consolidation, the Company has been deemed the primary beneficiary and, therefore, consolidates the LSC entities.
	The Company accounts for investments in life settlements in accordance with ASC 325-30, Investments in Insurance Contracts, which states that an investor shall elect to account for its investments in life settlement contracts by using either the investment method or the fair value method. The election is made on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is irrevocable. The Company has elected to account for these policies using the fair value method. As no comparable market pricing is available, the Company determines fair value based upon its estimate of the discounted cash flow related to policies (net of the reserves for improvements in mortality, the possibility that the high net worth individuals represented in its portfolio may have access to better health care, the volatility inherent in determining the life expectancy of insureds with significant reported health impairments, the possibility that the issuer of the policy or a third party will contest the payment of the death benefit payable to the Company, and the future expenses related to the administration of the portfolio), which incorporates current life expectancy assumptions, premium payments, the credit exposure to the insurance company that issued the life settlement contracts and the rate of return that a buyer would require on the contracts.
	Total capital contributions of $33,353 and $29,847 were made to the LSC entities during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, for which the Company contributed $16,489 and $14,963 in those same periods, respectively. The LSC entities used the contributed capital to pay premiums and purchase policies. The Company’s investments in life settlements and premium finance loans were $283,200 and $233,024 as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, and are included in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company recorded a loss of $2,910 and $5,180, respectively, on investment in life settlement contracts, net of profit commission, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, and a gain of $76 and $80 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, related to the life settlement contracts.
	As of September 30, 2014, the LSC entities owned no premium finance loans. As of December 31, 2013, the LSC entities owned 2 premium finance loans, which were secured by life insurance policies and were carried at a value of $0.
	The following table describes the Company’s investment in life settlements as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
	(Amounts in Thousands, except number of Life Settlement Contracts)	Number of Life Settlement Contracts		Fair Value (1)			Face Value
	Expected Maturity Term in Years
	As of September 30, 2014
	0-1	—		$	—		$	—
	2-Jan	3		18,234			25,000
	3-Feb	8		43,193			70,500
	4-Mar	3		5,684			12,500
	5-Apr	9		17,704			56,000
	Thereafter	259		198,385			1,639,209
	Total	282		$	283,200		$	1,803,209
	(Amounts in Thousands, except number of Life Settlement Contracts)	Number of Life Settlement Contracts		Fair Value (1)			Face Value
	Expected Maturity Term in Years
	As of December 31, 2013
	0-1	—		$	—		$	—
	2-Jan	—		—			—
	3-Feb	1		2,726			5,000
	4-Mar	13		53,767			103,000
	5-Apr	2		5,622			13,000
	Thereafter	255		170,909			1,641,409
	Total	271		$	233,024		$	1,762,409
	(1)	The Company determined the fair value as of September 30, 2014 based on 226 policies out of 282 policies, as the Company assigned no value to 56 of the policies as of September 30, 2014. The Company determined the fair value as of December 31, 2013 based on 191 policies out of 271 policies, as the Company assigned no value to 80 of the policies as of December 31, 2013. The Company estimated the fair value of a life insurance policy using a cash flow model with an appropriate discount rate. In some cases, the cash flow model calculates the value of an individual policy to be negative, and therefore the fair value of the policy is zero as no liability exists when a negative value is calculated. The Company is not contractually bound to pay the premium on its life settlement contracts and, therefore, would not pay a willing buyer to assume title of these contracts. Additionally, certain of the Company's acquired policies were structured to have low premium payments at inception of the policy term, which later escalate greatly towards the tail end of the policy term. At the current time, the Company expenses all premium paid, even on policies with zero fair value. Once the premium payments escalate, the Company may allow the policies to lapse. In the event that death benefits are realized in the time frame between initial acquisition and premium escalation, it is a benefit to cash flow.
	For these contracts where the Company determined the fair value to be negative and therefore assigned a fair value of zero, the table below details the amount of premiums paid and the death benefits received during the twelve months preceding September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
	(Amounts in Thousands, except number of Life Settlement Contracts)	September 30, 2014			31-Dec-13
	Number of policies with a negative value from discounted cash flow model as of period end	56			80
	Premiums paid for the preceding twelve month period for period ended	$	5,125		$	9,371
	Death benefit received	$	—		$	3,012
	Premiums to be paid by the LSC entities for each of the five succeeding fiscal years to keep the life insurance policies in force as of September 30, 2014, are as follows:
	(Amounts in Thousands)	Premiums Due on Life  Settlement Contracts
	2014	$	42,790
	2015	47,738
	2016	61,273
	2017	41,266
	2018	41,074
	Thereafter	567,317
	Total	$	801,458

Debt

Debt	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Debt	'
	Debt
	The Company’s borrowings consisted of the following at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
	(Amounts in Thousands)	September 30, 2014				December 31, 2013
	Revolving credit facility	$	—			$	—
	Convertible senior notes	166,643				164,218
	6.125% Notes due 2023	250,000				250,000
	Junior subordinated debentures	123,714				123,714
	Secured loan agreements	37,436				7,742
	Promissory notes	14,500				14,500
		$	592,293			$	560,174
	Aggregate scheduled maturities of the Company’s borrowings at September 30, 2014 are:
	(Amounts in Thousands)
	2014	$	2,199
	2015	6,987
	2016	7,172
	2017	7,363
	2018	9,446
	Thereafter	559,126			(1)
	(1)	Amount reflected in balance sheet for convertible senior notes is net of unamortized original issue discount of $33,357.
	Revolving Credit Agreement
	On September 12, 2014, the Company entered into a five-year, $350,000 credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, KeyBank National Association and SunTrust Bank, as Co-Syndication Agents, Lloyd's Bank PLC and Associated Bank, as Co-Documentation Agents and the various lending institutions party thereto. The credit facility is a revolving credit facility with a letter of credit sublimit of $175,000 and an expansion feature of not more than an additional $150,000. The Credit Agreement has a maturity date of September 12, 2019. In connection with entering into the Credit Agreement, the Company terminated its existing $200,000 credit agreement (the "Preceding Credit Agreement"), dated August 10, 2012, with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, KeyBank National Association and SunTrust Bank, as Co-Syndication Agents, Associated Bank, National Association and Lloyds Securities Inc., as Co-Documentation Agents, and the various lending institutions party thereto. Letters of credit issued and outstanding under the Preceding Credit Agreement were deemed issued and outstanding under the Credit Agreement. Deferred origination costs associated with the Credit Agreement were approximately $967 and are being amortized into interest expense over the term of the Credit Agreement.
	The Credit Agreement contains certain restrictive covenants customary for facilities of this type (subject to negotiated exceptions and baskets), including restrictions on indebtedness, liens, acquisitions and investments, restricted payments and dispositions. There are also financial covenants that require the Company to maintain a minimum consolidated net worth, a maximum consolidated leverage ratio, a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, a minimum consolidated risk-based capital and a minimum consolidated statutory surplus. The Company was in compliance with all of its covenants as of September 30, 2014.
	As of September 30, 2014, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under this Credit Agreement. As of September 30, 2014, the Company had outstanding letters of credit under this Credit Agreement of $82,025, which reduced the availability for letters of credit to $92,975, and the total aggregate availability under the facility to $267,975.
	Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at either the Alternate Base Rate or the LIBO rate. Borrowings bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate will bear interest at (x) the greatest of (a) the administrative agent’s prime rate, (b) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.5%, or (c) the adjusted LIBO rate for a one-month interest period on such day plus 1.0%, plus (y) a margin ranging from 0.125% to 0.625%, adjusted on the basis of the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. Eurodollar borrowings will bear interest at the adjusted LIBO rate for the interest period in effect plus a margin ranging from 1.125% to 1.625%, adjusted on the basis of the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. The interest rate on the credit facility as of September 30, 2014 was 1.375%.
	Fees payable by the Company under the Credit Agreement include a letter of credit participation fee (equal to the margin applicable to Eurodollar borrowings), a letter of credit fronting fee with respect to each letter of credit (0.125%) and a commitment fee on the available commitments of the lenders (a range of 0.15% to 0.25% based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio, which was 0.175%).
	Interest expense, including amortization of the deferred origination costs and fees associated with the letters of credit under the Credit Agreement and the Preceding Credit Agreement, was approximately $356 and $379 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $1,107 and $1,555 for nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Convertible Senior Notes
	The Company has outstanding $200,000 aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2021 (the “Convertible Notes”). The Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate equal to 5.5% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on June 15th and December 15th of each year.
	The Convertible Notes will mature on December 15, 2021 (the “Maturity Date”), unless earlier purchased by the Company or converted into shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”). Prior to September 15, 2021, the Convertible Notes will be convertible only in the following circumstances: (i) during any fiscal quarter, and only during any such fiscal quarter, if the last reported sale price of the Company’s Common Stock was greater than or equal to 130% of the applicable conversion price for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the previous fiscal quarter (the “Sale Price Condition”); (ii) during the five consecutive business day period following any five consecutive trading day period in which, for each day of that period, the trading price for the Convertible Notes was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company’s Common Stock and the applicable conversion rate on such trading day; or (iii) upon the occurrence of specified corporate transactions. On or after September 15, 2021, the Convertible Notes will be convertible at any time prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the Maturity Date. The conversion rate at September 30, 2014 is equal to 38.5985 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes, which corresponds to a conversion price of approximately $25.91 per share of Common Stock. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the indenture governing the Convertible Notes. Upon conversion of the Convertible Notes, the Company will, at its election, pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of Common Stock, or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock. As of July 1, 2014, the Convertible Notes were convertible under the Sale Price Condition described above. As of September 30, 2014, no Convertible Note holders had submitted their Convertible Notes for conversion.
	Upon the occurrence of a fundamental change (as defined in the indenture governing the Convertible Notes) involving the Company, holders of the Convertible Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase their Convertible Notes for cash, in whole or in part, at 100% of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be repurchased, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the fundamental change purchase date.
	The Company separately allocated the proceeds for the issuance of the Convertible Notes to a liability component and an equity component, which is the embedded conversion option. The equity component was reported as an adjustment to paid-in-capital, net of tax, and is reflected as an original issue discount (“OID”). The OID of $41,679 and deferred origination costs relating to the liability component of $4,750 are being amortized into interest expense over the term of the Convertible Notes. After considering the contractual interest payments and amortization of the original discount, the effective interest rate of the Convertible Notes was 8.57%. Transaction costs of $1,250 associated with the equity component were recorded in paid-in-capital. Interest expense recognized on the Convertible Notes, including amortization of OID and deferred origination costs relating to the liability component, was $3,709 and $3,640 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $11,031 and $10,832 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	The following table shows the amounts recorded for the Convertible Notes as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
	(Amounts in Thousands)	September 30,				December 31,
		2014				2013
	Liability component
	Outstanding principal	$	200,000			$	200,000
	Unamortized OID	(33,357		)		(35,782		)
	Liability component	$	166,643			$	164,218
	Equity component, net of tax	$	27,092			$	27,092
	6.125% Notes due 2023
	In August 2013, the Company issued $250,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.125% notes due 2023 (the "Notes") to certain initial purchasers in a private placement. The Notes bear interest at a rate equal to 6.125% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on February 15th and August 15th of each year. The Notes will mature on August 15, 2023, unless earlier purchased by the Company. Deferred origination costs associated with the Notes were approximately $2,706. The indenture governing the Notes contains covenants whereby the interest rate will increase by 0.50% per year if the Company's consolidated leverage ratio exceeds 30% and does not exceed 35% and will increase an additional 1.00% per year (for an aggregate increase of 1.50% per year) if the consolidated leverage ratio exceeds 35%. It is an event of default if the Company has a consolidated leverage ratio in excess of 35% for a period of 30 days, unless in connection with an acquisition, in which case the grace period is 18 months. The consolidated leverage ratio under this agreement was less than 30% as of September 30, 2014. The indenture governing the Notes also contains certain customary covenants, such as reporting of annual and quarterly financial results, and restrictions on certain mergers and consolidations, a limitation on liens, and a limitation on the disposition of stock of certain of the Company's subsidiaries. The Notes rank equally with existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, including the Company's Convertible Notes and amounts under the Credit Agreement. Interest expense, including amortization of deferred origination costs, recognized on the Notes was approximately $3,896 and $1,948 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $11,690 and $1,948 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Junior Subordinated Debt
	The Company has established four special purpose trusts for the purpose of issuing trust preferred securities. The proceeds from such issuances, together with the proceeds of the related issuances of common securities of the trusts, were invested by the trusts in junior subordinated debentures issued by the Company. In accordance with FASB ASC 810-10-25, the Company does not consolidate such special purpose trusts, as the Company is not considered to be the primary beneficiary. The equity investment, totaling $3,714 as of September 30, 2014 on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, represents the Company’s ownership of common securities issued by the trusts. The debentures require interest-only payments to be made on a quarterly basis, with principal due at maturity. The debentures contain covenants that restrict declaration of dividends on the Company’s common stock under certain circumstances, including default of payment. The Company incurred $2,605 of placement fees in connection with these issuances which is being amortized over thirty years. The Company recorded $2,028 and $2,027 of interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $6,076 and $6,075 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, related to these trust preferred securities.
	The table below summarizes the Company’s trust preferred securities as of September 30, 2014:
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Preferred Securities				Aggregate Liquidation Amount of Common Securities		Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes		Stated Maturity of Notes	Per Annum Interest Rate % of Notes
	Name of Trust
	AmTrust Capital Financing Trust I		$	25,000			$	774	$	25,774	3/17/35	8.275	(1	)
	AmTrust Capital Financing Trust II		25,000				774		25,774		6/15/35	7.71	(1	)
	AmTrust Capital Financing Trust III		30,000				928		30,928		9/15/36	3.534	(2	)
	AmTrust Capital Financing Trust IV		40,000				1,238		41,238		3/15/37	3.234	(3	)
	Total trust preferred securities		$	120,000			$	3,714	$	123,714
	-1	The interest rate will change to three-month LIBOR plus 3.40% after the tenth anniversary in 2015.
	-2	The interest rate is LIBOR plus 3.30%.
	-3	The interest rate is LIBOR plus 3.00%.
	The Company entered into two interest rate swap agreements related to these junior subordinated debentures, which effectively convert the interest rate on the trust preferred securities from a variable rate to a fixed rate. Each agreement is for a period of five years and commenced on September 15, 2011 for tranche III and March 15, 2012 for tranche IV.
	Secured Loan Agreements
	The Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, has a seven-year secured loan agreement with Bank of America Leasing & Capital, LLC in the aggregate amount of $10,800 to finance the purchase of an aircraft. The loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.45%, requires monthly installment payments of approximately $117 through February 25, 2018, and a balloon payment of $3,240 at the maturity date. The Company recorded interest expense of approximately $80 and $92 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $251 and $290 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, related to this agreement. The loan is secured by the aircraft.
	The agreement contains certain covenants that are similar to the Company’s Credit Agreement. Additionally, subsequent to February 25, 2012, but prior to payment in full, if the outstanding balance of this loan exceeds 90% of the fair value of the aircraft, the Company is required to pay the lender the entire amount necessary to reduce the outstanding principal balance to be equal to or less than 90% of the fair value of the aircraft. The agreement allows the Company, under certain conditions, to repay the entire outstanding principal balance of this loan without penalty.
	On August 29, 2014, the Company entered into a five-year secured loan agreement with Key Equipment Finance in the aggregate amount of $30,500 to finance the purchase of an aircraft. The loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 2.27% per annum and requires monthly installment payments of approximately $538 through August 31, 2019. The Company recorded interest expense of approximately $58 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014. The loan is secured by the aircraft.
	Promissory Notes
	In September 2012, as part of its participation in the New Market Tax Credit Program discussed in Note 13. "New Market Tax Credit", the Company entered into two promissory notes totaling $8,000. The loans are for a period of 15 years and have an average interest rate of 1.7% per annum. The Company recorded approximately $1,430 of deferred origination costs associated with these promissory notes. The Company recorded interest expense of approximately $94 and $75 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $226 and $216 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, related to the promissory notes.
	The Company assumed two promissory notes totaling $6,500 as a result of acquiring Mutual Insurers Holding Company ("MIHC") in 2013. The principal of these notes is due in 2034 and 2035. The notes require the payment of interest on a quarterly basis and have an interest rate of 3.8% plus the three month LIBOR per annum, which was 4.1% as of September 30, 2014. The Company recorded interest expense of approximately $170 and $79 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $298 and $102 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, related to these notes.
	ING Credit Facility
On November 26, 2013, the Company (as “Guarantor”), and two of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, AmTrust International Insurance, Ltd. (the “Account Party”) and AmTrust Corporate Capital Limited, entered into a four-year, £200,000 credit facility agreement with ING Bank, N.V., London Branch, individually and as Agent and Security Trustee. The credit facility, which matures on December 31, 2017, is a letter of credit facility that is used to support the Company’s capacity at Lloyd’s as a member of Syndicates 2526, 1206 and 44 for the 2014 underwriting year of account, as well as prior open years of account. The credit facility contains customary covenants for facilities of this type, including restrictions on indebtedness and liens, limitations on mergers, transactions with affiliates and the sale of assets, and requirements to maintain certain consolidated net worth, statutory surplus, leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios.
The facility is secured by a pledge of a collateral account pursuant to a pledge and security agreement and a Deed of Charge dated November 26, 2013. At the outset, the collateral account is 50% funded. The collateral account will be required to be 100% funded upon the occurrence of certain specified events, including an event of default, the financial strength rating of the Account Party falling below A-, the forecast underwriting losses exceeding a certain level for any year supported by a letter of credit or any non-extension notice is given with respect to any letter of credit.
Fees payable by the Company under the credit facility include a letter of credit issuance fee, payable quarterly in arrears, on the secured portion of the letters of credit at the rate of 0.55% and on the unsecured portion of the letters of credit determined based on the Account Party’s then-current financial strength rating issued by A.M. Best. As of September 30, 2014, the applicable letter of credit fee rate on the unsecured portion was 1.15% based on the Account Party’s A.M. Best financial strength rating of “A”. The Company also pays a commitment fee of 0.35% per year on the aggregate unutilized and uncanceled amount of the facility.
As of September 30, 2014, the Company had outstanding letters of credit of £196,095 (or $317,243) in place under this credit facility. The aggregated unutilized amount of £3,905 (or $6,317) under the facility was canceled as of September 30, 2014. The Company recorded total interest expense of approximately $754 and $2,067 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, related to this credit facility.
Other Letters of Credit
The Company, through one of its subsidiaries, has a secured letter of credit facility with Comerica Bank. The Company utilizes this letter of credit facility to comply with the deposit requirements of the State of California and the U.S. Department of Labor as security for the Company’s obligations to workers’ compensation and Federal Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act policyholders. The credit limit is for $75,000, of which $48,467 was utilized as of September 30, 2014. The Company is required to pay a letter of credit participation fee for each letter of credit in the amount of 0.40%.
The Company, through certain subsidiaries, has additional existing stand-by letters of credit with various lenders in the amount of $20,965 as of September 30, 2014.

Acquisition_Costs_and_Other_Un

Acquisition Costs and Other Underwriting Expenses	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Acquisition Costs and Other Underwriting Expenses [Abstract]	'
Acquisition Costs and Other Underwriting Expenses	'
	Acquisition Costs and Other Underwriting Expenses
	The following table summarizes the components of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Amounts in Thousands)	2014		2013		2014		2013
	Policy acquisition expenses	$	122,331	$	64,363	$	332,219	$	155,566
	Salaries and benefits	92,621		66,796		262,150		177,907
	Other insurance general and administrative expenses	10,560		6,027		25,812		33,944
		$	225,512	$	137,186	$	620,181	$	367,417

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share	'
	Earnings Per Share
	Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted ASC subtopic 260-10, Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payments Transactions Are Participating Securities. ASC 260-10 provides that unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, are participating securities and are to be included in the computation of earnings per share under the two-class method. The Company’s unvested restricted shares contain rights to receive nonforfeitable dividends and are participating securities, requiring the two-class method of computing earnings per share.
	The following table is a summary of the elements used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Amounts in Thousands, except for earnings per share)	2014		2013		2014		2013
	Basic earnings per share:
	Net income attributable to AmTrust common shareholders	$	156,590	$	58,238	$	362,715	$	213,513
	Less: Net income allocated to participating securities and redeemable non-controlling interest	545		91		1,174		287
	Net income allocated to AmTrust common shareholders	$	156,045	$	58,147	$	361,541	$	213,226
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic	74,809		74,391		74,934		74,152
	Less: Weighted average participating shares outstanding	261		116		243		99
	Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	74,548		74,275		74,691		74,053
	Net income per AmTrust common share - basic	$	2.09	$	0.78	$	4.84	$	2.88
	Diluted earnings per share:
	Net income attributable to AmTrust common shareholders	$	156,590	$	58,238	$	362,715	$	213,513
	Less: Net income allocated to participating securities and redeemable non-controlling interest	545		91		1,174		287
	Net income allocated to AmTrust common shareholders	$	156,045	$	58,147	$	361,541	$	213,226
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic	74,548		74,275		74,691		74,053
	Plus: Dilutive effect of stock options, convertible debt, other	4,841		4,522		4,394		3,595
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – dilutive	79,389		78,797		79,085		77,648
	Net income per AmTrust common shares – diluted	$	1.97	$	0.74	$	4.57	$	2.75
	The Company repurchased 842,902 and 1,147,430 shares during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. The impact on basic and diluted earnings per share was approximately$0.01 for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and approximately $0.02 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
	As of September 30, 2014, there were approximately 5,000 anti-dilutive securities excluded from diluted earnings per share.

Share_Based_Compensation

Share Based Compensation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Share Based Compensation	'
	Share Based Compensation
	The Company’s 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which permits the Company to grant to its officers, employees and non-employee directors incentive compensation directly linked to the price of the Company’s stock, authorizes up to an aggregate of 7,315,068 shares of Company stock for awards of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSU”), performance share units (“PSU”) or appreciation rights. Shares used may be either newly issued shares or treasury shares or both. The aggregate number of shares of common stock for which awards may be issued may not exceed 7,315,068 shares, subject to the authority of the Company’s board of directors to adjust this amount in the event of a consolidation, reorganization, stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or similar transaction affecting the Company’s common stock. As of September 30, 2014, approximately 4,600,000 shares of Company common stock remained available for grants under the Plan.
	The Company recognizes compensation expense under FASB ASC 718-10-25 for its share-based payments based on the fair value of the awards. The Company grants stock options at prices equal to the closing stock price of the Company’s stock on the dates the options are granted. The options have a term of ten years from the date of grant and vest primarily in equal annual installments over the four year period following the date of grant for employee options. The Company uses the simplified method in determining the expected life. Employees have three months after the employment relationship ends to exercise all vested options. The fair value of each option grant is separately estimated for each vesting date. The fair value of each option is amortized into compensation expense on a straight-line basis between the grant date for the award and each vesting date. The Company has estimated the fair value of all stock option awards as of the date of the grant by applying the Black-Scholes-Merton multiple-option pricing valuation model. The application of this valuation model involves assumptions that are judgmental and highly sensitive in the determination of compensation expense. The Company grants restricted shares, RSUs and PSUs with a grant date value equal to the closing stock price of the Company’s stock on the dates the shares or units are granted and the restricted shares and RSUs vest over a period of two to four years, while PSUs vest based on terms of the awards.
	The Company paid a ten percent stock dividend on September 4, 2013. At the dividend date, all options outstanding were adjusted by ten percent and their respective exercise prices were reduced by ten percent, which ultimately resulted in each outstanding share having the same fair value immediately prior to and subsequent to the dividend date. Therefore, the Company did not record any additional compensation expense as a result of the stock dividend. The Company also adjusted outstanding RSUs, unvested restricted stock and PSUs, resulting in no additional compensation expense. The following information and tables below for stock options, restricted stock and RSUs have been adjusted retroactively in all periods presented.
	The following schedule shows all options granted, exercised, and expired under the Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
		2014				2013
				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Weighted Average Exercise Price
		Shares				Shares
	Outstanding at beginning of period	2,997,460		$	10.49	3,675,776		$	9.41
	Granted	27,500		32.49		78,001		29.78
	Exercised	(765,603	)	8.81		(573,437	)	7.29
	Canceled or terminated	(8,470	)	7.03		(6,776	)	8.28
	Outstanding at end of period	2,250,887		$	11.35	3,173,564		$	10.3
	The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was approximately $14.16 and $8.10, respectively.
	A summary of the Company’s restricted stock and RSU activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is shown below:
		2014				2013
				Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value				Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
		Shares or				Shares
		Units				or Units
	Non-vested at beginning of period	917,015		$	24.43	888,197		$	20.86
	Granted	883,323		38.94		284,681		30.94
	Vested	(321,353	)	22.57		(257,694	)	19.93
	Forfeited	(6,123	)	23.2		(581	)	29.31
	Non-vested at end of period	1,472,862		$	33.54	914,603		$	24.26
	The Company has 328,788 PSUs granted as of September 30, 2014. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, 347,875 PSUs were converted to restricted share awards based on achievements of certain targets. PSUs are conditional grants of a specified maximum number of common shares. In general, grants are earned, subject to the attainment of pre-specified performance goals at the end of the pre-determined period. The fair value of these PSUs on the date of the grants was $12,328.
	Compensation expense for all share-based payments under ASC 718-10-30 was approximately $5,250 and $3,139 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $13,911 and $7,920 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	The intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was $22,867 and $14,124, respectively. The intrinsic value of stock options that were outstanding as of September 30, 2014 and 2013 was $64,088 and $91,102, respectively.
	Cash received from options exercised was $4,981 and $5,429 during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The excess tax benefit from award exercises was approximately $4,721 and $3,805 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	The following table is a reconciliation of the Company’s statutory income tax expense to its effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Amounts in Thousands)	2014			2013			2014			2013
	Income before equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	$	145,160		$	81,642		$	373,972		$	270,941
	Tax at federal statutory rate of 35%	$	50,806		$	28,575		$	130,890		$	94,829
	Tax effects resulting from:
	Income (loss) of non-includible foreign subsidiaries	(30,604		)	6,615			(93,737		)	(23,506		)
	Other, net	(27,866		)	(11,310		)	593			(3,932		)
		$	(7,664	)	$	23,880		$	37,746		$	67,391
	Effective tax rate	(5.3		)%	29.2		%	10.1		%	24.9		%
	The Company's effective tax rate was positively impacted by approximately 12.4% and 6.9% during the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and by approximately 9.8% and 7.7% during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, due to a decrease in the deferred tax liability associated with the Company's equalization reserves for its Luxembourg reinsurers. Additionally, the decrease in the effective tax rate during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the same periods in 2013 was attributable to favorable return to provision adjustments in connection with the filing of the Company's 2013 federal income tax return. Without the impacts of the favorable return to provision adjustments and the decrease in deferred tax liability associated with the equalization reserves, the Company's effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 would have been approximately 26% and 27%, respectively.
	The Company’s management believes that it will realize the benefits of its deferred tax assets, which are included as a component of the Company’s net deferred tax liability, and, accordingly, no valuation allowance has been recorded for the periods presented. The earnings of certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries have been indefinitely reinvested in foreign operations. Therefore, no provision has been made for any U.S. taxes or foreign withholding taxes that may be applicable upon any repatriation or disposition. The determination of any unrecognized deferred tax liability for temporary differences related to investments in certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is not practicable. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the financial reporting basis in excess of the tax basis for which no deferred taxes have been recognized was approximately $479,900 and $360,000, respectively.
	The Company’s major taxing jurisdictions include the U.S. (federal and state), the United Kingdom and Ireland. The years subject to potential audit vary depending on the tax jurisdiction. Generally, the Company’s statute of limitation is open for tax years ended December 31, 2010 and forward. As permitted by FASB ASC 740-10, the Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in its income tax provision. The Company has not recorded any unrecognized tax benefits or any related interest and penalties at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Related_Party_Transactions

Related Party Transactions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Related Party Transactions	'
	Related Party Transactions
	Significant Transactions with Maiden Holdings, Ltd.
	The Company has various reinsurance and service agreements with Maiden Holdings, Ltd. (“Maiden”). Maiden is a publicly-held Bermuda insurance holding company (Nasdaq: MHLD) formed by Michael Karfunkel, George Karfunkel and Barry Zyskind, principal shareholders, and, respectively, the chairman of the board of directors, a director, and the chief executive officer and director of the Company. As of September 30, 2014, our principal shareholders, Michael Karfunkel, Leah Karfunkel (wife of Michael Karfunkel and sole trustee of the Michael Karfunkel 2005 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust), George Karfunkel and Barry Zyskind, own or control approximately 6.2%, 7.6%, 9.3% and 5.1%, respectively, of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Maiden. Mr. Zyskind serves as the non-executive chairman of the board of Maiden’s board of directors. Maiden Insurance Company, Ltd. (“Maiden Insurance”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Maiden, is a Bermuda reinsurer. The following section describes the agreements in place between the Company and its subsidiaries and Maiden and its subsidiaries.
	Reinsurance Agreements with Maiden Holdings, Ltd.
	In 2007, the Company and Maiden entered into a master agreement, as amended, by which the parties caused the Company’s Bermuda subsidiary, AmTrust International Insurance, Ltd. (“AII”) and Maiden Insurance to enter into a quota share reinsurance agreement (the “Maiden Quota Share”), as amended, by which AII retrocedes to Maiden Insurance an amount equal to 40% of the premium written by the Company’s U.S., Irish and U.K. insurance companies (the “AmTrust Ceding Insurers”), net of the cost of unaffiliated inuring reinsurance (and in the case of the Company’s U.K. insurance subsidiary, AmTrust Europe Ltd. ("AEL"), net of commissions) and 40% of losses excluding certain business that the Company commenced writing after the effective date, including the Company’s European medical liability business discussed below, business assumed from Tower Group International, Ltd. pursuant to the cut-through quota share reinsurance agreement, and risks, other than workers’ compensation risks and certain business written by the Company’s Irish subsidiary, AmTrust International Underwriters Limited (“AIU”), for which the AmTrust Ceding Insurers’ net retention exceeds $5,000 (“Covered Business”).
	On March 7, 2013, after receipt of approval from each of the Company’s and Maiden’s Audit Committee, the Company and Maiden executed an amendment to the Maiden Quota Share. The amendment provides that, effective January 1, 2013, AII receives a ceding commission of 31% of ceded written premiums with respect to all Covered Business other than retail commercial package business, for which the ceding commission remains 34.375%. With regards to the Specialty Program portion of Covered Business only, the Company will be responsible for ultimate net loss otherwise recoverable from Maiden Insurance to the extent that the loss ratio to Maiden Insurance, which shall be determined on an inception to date basis from July 1, 2007 through the date of calculation, is between 81.5% and 95% (the "Specialty Program Loss Corridor"). For the purpose of determining whether the loss ratio falls within the Specialty Program Loss Corridor, workers’ compensation business written in the Company’s Specialty Program segment from July 1, 2007 through December 31, 2012 is excluded from the loss ratio calculation.
	The Maiden Quota Share was renewed through July 1, 2016 and will automatically renew for successive three-year terms unless either AII or Maiden Insurance notifies the other of its election not to renew not less than nine months prior to the end of any such three-year term. In addition, either party is entitled to terminate on thirty days’ notice or less upon the occurrence of certain early termination events, which include a default in payment, insolvency, change in control of AII or Maiden Insurance, run-off, or a reduction of 50% or more of the shareholders’ equity of Maiden Insurance or the combined shareholders’ equity of AII and the AmTrust Ceding Insurers.
	Effective April 1, 2011, the Company, through its subsidiaries AEL and AIU, entered into a reinsurance agreement with Maiden Insurance by which the Company cedes to Maiden Insurance 40% of its European medical liability business, including business in force at April 1, 2011. The quota share had an initial term of one year and was renewed through March 31, 2015. The agreement can be terminated by either party on four months’ prior written notice. Maiden Insurance pays the Company a 5% ceding commission, and the Company will earn a profit commission of 50% of the amount by which the ceded loss ratio is lower than 65%.
	The following is the effect on the Company’s results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 related to Maiden Reinsurance agreements:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Amounts in Thousands)	2014			2013			2014			2013
	Results of operations:
	Premium written – ceded	$	(385,452	)	$	(240,564	)	$	(1,157,716	)	$	(829,402	)
	Change in unearned premium – ceded	25,474			8,206			169,632			117,362
	Earned premium - ceded	$	(359,978	)	$	(232,358	)	$	(988,084	)	$	(712,040	)
	Ceding commission on premium written	$	131,893		$	74,594		$	361,202		$	246,604
	Ceding commission – deferred	(22,353		)	(6,375		)	(72,311		)	(47,270		)
	Ceding commission – earned	$	109,540		$	68,219		$	288,891		$	199,334
	Incurred loss and loss adjustment expense – ceded	$	229,045		$	164,164		$	666,026		$	494,433
	Note Payable to Maiden – Collateral for Proportionate Share of Reinsurance Obligations
	In conjunction with the Maiden Quota Share, as described above, AII entered into a loan agreement with Maiden Insurance during the fourth quarter of 2007, whereby Maiden Insurance loaned to AII the amount equal to its quota share of the obligations of the AmTrust Ceding Insurers that AII was then obligated to secure. The loan agreement provides for interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 90 basis points and is payable on a quarterly basis. Advances under the loan are secured by a promissory note and totaled $167,975 as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The Company recorded $453 and $1,344 of interest expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and $467 and $1,397 of interest expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. Effective December 1, 2008, AII and Maiden Insurance entered into a Reinsurer Trust Assets Collateral agreement whereby Maiden Insurance is required to provide AII the assets required to secure Maiden’s proportional share of the Company’s obligations to its U.S. subsidiaries. The amount of this collateral as of September 30, 2014 was approximately $1,581,728. Maiden retains ownership of the collateral in the trust account.
	Reinsurance Brokerage Agreement
	Effective July 1, 2007, the Company, through a subsidiary, entered into a reinsurance brokerage agreement with Maiden. Pursuant to the brokerage agreement, the Company provides brokerage services relating to the Maiden Quota Share for a fee equal to 1.25% of reinsured premium. The Company recorded $4,814 and $14,484 of brokerage commission during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and $3,002 and $13,444 of brokerage commission during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. The brokerage commission was recorded as a component of service and fee income.
	Asset Management Agreement
	Effective July 1, 2007, a subsidiary of the Company entered into an asset management agreement with Maiden Insurance, pursuant to which the Company's subsidiary provides asset management services to Maiden Insurance and certain of its affiliates. As of September 30, 2014, the Company managed approximately $3,577,834 of assets related to this agreement. The asset management services fee is an annual rate of 0.20% for periods in which average invested assets are $1,000,000 or less and an annual rate of 0.15% for periods in which the average invested assets exceeds $1,000,000. As a result of this agreement, the Company recorded $1,325 and $3,814 of asset management fees during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and $1,080 and $3,182 of asset management fees during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. The asset management fees were recorded as a component of service and fee income.
	Significant Transactions with National General Holding Corp.
	The Company has a 13.2% ownership interest in National General Holdings Corp. (“NGHC”). NGHC is a publicly-held insurance holding company (Nasdaq: NGHC) that operates fifteen insurance companies in the United States and writes consumer property and casualty insurance business through independent agents for automobiles. Its coverages include standard/preferred auto, RVs, non-standard auto and commercial auto. NGHC's two largest shareholders are the Michael Karfunkel 2005 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (the “Trust”) and Michael Karfunkel individually. Michael Karfunkel is the chairman of the board of directors of the Company and the father-in-law of Barry D. Zyskind, the chief executive officer of the Company. The ultimate beneficiaries of the Trust include Michael Karfunkel’s children, one of whom is married to Mr. Zyskind. In addition, Michael Karfunkel is the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Offer of NGHC. In accordance with ASC 323-10-15, Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures, the Company accounts for its investment in NGHC under the equity method as it has the ability to exert significant influence on NGHC's operations.
	In February 2014, NGHC issued approximately 13,600,000 shares in a follow on Rule 144A offering, which resulted in the Company reducing its ownership percentage in NGHC from 15.4% to 13.2%. As a result of the stock issuance, the Company recognized a gain on sale of its equity investment of $14,712, which is included in equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary. In total, the Company recorded $4,332 and $26,847 of income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and $1,927 and $10,537 of income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, related to its equity investment in NGHC.
	Master Services Agreement
	The Company provides NGHC and its affiliates information technology development services in connection with the development and licensing of a policy management system at a cost which is currently 1.25% of gross written premium of NGHC and its affiliates plus the Company’s costs for development and support services. In addition, the Company provides NGHC and its affiliates printing and mailing services at a per piece cost for policy and policy related materials, such as invoices, quotes, notices and endorsements, associated with the policies the Company processes for NGHC and its affiliates on the policy management system. The Company recorded approximately $6,140 and $19,203 of fee income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and $7,103 and $18,475 of fee income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, related to this agreement. Additionally, the Company provided certain consulting services to NGHC related to Luxembourg-domiciled reinsurance entities, for which the Company received $1,057 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The fees for these services were recorded as a component of service and fee income.
	Asset Management Agreement
	A subsidiary of the Company manages the assets of NGHC and certain of its subsidiaries, including the assets of reciprocal insurers managed by subsidiaries of NGHC, for an annual fee equal to 0.20% of the average aggregate value of the assets under management for the preceding quarter if the average aggregate value for the preceding quarter is $1,000,000 or less and 0.15% of the average aggregate value of the assets under management for the preceding quarter if the average aggregate value for that quarter is more than $1,000,000. The Company managed approximately $1,433,780 of assets as of September 30, 2014 related to this agreement. As a result of this agreement, the Company earned approximately $564 and $1,454 of asset management fees during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and $440 and $1,293 of asset management fees during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. The asset management fees were recorded as a component of service and fee income.
	As a result of the above service agreements with NGHC, the Company recorded fees totaling approximately $6,704 and $20,657 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and $7,543 and $19,768 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. As of September 30, 2014, the outstanding balance payable by NGHC related to these service fees and reimbursable costs was approximately $14,346.
	800 Superior
	In 2011, the Company formed 800 Superior, LLC with a subsidiary of NGHC for the purposes of acquiring an office building in Cleveland, Ohio. The Company and NGHC each have a fifty percent ownership interest in 800 Superior, LLC. The cost of the building was approximately $7,500. The Company has been appointed managing member of the LLC. Additionally, in conjunction with the Company’s 13.2% ownership percentage of NGHC, the Company ultimately receives 57.7% of the profits and losses of the LLC. As such, in accordance with ASC 810-10, Consolidation, the Company has been deemed the primary beneficiary and, therefore, consolidates this entity.
	In 2012, NGHC entered into an office lease with 800 Superior, LLC for approximately 134,000 square feet. The lease period is for fifteen years. NGHC paid 800 Superior, LLC approximately $560 and $1,495 of rent during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and $627 and $1,698 of rent during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, under this lease. As discussed in Note 13. "New Market Tax Credit," 800 Superior, LLC, the Company and NGHC participated in a financing transaction related to capital improvements on the office building. As part of that transaction, NGHC and the Company entered into an agreement related to the payment and performance guaranties provided by the Company to the various parties to the financing transaction whereby NGHC has agreed to contribute 50% toward any payments the Company is required to make pursuant to the guaranties.
	Sale of Personal Express Insurance Company
	In April 2014, the Company completed the sale of Personal Express Insurance Company (“PEIC”), a California-domiciled property and casualty insurance carrier that offers retail personal lines insurance products in California, and its captive insurance agency Personal Express Insurance Services, Inc. (“PEIS” and, together with PEIC, the “Personal Express Companies”) to Integon National Insurance Company ("Integon"), a subsidiary of NGHC, for approximately $21,743. As a result of the the sale, the Company recorded a gain on sale of approximately $6,631. The Personal Express Companies were wholly-owned subsidiaries of Sequoia Insurance Company, which is one of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries.
	Personal Lines Quota Share
	The Company was a party to a quota share reinsurance agreement (“Personal Lines Quota Share”) with Integon. On August 1, 2013, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Technology Insurance Company, Inc. (“TIC”), received a termination notice related to TIC's participation in the Personal Lines Quota Share effective August 1, 2013. The termination was on a run-off basis, meaning the Company is involved with the continuing cash flows associated with this business with respect to policies in force as of July 31, 2013. As such, the Personal Lines Reinsurance segment, which contains the results of operations from the Personal Lines Quota Share, is not presented as a discontinued operation in accordance with ASC 205-20, Discontinued Operations. The overall results of the Personal Lines Reinsurance segment were immaterial for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.
	Significant Transactions with ACP Re, Ltd.
	ACP Re, Ltd. (“ACP Re”) is a privately-held Bermuda reinsurance holding company formed by Michael Karfunkel, the chairman of the board of the Company. ACP Re operates 10 insurance companies in the United States and Bermuda as a result of its merger with Tower Group International, Ltd. ("Tower") during the third quarter of 2014. The following section describes the agreements in place between the Company and its subsidiaries and ACP Re and its subsidiaries.
	Asset Management Agreement
	A subsidiary of the Company provides asset management services to ACP Re and certain of its subsidiaries at (i) an annual rate of 0.20% of the average value of the invested assets under management, excluding investment in AmTrust stock, for the preceding calendar quarter if the average value of such assets for the quarter was $1,000,000 or less, or (ii) an annual rate of 0.15% of the average value of the invested assets under management, excluding investment in AmTrust stock, for the preceding calendar quarter if the average value of such assets for the quarter was greater than $1,000,000. The Company managed approximately $43,741 of assets as of September 30, 2014, which included assets of the ten statutory insurance companies that ACP Re acquired as a result of its September 15, 2014 merger with Tower described below. The Company recorded approximately $66 and $182 of asset management fees during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and $63 and $173 of asset management fees during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. The asset management fees were recorded as a component of service and fee income.
	Agreements as a result of ACP Re / Tower Merger
	In January 2014, ACP Re, through a subsidiary, agreed to acquire 100% of the outstanding stock of Tower and merge with Tower on September 15, 2014 (the “Merger”). As a result of the Merger, the Company and ACP Re entered into the agreements and transactions described below, as well as an asset management agreement described above.
	Commercial Lines Master Agreement
	On July 23, 2014, the Company and ACP Re entered into the Amended and Restated Commercial Lines Master Agreement (the “Master Agreement”), which provides for the implementation of the various transactions associated with the acquisition of Tower by ACP Re pursuant to the Merger, including entering into the agreements described below, all of which became effective on September 15, 2014. In addition, the Master Agreement requires the Company to pay ACP Re contingent consideration in the form of a three year earn-out (the “Contingent Payments”), payable semi-annually on the last day of January and July, of 3% of gross written premium of the Tower commercial lines business written or assumed by the Company following the Merger. The Contingent Payments to be made by the Company are subject to a maximum of $30,000, in the aggregate, over the three-year period. NGHC will pay contingent consideration to ACP Re on the same terms. As a result of entering into this agreement, the Company initially assigned a value of $25,200 to the renewal rights,$1,700 to goodwill, and $26,900 to the contingent consideration, which is recorded as a component of accrued expense and other liability.
	Commercial Lines Reinsurance Agreements
	TIC entered into the Commercial Lines Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement (the “CL Reinsurance Agreement”) with Tower’s ten statutory insurance companies (the “Tower Companies”) pursuant to which TIC will reinsure 100% of all losses under the Tower Companies’ new and renewal commercial lines business written after September 15, 2014. The ceding commission payable by TIC under the CL Reinsurance Agreement is equal to the sum of (i) reimbursement of the Tower Companies’ acquisition costs in respect of the business covered, including commission payable to AmTrust North America, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company (“ANA”), pursuant to the CL MGA Agreement described below, and premium taxes and (ii) 2% of gross written premium (net of cancellations and return premiums) collected pursuant to the CL MGA Agreement described below. The CL Reinsurance Agreement will remain in effect until termination of the CL MGA Agreement The assumption of premium under the CL Reinsurance Agreement during the three months ended September 30, 2014 was immaterial.
	In connection with the execution of the CL Reinsurance Agreement, the Commercial Lines Cut-Through Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement, dated January 3, 2014, between TIC and the Tower Companies whereby TIC, through a 100% quota share, reinsured at least 60% of the Tower Companies’ then in-force commercial lines policies and most new and renewal commercial lines business from January 3, 2014 forward, was terminated on a run-off basis, with the reinsurance of all policies reinsured under that agreement remaining in effect. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, TIC assumed $68,312 and $475,038 of premium, respectively, under the Cut-Through Reinsurance Agreement. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company had earned premium of approximately $104,250 and $300,288, respectively, and incurred approximately $72,586 and $198,050 of loss and loss adjustment expense, respectively, related to the Cut-Through Reinsurance Agreement. Additionally, the Company incurred approximately $26,302 and $71,712 of commission expense, respectively, and approximately $4,384 and $12,444 of unallocated claims expense as part of the agreement during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.
	Commercial Lines MGA Agreement
	ANA will produce and manage all new and renewal commercial lines business written by the Tower Companies pursuant to the Commercial Lines Managing General Agency Agreement (the “CL MGA Agreement”). As described above, all post-September 15, 2014 commercial lines business written by the Tower Companies will be reinsured by TIC pursuant to the CL Reinsurance Agreement. The Tower Companies will pay ANA a 10% commission on all business written pursuant to the CL MGA Agreement and reimburse ANA for commissions payable to agents producing such business. All payments by the Tower Companies to ANA pursuant to the CL MGA Agreement will be netted out of the ceding commission payable by TIC to the Tower Companies pursuant to the CL Reinsurance Agreement. The CL MGA Agreement has a term of ten years. The impact of the CL MGA Agreement on the Company during the three months ended September 30, 2014 was immaterial.
	Commercial Lines Administrative Services Agreement
	ANA, the Tower Companies and CastlePoint Reinsurance Company, Ltd. (“CP Re”, a subsidiary of ACP Re) entered into the Commercial Lines LPTA Administrative Services Agreement (the “CL Administrative Agreement”) pursuant to which ANA will administer the runoff of CP Re’s and the Tower Companies’ commercial lines business written prior to September 15, 2014 at cost. CP Re and the Tower Companies will reimburse ANA for its actual costs, including costs incurred in connection with claims operations, out-of-pocket expenses, costs incurred in connection with any required modifications to ANA’s claims systems and an allocated portion of the claims service expenses paid by TIC to the Tower Companies pursuant to the CL Reinsurance Agreement. The CL Administrative Agreement will remain in effect until the first to occur of (i) the completed performance of all obligations and duties arising under the agreement, or (ii) mutual written consent. The Company did not receive any reimbursement as a result of the CL Administrative Agreement during the three months ended September 30, 2014.
	Stop-Loss and Retrocession Agreements
	AII and National General Re, Ltd., a subsidiary of NGHC (“NG Re Ltd.”), as reinsurers, entered into a $250,000 Aggregate Stop Loss Reinsurance Agreement (the “Stop-Loss Agreement”) with CP Re. AII and NG Re Ltd. also entered into an Aggregate Stop Loss Retrocession Contract (the “Retrocession Agreement”) with ACP Re pursuant to which ACP Re will reinsure the full amount of any payments that AII and NG Re Ltd. are obligated to make to CP Re under the Stop-Loss Agreement. Pursuant to the Stop-Loss Agreement, each of the Company and NGHC will provide, severally, $125 million of stop loss coverage with respect to the run-off of the Tower business written on or before September 15, 2014. The reinsurers’ obligation to indemnify CP Re under the Stop-Loss Agreement will be triggered only at such time as CP Re’s ultimate net loss related to the run-off of the pre-September 15, 2014 Tower business exceeds a retention equal to the Tower Companies’ loss and loss adjustment reserves and unearned premium reserves as of September 15, 2014. CP Re will pay AII and NG Re Ltd. total premium of $56,000 on the five-year anniversary of the Stop-Loss Agreement. The premium payable by AII and NG Re Ltd. to ACP Re pursuant to the Retrocession Agreement will be $56,000 in the aggregate, less a ceding commission of 5.5% to be retained by AII and NG Re Ltd.
	Credit Agreement
	The Company, AII, and NG Re Ltd. entered into a credit agreement (the “ACP Re Credit Agreement”) among the Company, as Administrative Agent, ACP Re and Tower, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACP Re, as the borrowers (collectively, the “Borrowers”), ACP Re Holdings, LLC, as Guarantor, and AII and NG Re Ltd., as Lenders pursuant to which the Lenders made a $250,000 loan ($125,000 made by each Lender) to the Borrowers. ACP Re used the proceeds of such loan to (i) finance the Merger, (ii) repay certain indebtedness of Tower and its related companies in connection with the Merger, and (iii) pay certain transaction costs and expenses incurred by the Borrowers in connection with the Merger.
	The ACP Re Credit Agreement has a maturity date of September 15, 2021. Outstanding borrowings under the ACP Re Credit Agreement will bear interest at a fixed annual rate of 7%, payable semi-annually on the last day of January and July. Fees payable to the Company for its service as Administrative Agent include an annual fee equal to $30, plus reimbursement of costs, expenses and certain other charges. The obligations of the Borrowers are secured by (i) a first-priority pledge of 100% of the stock of ACP Re and ACP Re’s U.S. subsidiaries and 65% of the stock of certain of ACP Re’s foreign subsidiaries, and (ii) a first-priority lien on all of the assets of the Borrowers and Guarantor and certain of the assets of ACP Re’s subsidiaries (other than the Tower Companies).
	The Borrowers have the right to prepay the amounts borrowed, in whole or in part. The Borrowers are required to prepay the amounts borrowed within thirty (30) days from the receipt of net cash proceeds received by ACP Re from (i) certain asset sales, (ii) the disposition of certain equity interests, (iii) the issuance or incurrence of certain debt, (iv) any dividend or distribution from Tower subsidiaries to ACP Re, (v) premiums and other payments received pursuant to the Retrocession Agreement, and (vi) any tax refunds, pension plan reversions, insurance proceeds, indemnity payments, purchase price adjustments (excluding working capital adjustments) under acquisition agreements, litigation proceeds and other similar receipts received by the Borrowers after the effective date of the ACP Re Credit Agreement, unless any of the foregoing proceeds (other than payments received pursuant to the Retrocession Agreement) are required for the ordinary course business operations of the Borrowers. The Borrowers are also required to deposit any excess cash flow (including payments under the Master Agreement) into a reserve account that also secures Borrowers’ obligations under the ACP Re Credit Agreement. Any funds in the reserve account after January 1, 2018 that exceed the amount of interest payable by the Borrowers for the remainder of the term of the ACP Re Credit Agreement must be applied by the Borrowers as a prepayment of principal under the ACP Re Credit Agreement.
	The ACP Re Credit Agreement contains certain customary restrictive covenants (subject to negotiated exceptions and baskets), including restrictions on indebtedness, liens, acquisitions and investments, dispositions, creation of subsidiaries and restricted payments. There are also financial covenants that require ACP Re to maintain minimum current assets, a maximum leverage ratio, and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. If ACP Re fails to comply with the leverage ratio or fixed charge coverage ratio covenants as of any measurement date, the Borrowers may cure such breach by making a capital contribution to ACP Re sufficient to bring the Borrowers into compliance.
	The ACP Re Credit Agreement also provides for customary events of default, with grace periods where appropriate, including failure to pay principal when due, failure to pay interest or fees within three business days after becoming due, failure to comply with covenants, breaches of representations and warranties, default under certain other indebtedness, certain insolvency, receivership or insurance regulatory events affecting the Borrowers, the occurrence of certain material judgments, certain amounts of reportable ERISA or foreign pension plan noncompliance events, a change in control of the Guarantor, any security interest created under the ACP Re Credit Agreement ceases to be in full force and effect, or if ACP Re defaults on its obligations under the Retrocession Agreement. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an event of default, the Company, as Administrative Agent, upon the request of any Lender, will declare the Borrowers’ obligations under the ACP Re Credit Agreement immediately due and payable and/or exercise any and all remedies and other rights under the ACP Re Credit Agreement.
As of September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $125,365 of loan and related interest receivable as a component of other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company recorded total interest income of approximately $365 for the three months ended September 30, 2014, under the ACP Re Credit Agreement.
Other Related Party Transactions
Lease Agreements
The Company has an office lease for its office space at 59 Maiden Lane in New York, New York from 59 Maiden Lane Associates, LLC, an entity that is wholly-owned by Michael Karfunkel and George Karfunkel. The Company currently leases 39,992 square feet of office space and the lease term is through May 2023. The Company paid approximately $490 and $1,410 of rent during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and $182 and $546 of rent during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, for the leased office space.
In November 2012, the Company entered into an agreement for its office space in Chicago, Illinois. The lease is with 135 LaSalle Property, LLC, an entity that is wholly-owned by entities controlled by Michael Karfunkel and George Karfunkel. The Company leases 15,765 square feet of office space and the lease term is through November 30, 2022. The Company paid approximately $74 and $259 of rent during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and $113 and $366 of rent during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, for the leased office space.
Use of the Company Aircraft
The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, AmTrust Underwriters, Inc. (“AUI”), is a party to an aircraft time share agreement with each of Maiden and NGHC. The agreements provide for payment to AUI for usage of its company-owned aircraft and covers actual expenses incurred and permissible under federal aviation regulations, including travel and lodging expenses of the crew, in-flight catering, flight planning and weather contract services, ground transportation, fuel, landing and hanger fees, and airport taxes, among others. AUI does not charge Maiden or NGHC for the fixed costs that would be incurred in any event to operate the aircraft (for example, aircraft purchase costs, insurance and flight crew salaries). The amount that each of Maiden and NGHC paid for the use of AUI's aircraft under these agreements was not material either individually or in aggregate during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, and 2013, respectively.
In addition, for personal travel, Mr. Zyskind, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Michael Karfunkel, the Chairman of the Board, each entered into an aircraft reimbursement agreement with AUI and, since entering into such agreement, have fully reimbursed AUI for the incremental cost billed by AUI for their personal use of AUI’s aircraft. The amount that each of Mr. Zyskind and Mr. Karfunkel reimbursed the Company for his personal use of AUI's aircraft under his respective agreement was not material either individually or in aggregate during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, and 2013, respectively.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Acquisitions	'
	Acquisitions
	The Insco Dico Group
	On January 3, 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of Insco Insurance Services, Inc. ("Insco Dico") and its subsidiaries for a purchase price of approximately $88,700. The transaction was funded with the Company's existing working capital. Insco Dico's subsidiaries include Developers Surety and Indemnity Company and Indemnity Company of California, which offer surety insurance to developers and contractors in all 50 states with California as the largest state. In addition, Insco Dico's subsidiary, Builders Insurance Services, markets general liability insurance policies to contractors in several states in the western region of the U.S.
	A summary of the preliminary assets acquired and liabilities assumed for Insco Dico are as follows:
	(Amounts in Thousands)
	Assets
		Cash and investments	$	130,031
		Premium receivables	8,684
		Reinsurance recoverable	5,799
		Deferred tax asset	3,845
		Other assets	2,114
		Property and equipment	1,190
		Goodwill and intangible assets	16,494
	Total assets		$	168,157
	Liabilities
		Unearned premiums	$	25,715
		Loss and loss expense reserves	25,210
		Accrued liabilities	10,210
		Notes payable	10,000
		Funds held for policyholders	5,864
		Deferred tax liability	2,458
	Total liabilities		$	79,457
	Cash paid		$	88,700
	The goodwill and intangible assets, as well as Insco Dico's results of operations, are included as a component of the Small Commercial Business segment. The identifiable intangible assets consist of agency relationships, which have a 20 year life, and licenses that have an indefinite life. The Company is in the process of completing its acquisition accounting and expects to have it completed in 2014.
	As a result of this transaction, the Company recorded approximately $13,206 and $41,971 of written premium during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, related to Insco Dico. Additionally, the Company recorded approximately $1,767 and $2,346 of fee income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, related to Insco Dico.
	Sagicor Europe Limited
	On December 23, 2013, the Company, through one of its subsidiaries, completed the acquisition of Sagicor Europe Limited and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Sagicor at Lloyd's Limited ("Sagicor"), from Sagicor Financial Corporation for approximately $93,113. Sagicor Europe Limited and Sagicor at Lloyd's Limited subsequently changed their names to AmTrust Lloyd's Holdings Limited and AmTrust at Lloyd's Limited, respectively. AmTrust at Lloyd's Limited is a managing agency and owner of Lloyd's property/casualty insurance syndicate 1206 with stamp capacity of $330,000 and Lloyd's life insurance syndicate 44 with stamp capacity of $16,500.
	A summary of the preliminary assets acquired and liabilities assumed for AmTrust Lloyd's Holdings Limited are as follows:
	(Amounts in Thousands)
	Assets
		Cash and investments	$	429,476
		Prepaid insurance	122,673
		Premium receivables	89,801
		Other receivable	54,479
		Deferred tax asset	29,916
		Other assets	10,502
		Property and equipment	5,010
		Goodwill and intangible assets	33,539
	Total assets		$	775,396
	Liabilities
		Loss and loss expense reserves	$	496,836
		Unearned premium	113,182
		Accrued expense and other liabilities	55,950
		Ceded reinsurance	16,315
	Total liabilities		$	682,283
	Cash paid		$	93,113
	The goodwill and intangible assets, as well as AmTrust Lloyd's Holdings Limited's results of operations, are included as a component of the Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty segment. The Company is in the process of completing its acquisition accounting and expects to have it completed in 2014.
	As a result of this transaction, the Company recorded approximately $74,920 and $242,519 of written premium during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, related to Sagicor.

New_Market_Tax_Credit

New Market Tax Credit	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
New Market Tax Credit [Abstract]	'
New Market Tax Credit	'
	New Market Tax Credit
	In 2012, the Company's subsidiary, 800 Superior, LLC (an entity owned equally by the Company and NGHC) received $19,400 in net proceeds from a financing transaction the Company and NGHC entered into with Key Community Development Corporation (“KCDC”) related to a capital improvement project for an office building in Cleveland, Ohio owned by 800 Superior, LLC. The Company, NGHC and KCDC collectively made capital contributions (net of allocation fees) and loans to 800 Superior NMTC Investment Fund II LLC and 800 Superior NMTC Investment Fund I LLC (collectively, the “Investment Funds”) under a qualified New Markets Tax Credit (“NMTC”) program. The NMTC program was provided for in the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000 (the “Act”) and is intended to induce capital investment in qualified lower income communities. The Act permits taxpayers to claim credits against their federal income taxes for up to 39% of qualified investments in the equity of community development entities (“CDEs”). CDEs are privately managed investment institutions that are certified to make qualified low-income community investments (“QLICIs”).
	In addition to the capital contributions and loans from the Company, NGHC and KCDC, as part of the transaction, the Investment Funds received, directly and indirectly, proceeds of approximately $8,000 from two loans originating from state and local governments of Ohio. These loans are each for a period of 15 years and have an average interest rate of 1.7% per annum.
	The Investment Funds then contributed the loan proceeds and capital contributions of $19,400 to two CDEs, which, in turn, loaned the funds on similar terms to 800 Superior, LLC. The proceeds of the loans from the CDEs (including loans representing the capital contribution made by KCDC, net of allocation fees) will be used to fund the capital improvement project. As collateral for these loans, the Company has granted a security interest in the assets acquired with the loan proceeds.
	The Company and NGHC are each entitled to receive an equal portion of 49% of the benefits derived from the NMTCs generated by 800 Superior Investment Fund II LLC, while KCDC is entitled to the remaining 51%. The NMTC is subject to 100% recapture for a period of 7 years as provided in the Internal Revenue Code. During this seven-year compliance period, the entities involved are required to be in compliance with various regulations and contractual provisions that apply to the NMTC arrangement. Non-compliance with applicable requirements could result in the projected tax benefits not being realized and, therefore, could require the Company to indemnify KCDC for any loss or recapture of NMTCs related to the financing until such time as the obligation to deliver tax benefits is relieved. The Company does not anticipate any credit recaptures will be required in connection with this arrangement. In addition, this transaction includes a put/call provision whereby the Company may be obligated or entitled to repurchase KCDC's interest in the Investment Funds in September 2019 at the end of the recapture period. The Company believes that KCDC will exercise its put option and, therefore, attributed an insignificant value to the put/call.
	The Company has determined that the Investment Funds are variable interest entities (“VIEs”). The ongoing activities of the Investment Funds - collecting and remitting interest and fees and NMTC compliance - were all considered in the initial design and are not expected to significantly affect economic performance throughout the life of the Investment Funds. When determining whether to consolidate the Investment Funds, Company management considered the contractual arrangements that obligate it to deliver tax benefits and provide various other guarantees to the structure, KCDC's lack of a material interest in the underlying economics of the project, and the fact that the Company is obligated to absorb losses of the Investment Funds. Also, the Company has a 13.2% ownership in NGHC. The Company concluded that it was the primary beneficiary and consolidated the Investment Funds, as VIEs, in accordance with the accounting standard for consolidation. KCDC's contribution, net of syndication fees, is included as accrued liability in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. Direct costs incurred in structuring the financing arrangement are deferred and will be recognized as expense over the term of the loans. Incremental costs to maintain the structure during the compliance period are recognized as incurred.

Shareholder_Equity_and_Accumul

Shareholder Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Shareholder Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	Stockholder Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Preferred Stock Issuances
	On July 1, 2014, the Company completed a public offering of 4,000,000 of its depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of its 7.25% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B, $0.01 par value per share (the "Series B Preferred Stock"), with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share). Each depositary share entitles the holder to a proportional fractional interest in all rights and preferences of the Series B Preferred Stock represented thereby (including any dividend, liquidation, redemption and voting rights). Dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares will be payable on the liquidation preference amount, on a non-cumulative basis, when, as and if declared by the Company’s board of directors, at a rate of 7.25% per annum, quarterly in arrears, on March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each year, beginning on September 15, 2014, from and including the date of original issuance. The Series B Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares is not redeemable prior to July 1, 2019. After that date, the Company may redeem at its option, in whole or in part, the Series B Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares at a redemption price of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share) plus any declared and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods and accrued but unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) for the then current dividend period. On July 10, 2014, the underwriters exercised, in part, their over-allotment option with respect to 200,000 additional depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of Series B Preferred Stock, on the same terms and conditions as the original issuance. A total of 4,200,000 depositary shares (equivalent to 105,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock) were issued. Net proceeds from this offering, including the over-allotment, were $101,702. In addition, the Company incurred $3,614 in underwriting discount and commissions and expenses, which were recognized as a reduction to additional paid-in capital.
	On September 16, 2014, the Company completed a public offering of 3,200,000 of its depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of its 7.625% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C, $0.01 par value per share (the "Series C Preferred Stock"), with a liquidation preference of 1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share). Each depositary share entitles the holder to a proportional fractional interest in all rights and preferences of the Series C Preferred Stock represented thereby (including any dividend, liquidation, redemption and voting rights). Dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares will be payable on the liquidation preference amount, on a non-cumulative basis, when, as and if declared by the Company’s board of directors, at a rate of 7.625% per annum, quarterly in arrears, on March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2014, from and including the date of original issuance. The Series C Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares is not redeemable prior to September 16, 2019. After that date, the Company may redeem at its option, in whole or in part, the Series C Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares at a redemption price of 1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share) plus any declared and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods and accrued but unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) for the then current dividend period. Net proceeds from this offering were $77,480. In addition, the Company incurred $2,745 in underwriting discount and commissions and expenses, which were recognized as a reduction to additional paid-in capital.
	Stockholders' Equity
	The following table summarizes the ownership components of total stockholders' equity:
			2014												2013
	(Amounts in Thousands)		AmTrust				Non-Controlling Interest				Total				AmTrust			Non-Controlling Interest			Total
	Balance, December 31,		$	1,441,005			$	137,860			$	1,578,865			$	1,144,121		$	103,344		$	1,247,465
	Net income (loss)		370,102				(7,029		)		363,073				215,561			(1,474		)	214,087
	Unrealized holding gain (loss)		85,726				—				85,726				(72,193		)	—			(72,193		)
	Reclassification adjustment		(3,370		)		—				(3,370		)		3,839			—			3,839
	Foreign currency translation		(5,289		)		(271		)		(5,560		)		(4,739		)	—			(4,739		)
	Unrealized gain on interest rate swap		581				—				581				862			—			862
	Share exercises, compensation and other		18,892				—				18,892				13,349			—			13,349
	Common share dividends		(45,147		)		—				(45,147		)		(29,337		)	—			(29,337		)
	Preferred stock issuance, net of fees		178,641				—				178,641				111,130			—			111,130
	Preferred stock dividends		(7,387		)		—				(7,387		)		(2,048		)	—			(2,048		)
	Common share (repurchase) issuance		(44,564		)		—				(44,564		)		472			—			472
	Capital contribution		—				24,013				24,013				—			16,108			16,108
	Balance, September 30,		$	1,989,190			$	154,573			$	2,143,763			$	1,381,017		$	117,978		$	1,498,995
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	The following table summarizes the activities and components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
	(Amounts in Thousands)	Foreign Currency Items			Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments			Interest Rate Swap Hedge			Net Benefit Plan Assets and Obligations Recognized in Stockholders' Equity			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	2,582		$	(7,023	)	$	(1,985	)	$	(1,738	)	$	(8,164	)
	Other comprehensive income before reclassification	(8,137		)	118,107			894			—			110,864
	Amounts reclassed from accumulated other comprehensive income	—			(5,185		)	—			—			(5,185		)
	Income tax expense	2,848			(30,566		)	(313		)	—			(28,031		)
	Net current-period other comprehensive income	(5,289		)	82,356			581			—			77,648
	Balance, September 30, 2014	$	(2,707	)	$	75,333		$	(1,404	)	$	(1,738	)	$	69,484
	Balance December 31, 2012	$	(10,361	)	$	77,605		$	(3,013	)	$	—		$	64,231
	Other comprehensive income before reclassification	(7,291		)	(111,066		)	1,326			—			(117,031		)
	Amounts reclassed from accumulated other comprehensive income	—			5,906			—			—			5,906
	Income tax benefit (expense)	2,552			36,806			(464		)				38,894
	Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	(4,739		)	(68,354		)	862			—			(72,231		)
	Balance, September 30, 2013	$	(15,100	)	$	9,251		$	(2,151	)	$	—		$	(8,000	)

Contingent_Liabilities

Contingent Liabilities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Contingent Liabilities	'
	Contingent Liabilities
	Litigation
	From time to time, the Company is subject to routine legal proceedings, including arbitrations, arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are named as defendants in various legal actions arising principally from claims made under insurance policies and contracts. Those actions are considered by the Company in estimating the loss and LAE reserves. The Company’s management believes the resolution of those actions will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Segments

Segments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Segments	'
	Segments
	The Company currently operates three business segments, Small Commercial Business; Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty and Specialty Program. The Company's Personal Lines Reinsurance segment is in run-off due to the termination of Personal Lines Quota Share in August 2013. The “Corporate & Other” segment represents the activities of the holding company as well as a portion of service and fee revenue. In determining total assets (excluding cash and invested assets) by segment, the Company identifies those assets that are attributable to a particular segment such as deferred acquisition cost, reinsurance recoverable, goodwill, intangible assets and prepaid reinsurance while the remaining assets are allocated based on gross written premium by segment. In determining cash and invested assets by segment, the Company matches certain identifiable liabilities such as unearned premium and loss and loss adjustment expense reserves by segment. The remaining cash and invested assets are then allocated based on gross written premium by segment. Investment income and realized gains (losses) are determined by calculating an overall annual return on cash and invested assets and applying that overall return to the cash and invested assets by segment. Earned ceding commission is allocated to each segment based on that segment’s proportionate share of the Company’s overall acquisition costs. Interest expense is allocated based on gross written premium by segment. Income taxes are allocated on a pro-rata basis based on the Company’s effective tax rate. Additionally, management reviews the performance of underwriting income in assessing the performance of and making decisions regarding the allocation of resources to the segments. Underwriting income excludes, primarily, service and fee revenue, investment income and other revenues, other expenses, interest expense and income taxes. Management believes that providing this information in this manner is essential to providing the Company’s shareholders with an understanding of the Company’s insurance business and operating performance.
	During each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, and 2013, the Company's Specialty Program segment derived over ten percent of its gross written premium primarily from one agent.
	The following tables summarize the results of operations of the business segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
	(Amounts in Thousands)	Small Commercial Business			Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty			Specialty Program			Personal Lines Reinsurance - Run off			Corporate and Other			Total
	Three months ended September 30, 2014:
	Gross written premium	$	722,897		$	436,845		$	358,739		$	—		$	—		$	1,518,481
	Net written premium	422,539			331,590			250,067			—			—			1,004,196
	Change in unearned premium	(815		)	(3,564		)	(85,551		)	147			—			(89,783		)
	Net earned premium	421,724			328,026			164,516			147			—			914,413
	Loss and loss adjustment expense	(279,056		)	(219,535		)	(110,654		)	(107		)	—			(609,352		)
	Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	(111,939		)	(68,612		)	(44,915		)	(46		)	—			(225,512		)
		(390,995		)	(288,147		)	(155,569		)	(153		)	—			(834,864		)
	Underwriting income	30,729			39,879			8,947			(6		)	—			79,549
	Service and fee income	26,781			75,178			117			—			15,507			117,583
	Investment income and realized gain	16,819			13,770			9,016			33			—			39,638
	Other expenses	(49,901		)	(29,992		)	(23,600		)	—			—			(103,493		)
	Interest expense	(5,619		)	(3,396		)	(2,786		)	—			—			(11,801		)
	Foreign currency gain	—			26,594			—			—			—			26,594
	Loss on life settlement contracts	(1,449		)	(859		)	(602		)	—			—			(2,910		)
	Benefit for income taxes	1,709			2,646			689			39			2,581			7,664
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary  – related party	—			—			—			—			4,332			4,332
	Net income attributable to AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.	$	19,069		$	123,820		$	(8,219	)	$	66		$	22,420		$	157,156
	(Amounts in Thousands)	Small Commercial Business			Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty			Specialty Program			Personal Lines Reinsurance - Run off			Corporate and Other			Total
	Three months ended September 30, 2013:
	Gross written premium	$	423,328		$	352,866		$	290,677		$	7,266		$	—		$	1,074,137
	Net written premium	239,890			247,383			234,257			7,266			—			728,796
	Change in unearned premium	(37,694		)	(1,001		)	(95,241		)	19,035			—			(114,901		)
	Net earned premium	202,196			246,382			139,016			26,301			—			613,895
	Loss and loss adjustment expense	(130,971		)	(164,977		)	(96,417		)	(18,214		)	—			(410,579		)
	Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	(49,783		)	(40,096		)	(39,275		)	(8,032		)	—			(137,186		)
		(180,754		)	(205,073		)	(135,692		)	(26,246		)	—			(547,765		)
	Underwriting income	21,442			41,309			3,324			55			—			66,130
	Service and fee income	22,024			56,130			19			—			11,808			89,981
	Investment income and realized gain (loss)	10,673			7,664			6,142			(77		)	—			24,402
	Other expenses	(35,726		)	(30,559		)	(23,443		)	(467		)	—			(90,195		)
	Interest expense	(3,589		)	(3,037		)	(2,417		)	(77		)	—			(9,120		)
	Foreign currency gain	—			368			—			—			—			368
	Gain on life settlement contracts	29			28			17			2			—			76
	(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(4,942		)	(18,203		)	3,231			292			(4,258		)	(23,880		)
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary  – related party	—			—			—			—			1,927			1,927
	Net income attributable to AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.	$	9,911		$	53,700		$	(13,127	)	$	(272	)	$	9,477		$	59,689
	(Amounts in Thousands)	Small Commercial Business			Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty			Specialty Program			Personal Lines Reinsurance - Run off			Corporate and Other			Total
	Nine months ended September 30, 2014:
	Gross written premium	$	2,366,451		$	1,387,651		$	874,215		$	—		$	—		$	4,628,317
	Net written premium	1,526,347			933,245			598,555			—			—			3,058,147
	Change in unearned premium	(337,362		)	(12,096		)	(99,197		)	8,909			—			(439,746		)
	Net earned premium	1,188,985			921,149			499,358			8,909			—			2,618,401
	Loss and loss adjustment expense	(792,224		)	(618,469		)	(338,483		)	(5,979		)	—			(1,755,155		)
	Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	(299,082		)	(185,120		)	(133,355		)	(2,624		)	—			(620,181		)
		(1,091,306		)	(803,589		)	(471,838		)	(8,603		)	—			(2,375,336		)
	Underwriting income	97,679			117,560			27,520			306			—			243,065
	Service and fee income	69,801			193,534			328			—			44,420			308,083
	Investment income and realized gain	45,390			42,604			21,912			198			—			110,104
	Other expenses	(142,484		)	(83,551		)	(52,637		)	—			—			(278,672		)
	Interest expense	(18,348		)	(10,759		)	(6,778		)	—			—			(35,885		)
	Foreign currency gain	—			25,826			—			—			—			25,826
	Loss on life settlement contracts	(2,649		)	(1,553		)	(978		)	—			—			(5,180		)
	Gain on sale of a subsidiary	6,631			—			—			—			—			6,631
	Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(5,276		)	(26,713		)	1,001			(47		)	(6,711		)	(37,746		)
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary – related party	—			—			—			—			26,847			26,847
	Net income attributable to AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.	$	50,744		$	256,948		$	(9,632	)	$	457		$	64,556		$	363,073
	(Amounts in Thousands)	Small Commercial Business			Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty			Specialty Program			Personal Lines Reinsurance - Run off			Corporate and Other			Total
Nine months ended September 30, 2013:
Gross written premium	$	1,189,088		$	1,129,080		$	673,612		$	66,893		$	—		$	3,058,673
Net written premium	632,183			722,097			479,726			66,893			—			1,900,899
Change in unearned premium	(115,087		)	(126,411		)	(118,556		)	17,583			—			(342,471		)
Net earned premium	517,096			595,686			361,170			84,476			—			1,558,428
Loss and loss adjustment expense	(339,669		)	(401,998		)	(247,791		)	(57,487		)	—			(1,046,945		)
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	(130,056		)	(115,399		)	(96,187		)	(25,775		)	—			(367,417		)
	(469,725		)	(517,397		)	(343,978		)	(83,262		)	—			(1,414,362		)
Underwriting income	47,371			78,289			17,192			1,214			—			144,066
Service and fee income	65,360			136,196			86			—			36,954			238,596
Investment income and realized gain	34,950			31,118			16,986			1,428			—			84,482
Other expenses	(87,099		)	(82,633		)	(49,133		)	(4,467		)	—			(223,332		)
Interest expense	(9,365		)	(8,892		)	(5,305		)	(527		)	—			(24,089		)
Foreign currency gain	—			2,423			—			—			—			2,423
Gain on life settlement contracts	30			30			18			2			—			80
Acquisition gain on purchase	23,183			25,532			—			—			—			48,715
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(19,543		)	(41,782		)	4,043			674			(10,783		)	(67,391		)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary – related party	—			—			—			—			10,537			10,537
Net income attributable to AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.	$	54,887		$	140,281		$	(16,113	)	$	(1,676	)	$	36,708		$	214,087
The following tables summarize long lived assets and total assets of the business segments as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
(Amounts in Thousands)	Small Commercial Business			Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty			Specialty Program			Personal Lines Reinsurance - Run off			Corporate and other			Total
As of September 30, 2014:
Property and equipment, net	$	77,142		$	45,234		$	28,497		$	—		$	—		$	150,873
Goodwill and intangible assets	257,668			410,391			56,477			—			—			724,536
Total assets	5,860,050			5,092,984			2,257,546			9,727			—			13,220,307
As of December 31, 2013:
Property and equipment, net	$	42,054		$	38,297		$	22,280		$	1,668		$	—		$	104,299
Goodwill and intangible assets	233,566			399,954			31,873			—			—			665,393
Total assets	4,261,764			5,036,121			1,894,538			86,703			—			11,279,126

Subsequent_Event

Subsequent Event	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Event	'
	Subsequent Event
	On October 1, 2014, the Company acquired Comp Options Insurance Company, Inc. ("OptaComp"), a Florida-based workers' compensation insurer, from an affiliate of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida, for approximately $34,000 in cash. OptaComp offers workers' compensation insurance to small businesses with low-hazard risk profiles in the state of Florida and generated approximately $70,000 of premium during the 12 months prior to acquisition. The operations of OptaComp will be included in the Company's Small Commercial Business segment. The Company is in the process of completing its acquisition accounting and expects to have it completed in 2015.

Investments_Tables

Investments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'
Amortized Cost, Estimated Market Value and Gross Unrealized Appreciation and Depreciation of Available-for-sale Securities	'
	The amortized cost, estimated market value and gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of available-for-sale securities as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, are presented in the table below:
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Original or amortized cost			Gross unrealized gains			Gross unrealized losses				Market value
	As of September 30, 2014
	Preferred stock		$	4,500		$	251		$	(26	)		$	4,725
	Common stock		80,688			1,760			(724		)		81,724
	U.S. treasury securities		48,484			1,308			(161		)		49,631
	U.S. government agencies		16,439			555			(9		)		16,985
	Municipal bonds		475,133			12,270			(3,887		)		483,516
	Foreign government		104,075			5,421			(147		)		109,349
	Corporate bonds:
	Finance		1,198,838			67,308			(5,005		)		1,261,141
	Industrial		1,109,706			34,718			(11,922		)		1,132,502
	Utilities		103,038			2,546			(1,285		)		104,299
	Commercial mortgage backed securities		46,779			1,120			(210		)		47,689
	Residential mortgage backed securities:
	Agency backed		993,656			14,440			(7,068		)		1,001,028
	Non-agency backed		13,031			148			(381		)		12,798
	Asset-backed securities		1,427			1			(2		)		1,426
			$	4,195,794		$	141,846		$	(30,827	)		$	4,306,813
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Original or amortized cost			Gross unrealized gains			Gross unrealized losses				Market value
	As of December 31, 2013
	Preferred stock		$	1,498		$	82		$	(74	)		$	1,506
	Common stock		14,512			1,156			(2,026		)		13,642
	U.S. treasury securities		158,915			1,196			(851		)		159,260
	U.S. government agencies		10,466			107			(84		)		10,489
	Municipal bonds		461,325			4,781			(19,923		)		446,183
	Foreign government		160,459			971			(1,325		)		160,105
	Corporate bonds:
	Finance		1,057,542			41,027			(13,970		)		1,084,599
	Industrial		768,161			7,695			(21,439		)		754,417
	Utilities		70,924			1,310			(2,008		)		70,226
	Commercial mortgage backed securities		28,970			—			(404		)		28,566
	Residential mortgage backed securities:
	Agency backed		694,001			5,657			(13,918		)		685,740
	Non-agency backed		6,737			19			(7		)		6,749
	Asset backed securities		6,119			4			(3		)		6,120
			$	3,439,629		$	64,005		$	(76,032	)		$	3,427,602
	Less: Securities pledged		316,576			506			(5,564		)		311,518
			$	3,123,053		$	63,499		$	(70,468	)		$	3,116,084
Amortized Cost, Estimated Market Value and Gross Unrealized Appreciation and Depreciation of Trading Securities	'
	The amortized cost, estimated market value and gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of trading securities as of September 30, 2014 are presented in the table below:
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Original or amortized cost			Gross unrealized gains			Gross unrealized losses				Market value
	As of September 30, 2014
	Common stock		$	21,661		$	716		$	(328	)		$	22,049
Summary of Available for Sale Fixed Securities by Contractual Maturity	'
	A summary of the Company’s available-for-sale fixed securities as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, by contractual maturity, is shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
			30-Sep-14						31-Dec-13
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Amortized Cost			Fair Value			Amortized Cost				Fair Value
	Due in one year or less		$	110,336		$	110,161		$	128,128			$	128,214
	Due after one through five years		643,905			667,327			592,703				603,942
	Due after five through ten years		1,988,673			2,064,616			1,632,115				1,631,751
	Due after ten years		312,799			315,320			334,846				321,372
	Mortgage and asset backed securities		1,054,893			1,062,940			735,827				727,175
	Total fixed maturities		$	4,110,606		$	4,220,364		$	3,423,619			$	3,412,454
Net Investment Income	'
	Net investment income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was derived from the following sources:
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Amounts in Thousands)		2014			2013			2014				2013
	Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		$	34,112		$	21,766		$	92,852			$	57,354
	Equity securities, available-for-sale		249			1,086			550				5,375
	Equity securities, trading		77			—			77				—
	Cash and short term investments		854			782			4,278				2,530
			35,292			23,634			97,757				65,259
	Less:
	Investment expenses and interest expense on securities sold under agreement to repurchase		(740		)	(344		)	(2,084		)		(1,240		)
			$	34,552		$	23,290		$	95,673			$	64,019
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings	'
	Other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") charges of our fixed-maturities and equity securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 are presented in the table below:
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Amounts in Thousands)		2014			2013			2014				2013
	Equity securities recognized in earnings		$	—		$	—		$	2,291			$	—
	Fixed-maturity securities recognized in earnings		464			—			1,712				—
			$	464		$	—		$	4,003			$	—
Summary of Gross Unrealized Losses of Fixed-maturities and Equity Securities	'
	The table below summarizes the gross unrealized losses of our fixed maturity and equity securities by length of time the security has continuously been in an unrealized position as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
			Less Than 12 Months									12 Months or More								Total
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Fair Market Value			Unrealized Losses			No. of Positions Held			Fair Market Value				Unrealized Losses			No. of Positions Held	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
	As of September 30, 2014
	Common and preferred stock		$	14,412		$	(567	)	26			$	315			$	(183	)	2	$	14,727	$	(750	)
	U.S. treasury securities		30,753			(120		)	35			2,046				(41		)	5	32,799		(161		)
	U.S. government agencies		—			—			—			1,369				(9		)	6	1,369		(9		)
	Municipal bonds		46,652			(1,029		)	68			89,680				(2,858		)	109	136,332		(3,887		)
	Foreign government		13,351			(147		)	11			—				—			—	13,351		(147		)
	Corporate bonds:
	Finance		204,075			(3,997		)	184			63,182				(1,008		)	15	267,257		(5,005		)
	Industrial		232,809			(10,407		)	209			49,044				(1,515		)	34	281,853		(11,922		)
	Utilities		20,348			(1,274		)	20			377				(11		)	2	20,725		(1,285		)
	Commercial mortgage backed securities		14			—			2			5,155				(210		)	8	5,169		(210		)
	Residential mortgage backed securities:
	Agency backed		172,828			(3,972		)	35			122,718				(3,096		)	42	295,546		(7,068		)
	Non-agency backed		5,190			(380		)	3			30				(1		)	2	5,220		(381		)
	Asset-backed securities		661			(1		)	3			631				(1		)	3	1,292		(2		)
	Total temporarily impaired securities		$	741,093		$	(21,894	)	596			$	334,547			$	(8,933	)	228	$	1,075,640	$	(30,827	)
			Less Than 12 Months									12 Months or More								Total
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Fair Market Value			Unrealized Losses			No. of Positions Held			Fair Market Value				Unrealized Losses			No. of Positions Held	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
	31-Dec-13
	Common and preferred stock		$	4,875		$	(2,100	)	51			$	—			$	—		—	$	4,875	$	(2,100	)
	U.S. treasury securities		52,757			(851		)	18			—				—			—	52,757		(851		)
	U.S. government agencies		4,135			(84		)	11			—				—			—	4,135		(84		)
	Municipal bonds		254,219			(17,986		)	302			24,169				(1,937		)	9	278,388		(19,923		)
	Foreign government		68,102			(1,324		)	16			999				(1		)	1	69,101		(1,325		)
	Corporate bonds:
	Finance		500,564			(13,402		)	182			58,923				(568		)	9	559,487		(13,970		)
	Industrial		500,366			(21,203		)	263			3,383				(236		)	2	503,749		(21,439		)
	Utilities		45,663			(2,008		)	21			—				—			—	45,663		(2,008		)
	Commercial mortgage backed securities		28,552			(404		)	18			—				—			—	28,552		(404		)
	Residential mortgage backed securities:
	Agency backed		492,740			(13,918		)	120			—				—			—	492,740		(13,918		)
	Non-agency backed		205			(5		)	6			23				(2		)	1	228		(7		)
	Asset-backed securities		1,463			(3		)	4			—				—			—	1,463		(3		)
	Total temporarily impaired securities		$	1,953,641		$	(73,288	)	1,012			$	87,497			$	(2,744	)	22	$	2,041,138	$	(76,032	)
Notional Amounts of Interest Rate Swaps by Remaining Maturity	'
	The following table presents the notional amounts by remaining maturity of the Company’s interest rate swaps as of September 30, 2014:
			Remaining Life of Notional Amount (1)
			One Year			Two Through Five Years			Six Through Ten Years				After Ten Years				Total
	(Amounts in Thousands)
	Interest rate swaps		$	—		$	70,000		$	—			$	—			$	70,000
	(1)	Notional amount is not representative of either market risk or credit risk and is not recorded in the consolidated balance sheet.
Fair Values of Restricted Assets	'
	The fair values of our restricted assets as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are as follows:
	(Amounts in Thousands)		2014			2013
	Restricted cash		$	172,499		$	100,439
	Restricted investments		775,115			978,910
	Total restricted cash and investments		$	947,614		$	1,079,349

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities on Recurring Basis	'
	The following tables present the level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities are measured on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Total				Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	As of September 30, 2014
	Assets:
	U.S. treasury securities		$	49,631			$	49,631		$	—		$	—
	U.S. government agencies		16,985				—			16,985			—
	Municipal bonds		483,516				—			483,516			—
	Foreign government		109,349				—			109,349			—
	Corporate bonds and other bonds:
	Finance		1,261,141				—			1,261,141			—
	Industrial		1,132,502				—			1,132,502			—
	Utilities		104,299				—			104,299			—
	Commercial mortgage backed securities		47,689				—			47,689			—
	Residential mortgage backed securities:
	Agency backed		1,001,028				—			1,001,028			—
	Non-agency backed		12,798				—			12,798			—
	Asset-backed securities		1,426				—			1,426			—
	Equity securities, available-for-sale		86,449				33,013			53,436			—
	Equity securities, trading		22,049				22,049			—			—
	Short term investments		51,373				51,373			—			—
	Other investments		16,442				—			—			16,442
	Life settlement contracts		283,200				—			—			283,200
			$	4,679,877			$	156,066		$	4,224,169		$	299,642
	Liabilities:
	Equity securities sold but not yet purchased, market		$	18,737			$	18,737		$	—		$	—
	Life settlement contract profit commission		11,257				—			—			11,257
	Derivatives		2,160				—			2,160			—
			$	32,154			$	18,737		$	2,160		$	11,257
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Total				Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	As of December 31, 2013
	Assets:
	U.S. treasury securities		$	110,345			$	110,345		$	—		$	—
	U.S. government agencies		10,489				—			10,489			—
	Municipal bonds		446,183				—			446,183			—
	Foreign government		160,105				—			160,105			—
	Corporate bonds and other bonds:
	Finance		1,084,599				—			1,084,599			—
	Industrial		754,417				—			754,417			—
	Utilities		70,226				—			70,226			—
	Commercial mortgage backed securities		28,566				—			28,566			—
	Residential mortgage backed securities:
	Agency backed		423,137				—			423,137			—
	Non-agency backed		6,749				—			6,749			—
	Asset-backed securities		6,120				—			6,120			—
	Equity securities		15,148				15,148			—			—
	Short term investments		114,202				114,202			—			—
	Other investments		25,749				—			—			25,749
	Securities held as collateral		311,518				48,915			262,603			—
	Life settlement contracts		233,024				—			—			233,024
			$	3,800,577			$	288,610		$	3,253,194		$	258,773
	Liabilities:
	Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at carrying value		$	293,222			$	—		$	293,222		$	—
	Life settlement contract profit commission		11,945				—			—			11,945
	Derivatives		3,054				—			3,054			—
			$	308,221			$	—		$	296,276		$	11,945
Changes in Fair Value of Level 3 Financial Assets And Liabilities	'
	The following tables provides a summary of changes in fair value of the Company’s Level 3 financial assets and liabilities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Balance as of June 30, 2014				Net income			Other comprehensive income			Purchases and issuances			Sales and settlements			Net transfers into (out of) Level 3		Balance as of September 30,
																					2014
	Other investments		$	14,095			$	—		$	—		$	2,828		$	(481	)	$	—	$	16,442
	Life settlement contracts		276,199				7,001			—			—			—			—		283,200
	Life settlement contract profit commission		(12,529		)		1,272			—			—			—			—		(11,257		)
	Total		$	277,765			$	8,273		$	—		$	2,828		$	(481	)	$	—	$	288,385
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Balance as of December 31, 2013				Net income			Other comprehensive income			Purchases and issuances			Sales and settlements			Net transfers into (out of) Level 3		Balance as of September 30,
																					2014
	Other investments		$	25,749			$	2,402		$	—		$	6,145		$	(17,854	)	$	—	$	16,442
	Life settlement contracts		233,024				29,784			—			25,419			(5,027		)	—		283,200
	Life settlement contract profit commission		(11,945		)		688			—			—			—			—		(11,257		)
	Total		$	246,828			$	32,874		$	—		$	31,564		$	(22,881	)	$	—	$	288,385
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Balance as of June 30, 2013				Net income			Other comprehensive income			Purchases and issuances			Sales and settlements			Net transfers into (out of) Level 3		Balance as of September 30, 2013
	Other investments		$	24,779			$	296		$	—		$	2,304		$	(2,868	)	$	—	$	24,511
	Life settlement contracts		208,694				9,575			—			11,906			(3,011		)	—		227,164
	Life settlement contract profit commission		(12,513		)		1,468			—			—			—			—		(11,045		)
	Total		$	220,960			$	11,339		$	—		$	14,210		$	(5,879	)	$	—	$	240,630
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Balance as of December 31, 2012				Net income			Other comprehensive income			Purchases and issuances			Sales and settlements			Net transfers into (out of) Level 3		Balance as of September 30, 2013
	Other investments		$	11,144			$	973		$	—		$	17,185		$	(4,791	)	$	—	$	24,511
	Life settlement contracts		193,927				30,385			—			11,906			(9,054		)	—		227,164
	Life settlement contract profit commission		(11,750		)		705			—			—			—			—		(11,045		)
	Total		$	193,321			$	32,063		$	—		$	29,091		$	(13,845	)	$	—	$	240,630
Schedule of Reconciliation of Net Income	'
	A reconciliation of net income for life settlement contracts in the above table to (loss) gain on investment in life settlement contracts net of profit commission included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:
			Three Months Ended September 30,							Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Amounts in Thousands)		2014				2013			2014			2013
	Net income		$	7,001			$	9,575		$	29,784		$	30,385
	Premiums paid		(10,728		)		(9,718		)	(33,200		)	(28,259		)
	Profit commission		1,272				1,468			688			705
	Other expenses		(455		)		(1,249		)	(2,452		)	(2,751		)
	(Loss) gain on investment in life settlement contracts		$	(2,910	)		$	76		$	(5,180	)	$	80
Premiums to be Paid for Each of Five Succeeding Fiscal Years to keep Life Insurance Policies in Force	'
	The following summarizes data utilized in estimating the fair value of the portfolio of life insurance policies as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 and, as described in Note 5. "Investments in Life Settlements", only includes data for policies to which the Company assigned value at those dates:
		September 30,				December 31,
		2014				2013
	Average age of insured	81.1 years				80.1 years
	Average life expectancy, months (1)	121				131
	Average face amount per policy	$	6,616,000			$	6,611,000
	Effective discount rate (2)	13.9		%		14.2		%
	(1)	Standard life expectancy as adjusted for specific circumstances.
	(2)	Effective Discount Rate ("EDR") is the Company's estimated internal rate of return on its life settlement contract portfolio and is determined from the gross expected cash flows and valuation of the portfolio. The valuation of the portfolio is calculated net of all reserves using a 7.5% discount rate. The EDR is implicit of the reserves and the gross expected cash flows of the portfolio. The Company anticipates that the EDR's range is between 12.5% and 17.5% and reflects the uncertainty that exists surrounding the information available as of the reporting date. As the accuracy and reliability of information improves (declines), the EDR will decrease (increase). The change in the EDR from December 31, 2013 to September 30, 2014 resulted from routine updating of life expectancies and other factors relating to operational risk.
Increase or (Decrease) in Carrying Value of Investment in Life Insurance Policies	'
	The Company's assumptions are, by their nature, inherently uncertain and the effect of changes in estimates may be significant. The fair value measurements used in estimating the present value calculation are derived from valuation techniques generally used in the industry that include inputs for the asset that are not based on observable market data. The extent to which the fair value could reasonably vary in the near term has been quantified by evaluating the effect of changes in significant underlying assumptions used to estimate the fair value amount. If the life expectancies were increased or decreased by 4 months and the discount factors were increased or decreased by 1% while all other variables were held constant, the carrying value of the investment in life insurance policies would increase or (decrease) by the unaudited amounts summarized below as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		Change in life expectancy
	(Amounts in Thousands)	Plus 4 Months				Minus 4 Months
	Investment in life policies:
	September 30, 2014	$	(35,729	)		$	37,059
	December 31, 2013	$	(29,537	)		$	31,313
		Change in discount rate (1)
	(Amounts in Thousands)	Plus 1%				Minus 1%
	Investment in life policies:
	September 30, 2014	$	(23,470	)		$	26,361
	December 31, 2013	$	(20,055	)		$	22,605
	-1	Discount rate is a present value calculation that considers legal risk, credit risk and liquidity risk and is a component of EDR.

Investment_in_Life_Settlements1

Investment in Life Settlements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Investments, All Other Investments [Abstract]	'
Investment in Life Settlements	'
	The following table describes the Company’s investment in life settlements as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
	(Amounts in Thousands, except number of Life Settlement Contracts)	Number of Life Settlement Contracts		Fair Value (1)			Face Value
	Expected Maturity Term in Years
	As of September 30, 2014
	0-1	—		$	—		$	—
	2-Jan	3		18,234			25,000
	3-Feb	8		43,193			70,500
	4-Mar	3		5,684			12,500
	5-Apr	9		17,704			56,000
	Thereafter	259		198,385			1,639,209
	Total	282		$	283,200		$	1,803,209
	(Amounts in Thousands, except number of Life Settlement Contracts)	Number of Life Settlement Contracts		Fair Value (1)			Face Value
	Expected Maturity Term in Years
	As of December 31, 2013
	0-1	—		$	—		$	—
	2-Jan	—		—			—
	3-Feb	1		2,726			5,000
	4-Mar	13		53,767			103,000
	5-Apr	2		5,622			13,000
	Thereafter	255		170,909			1,641,409
	Total	271		$	233,024		$	1,762,409
	(1)	The Company determined the fair value as of September 30, 2014 based on 226 policies out of 282 policies, as the Company assigned no value to 56 of the policies as of September 30, 2014. The Company determined the fair value as of December 31, 2013 based on 191 policies out of 271 policies, as the Company assigned no value to 80 of the policies as of December 31, 2013. The Company estimated the fair value of a life insurance policy using a cash flow model with an appropriate discount rate. In some cases, the cash flow model calculates the value of an individual policy to be negative, and therefore the fair value of the policy is zero as no liability exists when a negative value is calculated. The Company is not contractually bound to pay the premium on its life settlement contracts and, therefore, would not pay a willing buyer to assume title of these contracts. Additionally, certain of the Company's acquired policies were structured to have low premium payments at inception of the policy term, which later escalate greatly towards the tail end of the policy term. At the current time, the Company expenses all premium paid, even on policies with zero fair value. Once the premium payments escalate, the Company may allow the policies to lapse. In the event that death benefits are realized in the time frame between initial acquisition and premium escalation, it is a benefit to cash flow.
	For these contracts where the Company determined the fair value to be negative and therefore assigned a fair value of zero, the table below details the amount of premiums paid and the death benefits received during the twelve months preceding September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
	(Amounts in Thousands, except number of Life Settlement Contracts)	September 30, 2014			31-Dec-13
	Number of policies with a negative value from discounted cash flow model as of period end	56			80
	Premiums paid for the preceding twelve month period for period ended	$	5,125		$	9,371
	Death benefit received	$	—		$	3,012
Premiums to be Paid for Each of Five Succeeding Fiscal Years to keep Life Insurance Policies in Force	'
	Premiums to be paid by the LSC entities for each of the five succeeding fiscal years to keep the life insurance policies in force as of September 30, 2014, are as follows:
	(Amounts in Thousands)	Premiums Due on Life  Settlement Contracts
	2014	$	42,790
	2015	47,738
	2016	61,273
	2017	41,266
	2018	41,074
	Thereafter	567,317
	Total	$	801,458

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Borrowings	'
	The Company’s borrowings consisted of the following at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
	(Amounts in Thousands)	September 30, 2014				December 31, 2013
	Revolving credit facility	$	—			$	—
	Convertible senior notes	166,643				164,218
	6.125% Notes due 2023	250,000				250,000
	Junior subordinated debentures	123,714				123,714
	Secured loan agreements	37,436				7,742
	Promissory notes	14,500				14,500
		$	592,293			$	560,174
Aggregate Scheduled Maturities of Borrowings	'
	Aggregate scheduled maturities of the Company’s borrowings at September 30, 2014 are:
	(Amounts in Thousands)
	2014	$	2,199
	2015	6,987
	2016	7,172
	2017	7,363
	2018	9,446
	Thereafter	559,126			(1)
	(1)	Amount reflected in balance sheet for convertible senior notes is net of unamortized original issue discount of $33,357.
Amounts Recorded for Notes	'
	The following table shows the amounts recorded for the Convertible Notes as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
	(Amounts in Thousands)	September 30,				December 31,
		2014				2013
	Liability component
	Outstanding principal	$	200,000			$	200,000
	Unamortized OID	(33,357		)		(35,782		)
	Liability component	$	166,643			$	164,218
	Equity component, net of tax	$	27,092			$	27,092
Trust Preferred Securities	'
	The table below summarizes the Company’s trust preferred securities as of September 30, 2014:
	(Amounts in Thousands)		Aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Preferred Securities				Aggregate Liquidation Amount of Common Securities		Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes		Stated Maturity of Notes	Per Annum Interest Rate % of Notes
	Name of Trust
	AmTrust Capital Financing Trust I		$	25,000			$	774	$	25,774	3/17/35	8.275	(1	)
	AmTrust Capital Financing Trust II		25,000				774		25,774		6/15/35	7.71	(1	)
	AmTrust Capital Financing Trust III		30,000				928		30,928		9/15/36	3.534	(2	)
	AmTrust Capital Financing Trust IV		40,000				1,238		41,238		3/15/37	3.234	(3	)
	Total trust preferred securities		$	120,000			$	3,714	$	123,714
	-1	The interest rate will change to three-month LIBOR plus 3.40% after the tenth anniversary in 2015.
	-2	The interest rate is LIBOR plus 3.30%.
	-3	The interest rate is LIBOR plus 3.00%.

Acquisition_Costs_and_Other_Un1

Acquisition Costs and Other Underwriting Expenses (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Acquisition Costs and Other Underwriting Expenses [Abstract]	'
Business Acquisitions Components Of Acquisition Related Costs	'
	The following table summarizes the components of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Amounts in Thousands)	2014		2013		2014		2013
	Policy acquisition expenses	$	122,331	$	64,363	$	332,219	$	155,566
	Salaries and benefits	92,621		66,796		262,150		177,907
	Other insurance general and administrative expenses	10,560		6,027		25,812		33,944
		$	225,512	$	137,186	$	620,181	$	367,417

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Summary of Elements Used in Calculating Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	'
	The following table is a summary of the elements used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Amounts in Thousands, except for earnings per share)	2014		2013		2014		2013
	Basic earnings per share:
	Net income attributable to AmTrust common shareholders	$	156,590	$	58,238	$	362,715	$	213,513
	Less: Net income allocated to participating securities and redeemable non-controlling interest	545		91		1,174		287
	Net income allocated to AmTrust common shareholders	$	156,045	$	58,147	$	361,541	$	213,226
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic	74,809		74,391		74,934		74,152
	Less: Weighted average participating shares outstanding	261		116		243		99
	Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	74,548		74,275		74,691		74,053
	Net income per AmTrust common share - basic	$	2.09	$	0.78	$	4.84	$	2.88
	Diluted earnings per share:
	Net income attributable to AmTrust common shareholders	$	156,590	$	58,238	$	362,715	$	213,513
	Less: Net income allocated to participating securities and redeemable non-controlling interest	545		91		1,174		287
	Net income allocated to AmTrust common shareholders	$	156,045	$	58,147	$	361,541	$	213,226
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic	74,548		74,275		74,691		74,053
	Plus: Dilutive effect of stock options, convertible debt, other	4,841		4,522		4,394		3,595
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – dilutive	79,389		78,797		79,085		77,648
	Net income per AmTrust common shares – diluted	$	1.97	$	0.74	$	4.57	$	2.75

Share_Based_Compensation_Table

Share Based Compensation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Option Granted, Exercised and Expired	'
	The following schedule shows all options granted, exercised, and expired under the Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
		2014				2013
				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Weighted Average Exercise Price
		Shares				Shares
	Outstanding at beginning of period	2,997,460		$	10.49	3,675,776		$	9.41
	Granted	27,500		32.49		78,001		29.78
	Exercised	(765,603	)	8.81		(573,437	)	7.29
	Canceled or terminated	(8,470	)	7.03		(6,776	)	8.28
	Outstanding at end of period	2,250,887		$	11.35	3,173,564		$	10.3
Summary of Restricted Stock and RSU Activity	'
	A summary of the Company’s restricted stock and RSU activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is shown below:
		2014				2013
				Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value				Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
		Shares or				Shares
		Units				or Units
	Non-vested at beginning of period	917,015		$	24.43	888,197		$	20.86
	Granted	883,323		38.94		284,681		30.94
	Vested	(321,353	)	22.57		(257,694	)	19.93
	Forfeited	(6,123	)	23.2		(581	)	29.31
	Non-vested at end of period	1,472,862		$	33.54	914,603		$	24.26

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Reconciliation of Statutory Income Tax Rate to Effective Tax Rate	'
	The following table is a reconciliation of the Company’s statutory income tax expense to its effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Amounts in Thousands)	2014			2013			2014			2013
	Income before equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	$	145,160		$	81,642		$	373,972		$	270,941
	Tax at federal statutory rate of 35%	$	50,806		$	28,575		$	130,890		$	94,829
	Tax effects resulting from:
	Income (loss) of non-includible foreign subsidiaries	(30,604		)	6,615			(93,737		)	(23,506		)
	Other, net	(27,866		)	(11,310		)	593			(3,932		)
		$	(7,664	)	$	23,880		$	37,746		$	67,391
	Effective tax rate	(5.3		)%	29.2		%	10.1		%	24.9		%

Related_Party_Transactions_Tab

Related Party Transactions (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Results of Operations Related to Reinsurance Agreements	'
	The following is the effect on the Company’s results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 related to Maiden Reinsurance agreements:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Amounts in Thousands)	2014			2013			2014			2013
	Results of operations:
	Premium written – ceded	$	(385,452	)	$	(240,564	)	$	(1,157,716	)	$	(829,402	)
	Change in unearned premium – ceded	25,474			8,206			169,632			117,362
	Earned premium - ceded	$	(359,978	)	$	(232,358	)	$	(988,084	)	$	(712,040	)
	Ceding commission on premium written	$	131,893		$	74,594		$	361,202		$	246,604
	Ceding commission – deferred	(22,353		)	(6,375		)	(72,311		)	(47,270		)
	Ceding commission – earned	$	109,540		$	68,219		$	288,891		$	199,334
	Incurred loss and loss adjustment expense – ceded	$	229,045		$	164,164		$	666,026		$	494,433

Acquisitions_Acquisitions_Tabl

Acquisitions Acquisitions (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Insco Dico Group	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Preliminary Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed	'
	A summary of the preliminary assets acquired and liabilities assumed for Insco Dico are as follows:
	(Amounts in Thousands)
	Assets
		Cash and investments	$	130,031
		Premium receivables	8,684
		Reinsurance recoverable	5,799
		Deferred tax asset	3,845
		Other assets	2,114
		Property and equipment	1,190
		Goodwill and intangible assets	16,494
	Total assets		$	168,157
	Liabilities
		Unearned premiums	$	25,715
		Loss and loss expense reserves	25,210
		Accrued liabilities	10,210
		Notes payable	10,000
		Funds held for policyholders	5,864
		Deferred tax liability	2,458
	Total liabilities		$	79,457
	Cash paid		$	88,700
Sagicor Europe Limited	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Preliminary Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed	'
	A summary of the preliminary assets acquired and liabilities assumed for AmTrust Lloyd's Holdings Limited are as follows:
	(Amounts in Thousands)
	Assets
		Cash and investments	$	429,476
		Prepaid insurance	122,673
		Premium receivables	89,801
		Other receivable	54,479
		Deferred tax asset	29,916
		Other assets	10,502
		Property and equipment	5,010
		Goodwill and intangible assets	33,539
	Total assets		$	775,396
	Liabilities
		Loss and loss expense reserves	$	496,836
		Unearned premium	113,182
		Accrued expense and other liabilities	55,950
		Ceded reinsurance	16,315
	Total liabilities		$	682,283
	Cash paid		$	93,113

Shareholder_Equity_and_Accumul1

Shareholder Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Ownership Components of Total Equity	'
	The following table summarizes the ownership components of total stockholders' equity:
			2014												2013
	(Amounts in Thousands)		AmTrust				Non-Controlling Interest				Total				AmTrust			Non-Controlling Interest			Total
	Balance, December 31,		$	1,441,005			$	137,860			$	1,578,865			$	1,144,121		$	103,344		$	1,247,465
	Net income (loss)		370,102				(7,029		)		363,073				215,561			(1,474		)	214,087
	Unrealized holding gain (loss)		85,726				—				85,726				(72,193		)	—			(72,193		)
	Reclassification adjustment		(3,370		)		—				(3,370		)		3,839			—			3,839
	Foreign currency translation		(5,289		)		(271		)		(5,560		)		(4,739		)	—			(4,739		)
	Unrealized gain on interest rate swap		581				—				581				862			—			862
	Share exercises, compensation and other		18,892				—				18,892				13,349			—			13,349
	Common share dividends		(45,147		)		—				(45,147		)		(29,337		)	—			(29,337		)
	Preferred stock issuance, net of fees		178,641				—				178,641				111,130			—			111,130
	Preferred stock dividends		(7,387		)		—				(7,387		)		(2,048		)	—			(2,048		)
	Common share (repurchase) issuance		(44,564		)		—				(44,564		)		472			—			472
	Capital contribution		—				24,013				24,013				—			16,108			16,108
	Balance, September 30,		$	1,989,190			$	154,573			$	2,143,763			$	1,381,017		$	117,978		$	1,498,995
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	The following table summarizes the activities and components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
	(Amounts in Thousands)	Foreign Currency Items			Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments			Interest Rate Swap Hedge			Net Benefit Plan Assets and Obligations Recognized in Stockholders' Equity			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	2,582		$	(7,023	)	$	(1,985	)	$	(1,738	)	$	(8,164	)
	Other comprehensive income before reclassification	(8,137		)	118,107			894			—			110,864
	Amounts reclassed from accumulated other comprehensive income	—			(5,185		)	—			—			(5,185		)
	Income tax expense	2,848			(30,566		)	(313		)	—			(28,031		)
	Net current-period other comprehensive income	(5,289		)	82,356			581			—			77,648
	Balance, September 30, 2014	$	(2,707	)	$	75,333		$	(1,404	)	$	(1,738	)	$	69,484
	Balance December 31, 2012	$	(10,361	)	$	77,605		$	(3,013	)	$	—		$	64,231
	Other comprehensive income before reclassification	(7,291		)	(111,066		)	1,326			—			(117,031		)
	Amounts reclassed from accumulated other comprehensive income	—			5,906			—			—			5,906
	Income tax benefit (expense)	2,552			36,806			(464		)				38,894
	Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	(4,739		)	(68,354		)	862			—			(72,231		)
	Balance, September 30, 2013	$	(15,100	)	$	9,251		$	(2,151	)	$	—		$	(8,000	)

Segments_Tables

Segments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Results of Operations of Business Segments	'
	The following tables summarize the results of operations of the business segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
	(Amounts in Thousands)	Small Commercial Business			Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty			Specialty Program			Personal Lines Reinsurance - Run off			Corporate and Other			Total
	Three months ended September 30, 2014:
	Gross written premium	$	722,897		$	436,845		$	358,739		$	—		$	—		$	1,518,481
	Net written premium	422,539			331,590			250,067			—			—			1,004,196
	Change in unearned premium	(815		)	(3,564		)	(85,551		)	147			—			(89,783		)
	Net earned premium	421,724			328,026			164,516			147			—			914,413
	Loss and loss adjustment expense	(279,056		)	(219,535		)	(110,654		)	(107		)	—			(609,352		)
	Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	(111,939		)	(68,612		)	(44,915		)	(46		)	—			(225,512		)
		(390,995		)	(288,147		)	(155,569		)	(153		)	—			(834,864		)
	Underwriting income	30,729			39,879			8,947			(6		)	—			79,549
	Service and fee income	26,781			75,178			117			—			15,507			117,583
	Investment income and realized gain	16,819			13,770			9,016			33			—			39,638
	Other expenses	(49,901		)	(29,992		)	(23,600		)	—			—			(103,493		)
	Interest expense	(5,619		)	(3,396		)	(2,786		)	—			—			(11,801		)
	Foreign currency gain	—			26,594			—			—			—			26,594
	Loss on life settlement contracts	(1,449		)	(859		)	(602		)	—			—			(2,910		)
	Benefit for income taxes	1,709			2,646			689			39			2,581			7,664
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary  – related party	—			—			—			—			4,332			4,332
	Net income attributable to AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.	$	19,069		$	123,820		$	(8,219	)	$	66		$	22,420		$	157,156
	(Amounts in Thousands)	Small Commercial Business			Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty			Specialty Program			Personal Lines Reinsurance - Run off			Corporate and Other			Total
	Three months ended September 30, 2013:
	Gross written premium	$	423,328		$	352,866		$	290,677		$	7,266		$	—		$	1,074,137
	Net written premium	239,890			247,383			234,257			7,266			—			728,796
	Change in unearned premium	(37,694		)	(1,001		)	(95,241		)	19,035			—			(114,901		)
	Net earned premium	202,196			246,382			139,016			26,301			—			613,895
	Loss and loss adjustment expense	(130,971		)	(164,977		)	(96,417		)	(18,214		)	—			(410,579		)
	Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	(49,783		)	(40,096		)	(39,275		)	(8,032		)	—			(137,186		)
		(180,754		)	(205,073		)	(135,692		)	(26,246		)	—			(547,765		)
	Underwriting income	21,442			41,309			3,324			55			—			66,130
	Service and fee income	22,024			56,130			19			—			11,808			89,981
	Investment income and realized gain (loss)	10,673			7,664			6,142			(77		)	—			24,402
	Other expenses	(35,726		)	(30,559		)	(23,443		)	(467		)	—			(90,195		)
	Interest expense	(3,589		)	(3,037		)	(2,417		)	(77		)	—			(9,120		)
	Foreign currency gain	—			368			—			—			—			368
	Gain on life settlement contracts	29			28			17			2			—			76
	(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(4,942		)	(18,203		)	3,231			292			(4,258		)	(23,880		)
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary  – related party	—			—			—			—			1,927			1,927
	Net income attributable to AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.	$	9,911		$	53,700		$	(13,127	)	$	(272	)	$	9,477		$	59,689
	(Amounts in Thousands)	Small Commercial Business			Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty			Specialty Program			Personal Lines Reinsurance - Run off			Corporate and Other			Total
	Nine months ended September 30, 2014:
	Gross written premium	$	2,366,451		$	1,387,651		$	874,215		$	—		$	—		$	4,628,317
	Net written premium	1,526,347			933,245			598,555			—			—			3,058,147
	Change in unearned premium	(337,362		)	(12,096		)	(99,197		)	8,909			—			(439,746		)
	Net earned premium	1,188,985			921,149			499,358			8,909			—			2,618,401
	Loss and loss adjustment expense	(792,224		)	(618,469		)	(338,483		)	(5,979		)	—			(1,755,155		)
	Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	(299,082		)	(185,120		)	(133,355		)	(2,624		)	—			(620,181		)
		(1,091,306		)	(803,589		)	(471,838		)	(8,603		)	—			(2,375,336		)
	Underwriting income	97,679			117,560			27,520			306			—			243,065
	Service and fee income	69,801			193,534			328			—			44,420			308,083
	Investment income and realized gain	45,390			42,604			21,912			198			—			110,104
	Other expenses	(142,484		)	(83,551		)	(52,637		)	—			—			(278,672		)
	Interest expense	(18,348		)	(10,759		)	(6,778		)	—			—			(35,885		)
	Foreign currency gain	—			25,826			—			—			—			25,826
	Loss on life settlement contracts	(2,649		)	(1,553		)	(978		)	—			—			(5,180		)
	Gain on sale of a subsidiary	6,631			—			—			—			—			6,631
	Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(5,276		)	(26,713		)	1,001			(47		)	(6,711		)	(37,746		)
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary – related party	—			—			—			—			26,847			26,847
	Net income attributable to AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.	$	50,744		$	256,948		$	(9,632	)	$	457		$	64,556		$	363,073
	(Amounts in Thousands)	Small Commercial Business			Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty			Specialty Program			Personal Lines Reinsurance - Run off			Corporate and Other			Total
	Nine months ended September 30, 2013:
	Gross written premium	$	1,189,088		$	1,129,080		$	673,612		$	66,893		$	—		$	3,058,673
	Net written premium	632,183			722,097			479,726			66,893			—			1,900,899
Change in unearned premium	(115,087		)	(126,411		)	(118,556		)	17,583			—			(342,471		)
Net earned premium	517,096			595,686			361,170			84,476			—			1,558,428
Loss and loss adjustment expense	(339,669		)	(401,998		)	(247,791		)	(57,487		)	—			(1,046,945		)
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	(130,056		)	(115,399		)	(96,187		)	(25,775		)	—			(367,417		)
	(469,725		)	(517,397		)	(343,978		)	(83,262		)	—			(1,414,362		)
Underwriting income	47,371			78,289			17,192			1,214			—			144,066
Service and fee income	65,360			136,196			86			—			36,954			238,596
Investment income and realized gain	34,950			31,118			16,986			1,428			—			84,482
Other expenses	(87,099		)	(82,633		)	(49,133		)	(4,467		)	—			(223,332		)
Interest expense	(9,365		)	(8,892		)	(5,305		)	(527		)	—			(24,089		)
Foreign currency gain	—			2,423			—			—			—			2,423
Gain on life settlement contracts	30			30			18			2			—			80
Acquisition gain on purchase	23,183			25,532			—			—			—			48,715
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(19,543		)	(41,782		)	4,043			674			(10,783		)	(67,391		)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary – related party	—			—			—			—			10,537			10,537
Net income attributable to AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.	$	54,887		$	140,281		$	(16,113	)	$	(1,676	)	$	36,708		$	214,087
Long Lived Assets and Total Assets of Business Segments	'
	The following tables summarize long lived assets and total assets of the business segments as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
	(Amounts in Thousands)	Small Commercial Business			Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty			Specialty Program			Personal Lines Reinsurance - Run off			Corporate and other			Total
	As of September 30, 2014:
	Property and equipment, net	$	77,142		$	45,234		$	28,497		$	—		$	—		$	150,873
	Goodwill and intangible assets	257,668			410,391			56,477			—			—			724,536
	Total assets	5,860,050			5,092,984			2,257,546			9,727			—			13,220,307
	As of December 31, 2013:
	Property and equipment, net	$	42,054		$	38,297		$	22,280		$	1,668		$	—		$	104,299
	Goodwill and intangible assets	233,566			399,954			31,873			—			—			665,393
	Total assets	4,261,764			5,036,121			1,894,538			86,703			—			11,279,126

Basis_of_Reporting_Narrative_D

Basis of Reporting (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Provision for income taxes	$7,664	($23,880)	($37,746)	($67,391)	'
Effective tax rate	-5.30%	29.20%	10.10%	24.90%	'
Liabilities	11,075,944	'	11,075,944	'	9,699,661
Available-for-sale securities transferred to trading securities	16,728	'	'	'	'
Reclassification of Ceding Commission to Acquisition and other Underwriting Expenses	'	'	'	'	'
Reclassification to acquisition costs and underwriting expense	'	68,219	'	199,334	'
Liabilities	'	'	'	'	21,717
Reclassification of Intangible to Goodwill	'	'	'	'	'
Provision for income taxes	'	$8,801	'	$20,768	'
Effective tax rate	12.40%	6.90%	9.80%	7.70%	'

Investments_Amortized_Cost_Est

Investments - Amortized Cost, Estimated Market Value and Gross Unrealized Appreciation and Depreciation of Available-for-sale Securities (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Original or amortized cost	$4,195,794	$3,439,629
Gross unrealized gains	141,846	64,005
Gross unrealized losses	-30,827	-76,032
Market value	4,306,813	3,427,602
Original and amortized cost, securities pledged	0	316,576
Securities pledged, gross unrealized gains	'	506
Securities pledged, gross unrealized losses	'	-5,564
Securities pledged as collateral	0	311,518
Original or amortized cost, net of securities pledged	'	3,123,053
Gross unrealized gains, net of securities pledged	'	63,499
Gross unrealized losses, net of securities pledged	'	-70,468
Market value, net of securities pledged	'	3,116,084
Preferred stock	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Original or amortized cost	4,500	1,498
Gross unrealized gains	251	82
Gross unrealized losses	-26	-74
Market value	4,725	1,506
Common stock	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Original or amortized cost	80,688	14,512
Gross unrealized gains	1,760	1,156
Gross unrealized losses	-724	-2,026
Market value	81,724	13,642
U.S. treasury securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Original or amortized cost	48,484	158,915
Gross unrealized gains	1,308	1,196
Gross unrealized losses	-161	-851
Market value	49,631	159,260
U.S. government agencies	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Original or amortized cost	16,439	10,466
Gross unrealized gains	555	107
Gross unrealized losses	-9	-84
Market value	16,985	10,489
Municipal bonds	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Original or amortized cost	475,133	461,325
Gross unrealized gains	12,270	4,781
Gross unrealized losses	-3,887	-19,923
Market value	483,516	446,183
Foreign government	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Original or amortized cost	104,075	160,459
Gross unrealized gains	5,421	971
Gross unrealized losses	-147	-1,325
Market value	109,349	160,105
Finance | Corporate bonds	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Original or amortized cost	1,198,838	1,057,542
Gross unrealized gains	67,308	41,027
Gross unrealized losses	-5,005	-13,970
Market value	1,261,141	1,084,599
Industrial | Corporate bonds	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Original or amortized cost	1,109,706	768,161
Gross unrealized gains	34,718	7,695
Gross unrealized losses	-11,922	-21,439
Market value	1,132,502	754,417
Utilities | Corporate bonds	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Original or amortized cost	103,038	70,924
Gross unrealized gains	2,546	1,310
Gross unrealized losses	-1,285	-2,008
Market value	104,299	70,226
Commercial mortgage backed securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Original or amortized cost	46,779	28,970
Gross unrealized gains	1,120	0
Gross unrealized losses	-210	-404
Market value	47,689	28,566
Agency, residential mortgage backed securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Original or amortized cost	993,656	694,001
Gross unrealized gains	14,440	5,657
Gross unrealized losses	-7,068	-13,918
Market value	1,001,028	685,740
Non-agency, residential mortgage backed securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Original or amortized cost	13,031	6,737
Gross unrealized gains	148	19
Gross unrealized losses	-381	-7
Market value	12,798	6,749
Asset-backed Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Original or amortized cost	1,427	6,119
Gross unrealized gains	1	4
Gross unrealized losses	-2	-3
Market value	$1,426	$6,120

Investments_Summary_of_Availab

Investments - Summary of Available for Sale Fixed Securities by Contractual Maturity (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Total fixed maturities	$4,110,606	$3,107,043
Total fixed maturities	4,220,364	3,100,936
Fixed maturities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Due in one year or less	110,336	128,128
Due after one through five years	643,905	592,703
Due after five through ten years	1,988,673	1,632,115
Due after ten years	312,799	334,846
Mortgage and asset backed securities	1,054,893	735,827
Total fixed maturities	4,110,606	3,423,619
Due in one year or less	110,161	128,214
Due after one through five years	667,327	603,942
Due after five through ten years	2,064,616	1,631,751
Due after ten years	315,320	321,372
Mortgage and asset backed securities	1,062,940	727,175
Total fixed maturities	$4,220,364	$3,412,454

Investments_OTTI_Details

Investments (OTTI) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Other-than-temporary impairment charges	$464	$0	$4,003	$0
Equity securities	'	'	'	'
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Other-than-temporary impairment charges	0	0	2,291	0
Fixed maturities	'	'	'	'
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Other-than-temporary impairment charges	$464	$0	$1,712	$0

Investments_Summary_of_Gross_U

Investments - Summary of Gross Unrealized Losses of Fixed-maturities and Equity Securities (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Contract	Contract
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Market Value	$741,093	$1,953,641
Unrealized Losses	-21,894	-73,288
No. of Positions Held	596	1,012
Fair Market Value	334,547	87,497
Unrealized Losses	-8,933	-2,744
No. of Positions Held	228	22
Total Fair Market Value	1,075,640	2,041,138
Total Unrealized Losses	-30,827	-76,032
Common and preferred stock	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Market Value	14,412	4,875
Unrealized Losses	-567	-2,100
No. of Positions Held	26	51
Fair Market Value	315	0
Unrealized Losses	-183	0
No. of Positions Held	2	0
Total Fair Market Value	14,727	4,875
Total Unrealized Losses	-750	-2,100
U.S. treasury securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Market Value	30,753	52,757
Unrealized Losses	-120	-851
No. of Positions Held	35	18
Fair Market Value	2,046	0
Unrealized Losses	-41	0
No. of Positions Held	5	0
Total Fair Market Value	32,799	52,757
Total Unrealized Losses	-161	-851
US Government and Government Agencies and Authorities [Member]	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Market Value	0	4,135
Unrealized Losses	0	-84
No. of Positions Held	0	11
Fair Market Value	1,369	0
Unrealized Losses	-9	0
No. of Positions Held	6	0
Total Fair Market Value	1,369	4,135
Total Unrealized Losses	-9	-84
Municipal bonds	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Market Value	46,652	254,219
Unrealized Losses	-1,029	-17,986
No. of Positions Held	68	302
Fair Market Value	89,680	24,169
Unrealized Losses	-2,858	-1,937
No. of Positions Held	109	9
Total Fair Market Value	136,332	278,388
Total Unrealized Losses	-3,887	-19,923
Foreign government	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Market Value	13,351	68,102
Unrealized Losses	-147	-1,324
No. of Positions Held	11	16
Fair Market Value	0	999
Unrealized Losses	0	-1
No. of Positions Held	0	1
Total Fair Market Value	13,351	69,101
Total Unrealized Losses	-147	-1,325
Finance | Corporate bonds	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Market Value	204,075	500,564
Unrealized Losses	-3,997	-13,402
No. of Positions Held	184	182
Fair Market Value	63,182	58,923
Unrealized Losses	-1,008	-568
No. of Positions Held	15	9
Total Fair Market Value	267,257	559,487
Total Unrealized Losses	-5,005	-13,970
Industrial | Corporate bonds	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Market Value	232,809	500,366
Unrealized Losses	-10,407	-21,203
No. of Positions Held	209	263
Fair Market Value	49,044	3,383
Unrealized Losses	-1,515	-236
No. of Positions Held	34	2
Total Fair Market Value	281,853	503,749
Total Unrealized Losses	-11,922	-21,439
Utilities | Corporate bonds	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Market Value	20,348	45,663
Unrealized Losses	-1,274	-2,008
No. of Positions Held	20	21
Fair Market Value	377	0
Unrealized Losses	-11	0
No. of Positions Held	2	0
Total Fair Market Value	20,725	45,663
Total Unrealized Losses	-1,285	-2,008
Commercial mortgage backed securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Market Value	14	28,552
Unrealized Losses	0	-404
No. of Positions Held	2	18
Fair Market Value	5,155	0
Unrealized Losses	-210	0
No. of Positions Held	8	0
Total Fair Market Value	5,169	28,552
Total Unrealized Losses	-210	-404
Agency, residential mortgage backed securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Market Value	172,828	492,740
Unrealized Losses	-3,972	-13,918
No. of Positions Held	35	120
Fair Market Value	122,718	0
Unrealized Losses	-3,096	0
No. of Positions Held	42	0
Total Fair Market Value	295,546	492,740
Total Unrealized Losses	-7,068	-13,918
Non-agency, residential mortgage backed securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Market Value	5,190	205
Unrealized Losses	-380	-5
No. of Positions Held	3	6
Fair Market Value	30	23
Unrealized Losses	-1	-2
No. of Positions Held	2	1
Total Fair Market Value	5,220	228
Total Unrealized Losses	-381	-7
Asset-backed Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Market Value	661	1,463
Unrealized Losses	-1	-3
No. of Positions Held	3	4
Fair Market Value	631	0
Unrealized Losses	-1	0
No. of Positions Held	3	0
Total Fair Market Value	1,292	1,463
Total Unrealized Losses	($2)	($3)

Investments_Trading_Securities

Investments (Trading Securities) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from sale of trading securities	$9,520	($4,183)	$0	'
Trading securities, cost basis	21,661	21,661	'	0
Market value	22,049	22,049	'	0
Common stock	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Trading securities, cost basis	21,661	21,661	'	'
Gross unrealized gains	716	716	'	'
Gross unrealized losses	-328	-328	'	'
Market value	$22,049	$22,049	'	'

Investments_Net_Investment_Inc

Investments - Net Investment Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Schedule of Investment Income, Reported Amounts, by Category [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gross investment income	$35,292	$23,634	$97,757	$65,259
Less: Investment expenses and interest expense on securities sold under agreement to repurchase	-740	-344	-2,084	-1,240
Net investment income	34,552	23,290	95,673	64,019
Fixed maturities	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Investment Income, Reported Amounts, by Category [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gross investment income	34,112	21,766	92,852	57,354
Equity securities	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Investment Income, Reported Amounts, by Category [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gross investment income	249	1,086	550	5,375
Equity securities, trading	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Investment Income, Reported Amounts, by Category [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gross investment income	77	0	77	0
Cash and cash equivalents	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Investment Income, Reported Amounts, by Category [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gross investment income	$854	$782	$4,278	$2,530

Investments_Notional_Amounts_o

Investments - Notional Amounts of Interest Rate Swaps by Remaining Maturity (Details) (Interest Rate Swap, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Interest Rate Swap	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'
One Year	$0
Two Through Five Years	70,000
Six Through Ten Years	0
After Ten years	0
Total	$70,000

Investments_Fair_Values_of_Res

Investments - Fair Values of Restricted Assets (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'	'
Restricted cash	$172,499	$100,439
Restricted investments	775,115	978,910
Total restricted cash and investments	$947,614	$1,079,349

Investments_Additional_Informa

Investments - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
	Investment		Investment		Investment
	Derivative		Derivative		Derivative
Investment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from the sale of investments in available-for-sale securities	'	'	$1,568,126	$976,396	'
Number of securities account for gross unrealized loss	824	'	824	'	1,034
Number of interest rate swaps	2	'	2	'	2
Securities sold but not yet purchased, at market	18,737	'	18,737	'	0
Interest rate swaps liability	2,160	'	2,160	'	3,054
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, interest expense	2	197	275	688	'
Equity securities	'	'	'	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Securities sold but not yet purchased, at market	$18,737	'	$18,737	'	'

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru2

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Assets and Financial Liabilities on Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	$4,679,877	$3,800,577
Fair Value of liabilities	32,154	308,221
Equity securities sold but not yet purchased, market	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	18,737	'
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at carrying value	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	'	293,222
Life settlement contract profit commission	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	11,257	11,945
Derivatives	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	2,160	3,054
U.S. treasury securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	49,631	110,345
U.S. government agencies	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	16,985	10,489
Municipal bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	483,516	446,183
Foreign government	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	109,349	160,105
Finance | Corporate bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	1,261,141	1,084,599
Industrial | Corporate bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	1,132,502	754,417
Utilities | Corporate bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	104,299	70,226
Commercial mortgage backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	47,689	28,566
Agency, residential mortgage backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	1,001,028	423,137
Non-agency, residential mortgage backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	12,798	6,749
Asset-backed Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	1,426	6,120
Equity securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	'	15,148
Short term investments	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	51,373	114,202
Other investments	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	16,442	25,749
Securities held as collateral	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	'	311,518
Life settlement contracts	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	283,200	233,024
Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	156,066	288,610
Fair Value of liabilities	18,737	0
Level 1 | Equity securities sold but not yet purchased, market	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	18,737	'
Level 1 | Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at carrying value	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	'	0
Level 1 | Life settlement contract profit commission	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	0	0
Level 1 | Derivatives	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	0	0
Level 1 | U.S. treasury securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	49,631	110,345
Level 1 | U.S. government agencies	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 1 | Municipal bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 1 | Foreign government	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	'
Level 1 | Finance | Corporate bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 1 | Industrial | Corporate bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 1 | Utilities | Corporate bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 1 | Commercial mortgage backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 1 | Agency, residential mortgage backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 1 | Non-agency, residential mortgage backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 1 | Asset-backed Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 1 | Equity securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	'	15,148
Level 1 | Short term investments	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	51,373	114,202
Level 1 | Other investments	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 1 | Securities held as collateral	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	'	48,915
Level 1 | Life settlement contracts	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	4,224,169	3,253,194
Fair Value of liabilities	2,160	296,276
Level 2 | Equity securities sold but not yet purchased, market	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	0	'
Level 2 | Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at carrying value	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	'	293,222
Level 2 | Life settlement contract profit commission	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	0	0
Level 2 | Derivatives	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	2,160	3,054
Level 2 | U.S. treasury securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 2 | U.S. government agencies	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	16,985	10,489
Level 2 | Municipal bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	483,516	446,183
Level 2 | Foreign government	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	109,349	160,105
Level 2 | Finance | Corporate bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	1,261,141	1,084,599
Level 2 | Industrial | Corporate bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	1,132,502	754,417
Level 2 | Utilities | Corporate bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	104,299	70,226
Level 2 | Commercial mortgage backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	47,689	28,566
Level 2 | Agency, residential mortgage backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	1,001,028	423,137
Level 2 | Non-agency, residential mortgage backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	12,798	6,749
Level 2 | Asset-backed Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	1,426	6,120
Level 2 | Equity securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	'	0
Level 2 | Short term investments	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 2 | Other investments	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 2 | Securities held as collateral	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	'	262,603
Level 2 | Life settlement contracts	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	299,642	258,773
Fair Value of liabilities	11,257	11,945
Level 3 | Equity securities sold but not yet purchased, market	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	0	'
Level 3 | Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at carrying value	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	'	0
Level 3 | Life settlement contract profit commission	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	11,257	11,945
Level 3 | Derivatives	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value of liabilities	0	0
Level 3 | U.S. treasury securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 3 | U.S. government agencies	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 3 | Municipal bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 3 | Foreign government	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	'
Level 3 | Finance | Corporate bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 3 | Industrial | Corporate bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 3 | Utilities | Corporate bonds	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 3 | Commercial mortgage backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 3 | Agency, residential mortgage backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 3 | Non-agency, residential mortgage backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 3 | Asset-backed Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 3 | Equity securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	'	0
Level 3 | Short term investments	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 3 | Other investments	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	16,442	25,749
Level 3 | Securities held as collateral	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	'	0
Level 3 | Life settlement contracts	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	283,200	233,024
Available-for-sale | Equity securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	86,449	'
Available-for-sale | Level 1 | Equity securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	33,013	'
Available-for-sale | Level 2 | Equity securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	53,436	'
Available-for-sale | Level 3 | Equity securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	'
Trading | Equity securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	22,049	'
Trading | Level 1 | Equity securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	22,049	'
Trading | Level 2 | Equity securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	0	'
Trading | Level 3 | Equity securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of assets	$0	'

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru3

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Changes in Fair Value of Level 3 Financial Assets And Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	$277,765	$220,960	$246,828	$193,321
Net income	8,273	11,339	32,874	32,063
Other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Purchases and issuances	2,828	14,210	31,564	29,091
Sales and settlements	-481	-5,879	-22,881	-13,845
Net transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance	288,385	240,630	288,385	240,630
Other investments	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	14,095	24,779	25,749	11,144
Net income	0	296	2,402	973
Other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Purchases and issuances	2,828	2,304	6,145	17,185
Sales and settlements	-481	-2,868	-17,854	-4,791
Net transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance	16,442	24,511	16,442	24,511
Life settlement contracts	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	276,199	208,694	233,024	193,927
Net income	7,001	9,575	29,784	30,385
Other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Purchases and issuances	0	11,906	25,419	11,906
Sales and settlements	0	-3,011	-5,027	-9,054
Net transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance	283,200	227,164	283,200	227,164
Life settlement contract profit commission	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	-12,529	-12,513	-11,945	-11,750
Net income	1,272	1,468	688	705
Other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Purchases and issuances	0	0	0	0
Sales and settlements	0	0	0	0
Net transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance	($11,257)	($11,045)	($11,257)	($11,045)

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru4

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Reconciliation (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net income	$8,273	$11,339	$32,874	$32,063
(Loss) gain on investment in life settlement contracts net of profit commission	-2,910	76	-5,180	80
Life settlement contracts	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net income	7,001	9,575	29,784	30,385
Premiums paid	-10,728	-9,718	-33,200	-28,259
Other Expenses	-455	-1,249	-2,452	-2,751
(Loss) gain on investment in life settlement contracts net of profit commission	-2,910	76	-5,180	80
Life settlement contract profit commission	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net income	$1,272	$1,468	$688	$705

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru5

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value of Portfolio of Life Insurance Policies (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Life Settlement Contracts, Fair Value Method [Abstract]	'	'
Average age of insured	'81 years 1 month 0 days	'80 years 1 month 6 days
Average life expectancy, months	'121 months	'131 months
Average face amount per policy	$6,616	$6,611
Implicit discount rate	13.90%	14.20%

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru6

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Increase or (Decrease) in Carrying Value of Investment in Life Insurance Policies (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Life Settlement Contracts, Fair Value Method [Abstract]	'	'
Life expectancy Plus 4 Months	($35,729)	($29,537)
Life expectancy Minus 4 Months	37,059	31,313
Discount Plus 1%	-23,470	-20,055
Discount Minus 1%	$26,361	$22,605

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru7

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Feb. 28, 2014

Jan. 31, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Senior Notes

Subordinated Debt

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

6.125% Senior Note

6.125% Senior Note

Minimum

Maximum

Carrying value

Fair value

Senior Notes

Senior Notes

Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Transfer between Level 1 and Level 2

$18,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maximum investment in Limited Partnership and Hedge Funds

0.30%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of ownership in NGHC

'

'

'

'

13.20%

13.20%

15.40%

'

'

'

'

'

'

Fair value of investment in NGHC

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

118,207,000

207,670,000

Fair value

'

'

$311,520,000

$63,620,000

'

'

'

$262,448,000

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument, stated interest rate

5.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

6.13%

6.13%

'

'

'

'

Investment discount rate

7.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Discount rate

7.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Implicit discount rate

13.90%

14.20%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

12.50%

17.50%

'

'

Investment_in_Life_Settlements2

Investment in Life Settlements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Aug. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Tiger Capital LLC

NGHC

NGHC

Life settlement contracts

Life settlement contracts

Life settlement contracts

Life settlement contracts

Contract

AmTrust

AmTrust

Schedule of Cost-method Investments [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of ownership interest

'

'

'

'

'

'

13.20%

13.20%

'

'

'

'

Profits and losses of investment in life insurance policies and premium finance loans

'

'

56.60%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Capital contributions

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$33,353

$29,847

$16,489

$14,963

Investments in life settlements and cash value loans

283,200

'

283,200

'

233,024

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

(Loss) gain on investment in life settlement contracts net of profit commission

-2,910

76

-5,180

80

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of premium finance loans

'

'

'

'

'

2

'

'

'

'

'

'

Value of premium finance loans

'

'

'

'

'

$0

'

'

'

'

'

'

Investment_in_Life_Settlements3

Investment in Life Settlements (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Contract	Contract	policy
Number of Life Settlement Contracts	'	'	'
0-1	0	0	0
2-Jan	3	0	0
3-Feb	8	1	1
4-Mar	3	13	13
5-Apr	9	2	2
Thereafter	259	255	255
Total	282	271	271
Fair Value	'	'	'
0-1	$0	'	$0
2-Jan	18,234	'	0
3-Feb	43,193	'	2,726
4-Mar	5,684	'	53,767
5-Apr	17,704	'	5,622
Thereafter	198,385	'	170,909
Total	283,200	'	233,024
Face Value	'	'	'
0-1	0	'	0
2-Jan	25,000	'	0
3-Feb	70,500	'	5,000
4-Mar	12,500	'	103,000
5-Apr	56,000	'	13,000
Thereafter	1,639,209	'	1,641,409
Total	$1,803,209	'	$1,762,409

Investment_in_Life_Settlements4

Investment in Life Settlements - Additional Information (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
	policy	policy
	Contract	Contract
Investments, All Other Investments [Abstract]	'	'
Life settlement contracts, number of contracts with fair value	226	191
Total number of Life Settlement Contracts	282	271
Life settlement contracts, number of contracts with no fair value	56	80
Premiums paid for the preceding twelve month period for period ended	$5,125	$9,371
Death benefit received	$0	$3,012

Investment_in_Life_Settlements5

Investment in Life Settlements - Premiums to be Paid (Detail) (Premiums Due On Life Settlement Contracts, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Premiums Due On Life Settlement Contracts	'
Life Insurance Premiums and Related Investment Income [Line Items]	'
2014	$42,790
2015	47,738
2016	61,273
2017	41,266
2018	41,074
Thereafter	567,317
Total	$801,458

Debt_Revolving_Credit_Agreemen

Debt - Revolving Credit Agreement (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 12, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 11, 2014
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Deferred finance costs	'	$967,000	'	$967,000	'	'
Letters of credit, outstanding amount	'	82,025,000	'	82,025,000	'	'
Interest rate at period end	'	8.57%	'	8.57%	'	'
Commitment fee percentage	0.18%	'	'	'	'	'
Revolving credit facility	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Term of the debt instrument	'5 years	'	'	'	'	'
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	350,000,000	'	'	'	'	200,000,000
Credit agreement, remaining borrowing capacity	'	267,975,000	'	267,975,000	'	'
Interest rate at period end	'	1.38%	'	1.38%	'	'
Interest expense	'	356,000	379,000	1,107,000	1,555,000	'
Letter of Credit	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	175,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Line of credit, additional borrowing capacity	150,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Credit agreement, remaining borrowing capacity	'	$92,975,000	'	$92,975,000	'	'
Fronting fee percentage	0.13%	'	'	'	'	'
Federal Funds Effective Swap Rate | Revolving credit facility	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage of variable interest rate	0.50%	'	'	'	'	'
One Month London Interbank Offered Rate | Revolving credit facility	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage of variable interest rate	1.00%	'	'	'	'	'
LIBOR	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate at period end	'	4.10%	'	4.10%	'	'
Minimum	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Commitment fee percentage	0.15%	'	'	'	'	'
Minimum | Base Rate | Revolving credit facility	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage of variable interest rate	0.13%	'	'	'	'	'
Minimum | LIBOR | Revolving credit facility	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage of variable interest rate	1.13%	'	'	'	'	'
Maximum	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Commitment fee percentage	0.25%	'	'	'	'	'
Maximum | Base Rate | Revolving credit facility	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage of variable interest rate	0.63%	'	'	'	'	'
Maximum | LIBOR | Revolving credit facility	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage of variable interest rate	1.63%	'	'	'	'	'

Debt_Borrowings_Detail

Debt - Borrowings (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Revolving credit facility	$0	$0
Convertible senior notes	166,643	164,218
6.125% Notes due 2023	250,000	250,000
Junior subordinated debentures	123,714	123,714
Secured loan agreements	37,436	7,742
Promissory notes	14,500	14,500
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount, Total	$592,293	$560,174

Debt_Aggregate_Scheduled_Matur

Debt - Aggregate Scheduled Maturities of Borrowings (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
2014	$2,199
2015	6,987
2016	7,172
2017	7,363
2018	9,446
Thereafter	$559,126

Debt_Aggregate_Scheduled_Matur1

Debt - Aggregate Scheduled Maturities of Borrowings (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Unamortized OID	$33,357	$35,782

Debt_Amounts_Recorded_for_Note

Debt - Amounts Recorded for Notes (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Outstanding principal	$200,000	$200,000
Unamortized OID	-33,357	-35,782
Liability component	166,643	164,218
Equity component, net of tax	$27,092	$27,092

Debt_Trust_Preferred_Securitie

Debt - Trust Preferred Securities (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Preferred Securities	$120,000	'
Aggregate Liquidation Amount of Common Securities	3,714	'
Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes	123,714	123,714
Stated Maturity of Notes	15-Dec-21	'
Per Annum Interest Rate of Notes	5.50%	'
AmTrust Capital Financing Trust I	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Preferred Securities	25,000	'
Aggregate Liquidation Amount of Common Securities	774	'
Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes	25,774	'
Stated Maturity of Notes	17-Mar-35	'
Per Annum Interest Rate of Notes	8.28%	'
AmTrust Capital Financing Trust II	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Preferred Securities	25,000	'
Aggregate Liquidation Amount of Common Securities	774	'
Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes	25,774	'
Stated Maturity of Notes	15-Jun-35	'
Per Annum Interest Rate of Notes	7.71%	'
AmTrust Capital Financing Trust III	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Preferred Securities	30,000	'
Aggregate Liquidation Amount of Common Securities	928	'
Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes	30,928	'
Stated Maturity of Notes	15-Sep-36	'
Per Annum Interest Rate of Notes	353.40%	'
AmTrust Capital Financing Trust IV	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Preferred Securities	40,000	'
Aggregate Liquidation Amount of Common Securities	1,238	'
Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes	$41,238	'
Stated Maturity of Notes	15-Mar-37	'
Per Annum Interest Rate of Notes	323.40%	'

Debt_Trust_Preferred_Securitie1

Debt - Trust Preferred Securities (Parenthetical) (Detail) (LIBOR)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
After tenth anniversary in 2015	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt instrument interest rate, margin	3.40%
After fifth anniversary in 2011	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt instrument interest rate, margin	3.30%
After fifth anniversary in 2012	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt instrument interest rate, margin	3.00%

Debt_Additional_Information_De

Debt - Additional Information (Detail)

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 12, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Nov. 26, 2013

Feb. 25, 2012

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 12, 2014

Sep. 12, 2014

Sep. 12, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 11, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 12, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Aug. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Aug. 29, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Nov. 26, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

subsidiary

After tenth anniversary in 2015

After fifth anniversary in 2011

Maximum

Minimum

Revolving credit facility

Revolving credit facility

Revolving credit facility

Revolving credit facility

Revolving credit facility

Revolving credit facility

Letter of Credit

Letter of Credit

Senior Notes

Senior Notes

Senior Notes

Senior Notes

Senior Notes

Senior Notes

Senior Notes

Senior Notes

Secured Loan

Secured Loan

Secured Loan

Secured Loan

MIHC

MIHC

MIHC

MIHC

MIHC

MIHC

LIBOR

LIBOR

LIBOR

Increase in Leveraged Ratio by 30 Percent to 35 Percent

Increase in Leveraged Ratio by More than 35 Percent

Event of Default

State and Local Government of Ohio

State and Local Government of Ohio

State and Local Government of Ohio

State and Local Government of Ohio

State and Local Government of Ohio

State and Local Government of Ohio

State and Local Government of Ohio

State and Local Government of Ohio

KEY Equipment Finance

KEY Equipment Finance

KEY Equipment Finance

ING Bank

ING Bank

ING Bank

ING Bank

ING Bank

Comerica Bank

Derivative

Derivative

Derivative

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

6.125% Senior Note

6.125% Senior Note

6.125% Senior Note

6.125% Senior Note

6.125% Senior Note

Maximum

Minimum

Minimum

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Promissory Note

After tenth anniversary in 2015

After fifth anniversary in 2011

Senior Notes

Senior Notes

Senior Notes

Promissory Note

Promissory Note

Promissory Note

Promissory Note

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

Secured Loan

Secured Loan

Secured Loan

Letter of Credit

Letter of Credit

Letter of Credit

Letter of Credit

Letter of Credit

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

6.125% Senior Note

6.125% Senior Note

6.125% Senior Note

Minimum

Minimum

Maximum

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Loans

Promissory Note

Promissory Note

Promissory Note

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

GBP (£)

GBP (£)

USD ($)

6.125% Senior Note

6.125% Senior Note

6.125% Senior Note

Loans

USD ($)

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Term of the debt instrument

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'7 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'15 years

'

'5 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Average rate of interest

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.70%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$350,000,000

'

'

'

'

$200,000,000

'

$175,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

£ 200,000,000

$75,000,000

Letters of credit, outstanding amount

'

82,025,000

'

82,025,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

317,243,000

317,243,000

196,095,000

'

48,467,000

Credit agreement, remaining borrowing capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

267,975,000

'

267,975,000

'

'

92,975,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,317,000

6,317,000

3,905,000

'

'

Debt instrument, marginal interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.40%

3.30%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

356,000

379,000

1,107,000

1,555,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

80,000

92,000

251,000

290,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

58,000

58,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Fronting fee percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.13%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Commitment fee percentage

0.18%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.25%

0.15%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.40%

Trust equity investment

'

3,714,000

'

3,714,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Placement fees in connection with common securities issuance

'

'

'

2,605,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest expense related to trust preferred securities

'

2,028,000

2,027,000

6,076,000

6,075,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of interest swap agreements related to junior subordinated debentures

'

2

'

2

'

2

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maturity of interest rate swaps

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes issued

'

200,000,000

'

200,000,000

'

200,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument, stated interest rate

'

5.50%

'

5.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6.13%

6.13%

'

6.13%

'

'

'

'

4.45%

'

4.45%

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.80%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.27%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Fee for debt instrument

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,706,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Increase(decrease) in interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.50%

1.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,896,000

1,948,000

11,690,000

1,948,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

754,000

2,067,000

'

'

'

Ratio of Indebtedness to Net Capital

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.35

0.3

0.3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.35

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'30 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Grace period in case of acquisition

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'18 months

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest rate at period end

'

8.57%

'

8.57%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.38%

'

1.38%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4.10%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Convertible senior notes interest payable month and day

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'--06-15

'--12-15

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Frequency of periodic payment

'

'

'

'semiannually

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Convertible senior notes maturity date

'

'

'

15-Dec-21

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Common stock, par value

'

$0.01

'

$0.01

'

$0.01

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Conversion earlier date

'

'

'

15-Sep-21

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Conversion rate for conversion of convertible senior notes

'

'

'

38.5985

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Principal amount of convertible notes

'

'

'

1,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Initial conversion price of per share of Common Stock

'

$25.91

'

$25.91

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Notes repurchase price, percentage

'

'

'

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument original discount

'

41,679,000

'

41,679,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Unamortized OID

'

33,357,000

'

33,357,000

'

35,782,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred origination costs relating to the liability component

'

4,750,000

'

4,750,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Transaction costs associated with the equity component

'

'

'

1,250,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest expense

'

3,709,000

3,640,000

11,031,000

10,832,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

170,000

79,000

298,000

102,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of Subsidiaries

'

'

'

'

'

'

2

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument, face amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

250,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

10,800,000

'

10,800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

30,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Monthly installment payment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

117,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

538,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument, maturity date range, end

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25-Feb-18

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Balloon payment at maturity date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,240,000

'

3,240,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of outstanding balance of loan in excess of fair value of aircraft

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

90.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of loans

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2

2

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Promissory notes

'

14,500,000

'

14,500,000

'

14,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest expense

'

11,801,000

9,120,000

35,885,000

24,089,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

94,000

75,000

226,000

216,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred costs

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,430,000

'

1,430,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Availability of letters of credit

'

$20,965,000

'

$20,965,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Fee payable on secured portion of debt, percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.55%

'

'

'

Fee payable on unsecured portion of debt, percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.15%

'

'

'

Commitment fee for the unused capacity, percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.35%

'

'

'

Funding percentage of collateral account

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

Funding percentage required of collateral account Upon Occurrence of Events

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

Acquisition_Costs_and_Other_Un2

Acquisition Costs and Other Underwriting Expenses (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure Summary Of Components Of Acquisition Costs And Other Underwriting Expenses [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Policy acquisition expenses	$122,331	$64,363	$332,219	$155,566
Salaries and benefits	92,621	66,796	262,150	177,907
Other insurance general and administrative expenses	10,560	6,027	25,812	33,944
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	$225,512	$137,186	$620,181	$367,417

Earnings_Per_Share_Summary_of_

Earnings Per Share - Summary of Elements Used in Calculating Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Basic earnings per share:	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to AmTrust common shareholders	$156,590	$58,238	$362,715	$213,513
Less: Net income allocated to participating securities and redeemable non-controlling interest	545	91	1,174	287
Net income allocated to AmTrust common shareholders	156,045	58,147	361,541	213,226
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	74,809	74,391	74,934	74,152
Less: Weighted average participating shares outstanding (in shares)	261	116	243	99
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	74,548	74,275	74,691	74,053
Net income per AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. common share - basic (usd per share)	$2.09	$0.78	$4.84	$2.88
Diluted earnings per share:	'	'	'	'
Net income allocated to AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. common shareholders	156,590	58,238	362,715	213,513
Less: Net income allocated to participating securities and redeemable non-controlling interest	545	91	1,174	287
Net income allocated to AmTrust common shareholders	$156,045	$58,147	$361,541	$213,226
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	74,548	74,275	74,691	74,053
Plus: Dilutive effect of stock options, convertible debt, other (in shares)	4,841	4,522	4,394	3,595
Weighted average common shares outstanding - dilutive (in shares)	79,389	78,797	79,085	77,648
Net income per AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. common shares - diluted (usd per share)	$1.97	$0.74	$4.57	$2.75

Earnings_Per_Share_Additional_

Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'	'
Stock repurchased during the period	842,902	1,147,430
Impact of stock repurchased during the period on basic and diluted EPS	$0.01	$0.02
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from diluted earnings per share	'	5,000,000

Share_Based_Compensation_Addit

Share Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 04, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
						Omnibus Incentive Plan	Omnibus Incentive Plan	Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)	Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)	Performance Share Units
								Minimum	Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of shares authorized for stock award, maximum	'	'	'	'	'	'	7,315,068	'	'	'
Common stock remained available for grants	'	'	'	'	'	4,600,000	'	'	'	'
Stock options, expiration term	'	'	'	'10 years	'	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise period of vested option after employment relationship end	'	'	'	'3 months	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share based award, vesting period	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'2 years	'4 years	'
Stock dividend	10.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Adjustment to options outstanding due to dividend paid	10.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Decrease in exercise price due to dividends paid	10.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted	'	'	'	$14.16	$8.10	'	'	'	'	'
Total grants	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	328,788
PSU's granted during the period	'	'	'	883,323	284,681	'	'	'	'	347,875
Fair value of PSU on the date of the grant	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$12,328
Stock based compensation	'	5,250	3,139	13,911	7,920	'	'	'	'	'
Intrinsic value of the stock option exercised	'	'	'	22,867	14,124	'	'	'	'	'
Intrinsic value of stock options	'	64,088	91,102	64,088	91,102	'	'	'	'	'
Stock option exercise and other	'	'	'	4,981	5,429	'	'	'	'	'
Excess tax benefit from award exercised	'	'	'	$4,721	$3,805	'	'	'	'	'

Share_Based_Compensation_Sched

Share Based Compensation - Schedule of Option Granted, Exercised and Expired (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Shares	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of period	2,997,460	3,675,776
Granted	27,500	78,001
Exercised	-765,603	-573,437
Cancelled or terminated	-8,470	-6,776
Outstanding end of period	2,250,887	3,173,564
Weighted Average Exercise Price	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of period	$10.49	$9.41
Granted	$32.49	$29.78
Exercised	$8.81	$7.29
Cancelled or terminated	$7.03	$8.28
Outstanding end of period	$11.35	$10.30

Share_Based_Compensation_Summa

Share Based Compensation - Summary of Restricted Stock and RSU Activity (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Shares or Units	'	'
Non-vested at beginning of period	917,015	888,197
Granted	883,323	284,681
Vested	-321,353	-257,694
Forfeited	-6,123	-581
Non-vested at end of period	1,472,862	914,603
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value	'	'
Non-vested at beginning of period	$24.43	$20.86
Granted	$38.94	$30.94
Vested	$22.57	$19.93
Forfeited	$23.20	$29.31
Non-vested at end of period	$33.54	$24.26

Income_Taxes_Reconciliation_of

Income Taxes - Reconciliation of Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate to Effective Tax Rate (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Income before equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	$145,160	$81,642	$373,972	$270,941
Tax at federal statutory rate of 35%	50,806	28,575	130,890	94,829
Income (loss) of non-includible foreign subsidiaries	-30,604	6,615	-93,737	-23,506
Other, net	-27,866	-11,310	593	-3,932
Provision for income taxes	($7,664)	$23,880	$37,746	$67,391
Effective tax rate	-5.30%	29.20%	10.10%	24.90%

Income_Taxes_Reconciliation_of1

Income Taxes - Reconciliation of Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate to Effective Tax Rate (Parenthetical) (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Federal statutory rate	35.00%	35.00%

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Increase in effective tax rate	-5.30%	29.20%	10.10%	24.90%	'
Effective tax rate without impact of provision adjustment and equalization reserves	26.10%	'	27.20%	'	'
Amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability	$479,900	'	$479,900	'	$360,000
Reclassification of Intangible to Goodwill	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Increase in effective tax rate	12.40%	6.90%	9.80%	7.70%	'

Related_Party_Transactions_Mai

Related Party Transactions (Maiden) (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2007

Sep. 30, 2007

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Apr. 30, 2011

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2007

Apr. 30, 2011

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Apr. 30, 2011

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

TIC

Maiden

Maiden

Maiden

Maiden

AII

AII

AII

AII

AII

AII

Maiden Insurance

Chief Executive Officer

Board of Directors Chairman

Director

Minimum

Minimum

Minimum

Minimum

Maximum

Maximum

Maximum

Retail Business

Maiden

Maiden

Maiden

Maiden

AII

Maiden Insurance

Maiden

Maiden

Maiden Insurance

Maiden

Maiden

AII

AII

AII

Related Party Transaction [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Note payable on collateral loan – related party

$167,975

'

$167,975

'

$167,975

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of capital stock

'

'

'

'

'

'

7.60%

'

7.60%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5.10%

6.20%

9.30%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Premiums, percentage assumed to net

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

40.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of reinsurance related losses assumed

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

40.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Reinsurance recoverable

2,283,765

'

2,283,765

'

1,929,848

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Ceding commission percentage of ceded written premiums

'

'

'

'

'

5.00%

'

'

'

'

31.00%

'

'

'

31.00%

'

5.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

34.38%

Interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.90%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Reinsurance ceded profit ratio

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Reinsurance ceded loss ratio

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

81.50%

'

65.00%

95.00%

'

Extension period of reinsurance agreement term

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'3 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Expiration date reinsurance agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1-Apr-11

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of premiums

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

40.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Term of reinsurance agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'1 year

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest expense on collateral loan

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

453

467

'

'

1,344

1,397

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Collateral debt issued by maiden insurance

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,581,728

'

'

'

1,581,728

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of reinsurance brokerage commissions

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.25%

'

1.25%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Brokerage commission

117,583

89,981

308,083

238,596

'

'

4,814

3,002

14,484

13,444

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assets managed under asset management agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,577,834

'

3,577,834

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Asset management services fee percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.15%

'

'

'

0.20%

'

'

'

Average value of assets under management

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,000,000

'

'

'

1,000,000

'

'

'

Investment management fee

'

'

'

'

'

'

$1,325

$1,080

$3,814

$3,182

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Related_Party_Transactions_Res

Related Party Transactions (Results of Operations Related to Reinsurance Agreements) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Change in unearned premium	($89,783)	($114,901)	($439,746)	($342,471)
Incurred loss and loss adjustment expense - ceded	609,352	410,579	1,755,155	1,046,945
Related Party Transactions	'	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Premium written - ceded	-385,452	-240,564	-1,157,716	-829,402
Change in unearned premium	25,474	8,206	169,632	117,362
Earned premium - ceded	-359,978	-232,358	-988,084	-712,040
Ceding commission on premium written	131,893	74,594	361,202	246,604
Ceding commission – deferred	-22,353	-6,375	-72,311	-47,270
Ceding commission - earned	109,540	68,219	288,891	199,334
Incurred loss and loss adjustment expense - ceded	$229,045	$164,164	$666,026	$494,433

Related_Party_Transactions_NGH

Related Party Transactions (NGHC) (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Feb. 28, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2011

Jan. 31, 2014

Aug. 31, 2011

Feb. 28, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Aug. 31, 2011

Apr. 30, 2014

sqft

sqft

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

Private Placement

Maximum

Minimum

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

Personal Express Insurance Company

Entity

Entity

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

sqft

Related Party Transaction [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of ownership in NGHC

'

'

'

'

13.20%

13.20%

'

13.20%

'

'

15.40%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of reportable entities

'

'

'

'

'

15

'

15

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Shares issued by the company as a part of the agreement

'

'

'

'

13,600,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Gain on sale of investment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$14,712

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary – related party

4,332

1,927

26,847

10,537

'

4,332

1,927

26,847

10,537

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

License fee percentage

'

'

'

'

'

1.25%

'

1.25%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Technology services fee income

'

'

'

'

'

6,140

7,103

19,203

18,475

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Service and fee income

117,583

89,981

308,083

238,596

'

'

'

1,057

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Asset management services fee percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.20%

0.15%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Average value of assets under management

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,000,000

1,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assets managed under asset management agreement

'

'

'

'

'

1,433,780

'

1,433,780

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Investment management fee

'

'

'

'

'

564

440

1,454

1,293

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Management fees

'

'

'

'

'

6,704

7,543

20,657

19,768

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Asset management fees payable

'

'

'

'

'

14,346

'

14,346

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cost of acquiring office building

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7,500

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of ownership interest

'

'

'

'

'

13.20%

'

13.20%

'

'

'

13.20%

'

'

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

50.00%

'

'

Percentage of profits and losses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

57.70%

'

Office area under lease

39,992

'

39,992

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

134,000

'

'

'

Office lease period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'15 years

'

'

'

'

'

Office lease expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

560

627

1,495

1,698

'

'

'

'

Contribution towards payment for guaranties, percentage

'

'

'

'

'

50.00%

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from sale of business

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

21,743

Gain on sale of subsidiary

$0

$0

$6,631

$0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$6,631

Related_Party_Transactions_ACP

Related Party Transactions (ACP Re. Ltd) (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 15, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 15, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 15, 2014

Sep. 15, 2014

Sep. 15, 2014

Sep. 15, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Jan. 03, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 15, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 15, 2014

Sep. 15, 2014

Jan. 31, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 15, 2014

Sep. 15, 2014

Jul. 23, 2014

Sep. 15, 2014

Sep. 15, 2014

Sep. 15, 2014

Tower

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

NGHC

Tower

Tower

Tower

Tower

ANA

ACP Re, Ltd

ACP Re, Ltd

ACP Re, Ltd

ACP Re, Ltd

ACP Re, Ltd

ACP Re, Ltd

ACP Re, Ltd

ACP Re, Ltd

ACP Re, Ltd

ACP Re, Ltd

ACP Re, Ltd

ACP Re, Ltd

ACP Re, Ltd

Earnout Payable

Renewal Rights

Foreign Subsidiaries

US Subsidiaries

AII

Maximum

Minimum

CP Re

CP Re

CP Re

ACP Re, Ltd

TIC

TIC

TIC

TIC

AII

AmTrust

Tower

Scenario 1

Scenario 2

Scenario 3

Scenario 3

NG Re

NG Re

ACP Re, Ltd

Tower

ACP Re, Ltd

ACP Re, Ltd

Aggregate Stop Loss Retrocession Contract

AII

AII

AII

AII

Maximum

Minimum

AII

AmTrust

NG Re

NG Re

Aggregate Stop Loss Reinsurance Agreement

Aggregate Stop Loss Reinsurance Agreement

Aggregate Stop Loss Retrocession Contract

Aggregate Stop Loss Retrocession Contract

Tower

AII

AII

Related Party Transaction [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Asset management services fee percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.20%

0.15%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.20%

'

0.15%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Average value of assets under management

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$1,000,000

'

$1,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assets managed under asset management agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,433,780

'

1,433,780

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

43,741

'

43,741

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Management fees

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,704

7,543

20,657

19,768

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

66

63

182

173

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of outstanding stock acquired

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Contingent consideration arrangements, percentage of gross written premium

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.00%

'

'

'

Contingent consideration arrangements, maximum consideration

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

30,000

'

'

'

Assigned value

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25,200

'

'

Goodwill

400,338

'

400,338

'

373,591

1,700

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Contingent consideration liability

'

'

'

'

'

26,900

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Reinsured percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Gross premium written, percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage reinsured, minimum

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

60.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assumed premiums

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

68,312

475,038

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net earned premium

914,413

613,895

2,618,401

1,558,428

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

104,250

300,288

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves

5,298,819

'

5,298,819

'

4,368,234

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

72,586

'

72,586

72,586

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loss and loss adjustment expense

609,352

410,579

1,755,155

1,046,945

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

198,050

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Insurance commissions

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

26,302

71,712

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Other expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,384

12,444

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Insurance commission, percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

10.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate stop loss reinsurance agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

250,000

'

125,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Ceded reinsurance premiums payable

640,420

'

640,420

'

635,588

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

56,000

56,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Reinsurance agreement, term

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of ceding commission

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revolving credit facility

0

'

0

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

125,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

125,000

250,000

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument, stated interest rate

5.50%

'

5.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7.00%

'

'

'

'

Annual fees

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

30

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Stock pledged as collateral, percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

65.00%

100.00%

Loans receivable

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

125,365

'

125,365

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$365

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Related_Party_Transactions_Add

Related Party Transactions - Additional information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Office area under lease	39,992	'	39,992	'
59 Maiden Lane Associates, LLC	'	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Lease payments	$490	$182	$1,410	$546
33 West Monroe Associates, LLC	'	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Office area under lease	15,765	'	15,765	'
Lease payments	$74	$113	$259	$366

Acquisitions_Additional_Inform

Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Jan. 03, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 23, 2013

Dec. 23, 2013

Dec. 23, 2013

Dec. 23, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Insco Dico Group

Insco Dico Group

Insco Dico Group

Sagicor at Lloyd's Limited

Llyods Property and Casualty Insurance

Llyods Life Insurance

Sagicor Europe Limited

Sagicor Europe Limited

Sagicor Europe Limited

State

syndicate

syndicate

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Payment towards acquisition

'

'

'

'

$88,700

'

'

'

'

'

$93,113

'

'

Number of sates the company wrote premiums

'

'

'

'

50

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net written premium

1,004,196

728,796

3,058,147

1,900,899

'

13,206

41,971

'

'

'

'

74,920

242,519

Service and fee income

117,583

89,981

308,083

238,596

'

1,767

2,346

'

'

'

'

'

'

Purchase price

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

93,113

'

'

'

'

'

Number of syndicate acquired

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,206

44

'

'

'

Stamp capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$330,000

$16,500

'

'

'

Acquisitions_Purchase_Price_Al

Acquisitions - Purchase Price Allocation (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 23, 2013	Jan. 03, 2014
	Sagicor Europe Limited	Insco Dico Group
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and investments	$429,476	$130,031
Premium receivables	89,801	8,684
Prepaid insurance	122,673	'
Reinsurance recoverable	'	5,799
Other receivable	54,479	'
Other assets	10,502	2,114
Deferred tax asset	29,916	3,845
Property and equipment	5,010	1,190
Goodwill and intangible assets	33,539	16,494
Total assets including goodwill	775,396	168,157
Unearned premiums	113,182	25,715
Loss and loss expense reserves	496,836	25,210
Accrued liabilities	55,950	10,210
Ceded reinsurance	16,315	'
Notes payable	'	10,000
Funds held for policyholders	'	5,864
Deferred tax liability	'	2,458
Total liabilities	682,283	79,457
Cash paid	$93,113	$88,700

New_Market_Tax_Credit_Details

New Market Tax Credit (Details) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

NGHC

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

Parent

State and Local Government of Ohio

State and Local Government of Ohio

State and Local Government of Ohio

Key Community Development Corporation (KCDC)

Parent, NGHC, KCDC and State and Local Government of Ohio

Community Development Entities (CDE) [Member]

CDE

NGHC

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

800 Superior LLC

Loans

Promissory Note

Promissory Note

Loans

Schedule of Tax Credit [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from financing transaction

($293,222)

($30,605)

'

'

'

'

'

$8,000

'

'

'

$19,400

'

Percentage of qualified investment income that can be claimed at tax credit against their federal income taxes

'

'

39.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of loans

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2

2

'

'

'

'

Term of the debt instrument

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'15 years

'

'

'

Average rate of interest

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.70%

'

'

'

Number of CDE

'

'

'

'

2

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total benefit a company is entitled to receive

'

'

'

'

'

49.00%

49.00%

'

'

'

51.00%

'

'

Period to recapture

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'7 years

Ownership percentage

'

'

'

13.20%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Shareholder_Equity_and_Accumul2

Shareholder Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Preferred Stock Issuance) (Details) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified

Jul. 10, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 16, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 16, 2014

Jul. 10, 2014

Jul. 02, 2014

Jul. 10, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 16, 2014

Sep. 16, 2014

Jul. 10, 2014

Jul. 02, 2014

Sep. 16, 2014

American Depository Shares

American Depository Shares

American Depository Shares

American Depository Shares

American Depository Shares

American Depository Shares

Noncumulative Preferred Stock

Noncumulative Preferred Stock

Noncumulative Preferred Stock

Noncumulative Preferred Stock

Class of Stock [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Public offering by the company

'

'

'

'

3,200,000

200,000

4,000,000

4,200,000

'

'

'

105,000

'

'

Rate of interest

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7.63%

'

7.25%

'

Preferred stock, par value

'

$0.01

$0.01

$0.01

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$0.01

'

Liquidation preference (in dollars per share)

'

'

'

'

'

'

$25

'

'

$25

'

'

$1,000

$1,000

Net proceeds from the offering

'

'

'

'

'

$101,702

'

'

$77,480

'

'

'

'

'

Discount and expenses on issuance of stock

$3,614

$2,745

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Shareholder_Equity_and_Accumul3

Shareholder Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Ownership Components of Total Equity (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	'	'	$1,578,865	$1,247,465
Net income	157,156	59,689	363,073	214,087
Unrealized holding gain (loss)	'	'	85,726	-72,193
Reclassification adjustment	-1,574	578	-3,370	3,839
Foreign currency translation	'	'	-5,560	-4,739
Unrealized gain on interest rate swap	347	-74	581	862
Share exercises and compensation, other	'	'	18,892	13,349
Common share dividends	'	'	-45,147	-29,337
Preferred stock dividends	-3,505	-2,048	-7,387	-2,048
Capital contribution	'	'	24,013	16,108
Ending Balance	2,143,763	1,498,995	2,143,763	1,498,995
Non-Controlling Interests	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	'	'	137,860	103,344
Net income	'	'	-7,029	-1,474
Foreign currency translation	'	'	-271	'
Capital contribution	'	'	24,013	16,108
Ending Balance	154,573	117,978	154,573	117,978
AmTrust	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	'	'	1,441,005	1,144,121
Net income	'	'	370,102	215,561
Unrealized holding gain (loss)	'	'	85,726	-72,193
Reclassification adjustment	'	'	-3,370	3,839
Foreign currency translation	'	'	-5,289	-4,739
Unrealized gain on interest rate swap	'	'	581	862
Share exercises and compensation, other	'	'	18,892	13,349
Common share dividends	'	'	-45,147	-29,337
Preferred stock dividends	'	'	-7,387	-2,048
Ending Balance	1,989,190	1,381,017	1,989,190	1,381,017
Preferred stock	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Preferred stock issuance, net of fees	'	'	178,641	111,130
Preferred stock | AmTrust	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Preferred stock issuance, net of fees	'	'	'	111,130
Common stock	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Common share (repurchase) issuance	'	'	-44,564	472
Common stock | Non-Controlling Interests	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Common share (repurchase) issuance	'	'	0	0
Common stock | AmTrust	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Common share (repurchase) issuance	'	'	($44,564)	$472

Shareholder_Equity_and_Accumul4

Shareholder Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - AOCI (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	($8,164)	$64,231
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	'	'	110,864	-117,031
Amounts reclassed from accumulated other comprehensive loss	'	'	-5,185	5,906
Income tax benefit (expense)	'	'	-28,031	38,894
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-16,044	18,620	77,648	-72,231
Ending balance	69,484	-8,000	69,484	-8,000
Foreign Currency Items	'	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	2,582	-10,361
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	'	'	-8,137	-7,291
Amounts reclassed from accumulated other comprehensive loss	'	'	0	0
Income tax benefit (expense)	'	'	2,848	2,552
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	'	'	-5,289	-4,739
Ending balance	-2,707	-15,100	-2,707	-15,100
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments	'	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	-7,023	77,605
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	'	'	118,107	-111,066
Amounts reclassed from accumulated other comprehensive loss	'	'	-5,185	5,906
Income tax benefit (expense)	'	'	-30,566	36,806
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	'	'	82,356	-68,354
Ending balance	75,333	9,251	75,333	9,251
Interest Rate Swap Hedge	'	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	-1,985	-3,013
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	'	'	894	1,326
Amounts reclassed from accumulated other comprehensive loss	'	'	0	0
Income tax benefit (expense)	'	'	-313	-464
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	'	'	581	862
Ending balance	-1,404	-2,151	-1,404	-2,151
Net Benefit Plan Assets and Obligations Recognized in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	-1,738	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	'	'	0	0
Amounts reclassed from accumulated other comprehensive loss	'	'	0	0
Income tax benefit (expense)	'	'	0	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	'	'	0	0
Ending balance	($1,738)	$0	($1,738)	$0

Segments_Results_of_Operations

Segments - Results of Operations of Business Segments (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
			Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Number of operating segments	'	'	3	'
Gross written premium	$1,518,481	$1,074,137	$4,628,317	$3,058,673
Net written premium	1,004,196	728,796	3,058,147	1,900,899
Change in unearned premium	-89,783	-114,901	-439,746	-342,471
Net earned premium	914,413	613,895	2,618,401	1,558,428
Loss and loss adjustment expense	-609,352	-410,579	-1,755,155	-1,046,945
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	-225,512	-137,186	-620,181	-367,417
Operating Expenses	-834,864	-547,765	-2,375,336	-1,414,362
Underwriting income	79,549	66,130	243,065	144,066
Service and fee income	117,583	89,981	308,083	238,596
Investment income and realized gain	39,638	24,402	110,104	84,482
Other expenses	-103,493	-90,195	-278,672	-223,332
Interest expense, net of interest income - related party - three months $365; $0 and nine months $365; $0)	-11,801	-9,120	-35,885	-24,089
Foreign currency gain (loss)	26,594	368	25,826	2,423
Gain (loss) on life settlement contracts	-2,910	76	-5,180	80
Acquisition gain on purchase	0	0	0	48,715
Gain on sale of subsidiary	0	0	6,631	0
Provision for income taxes	7,664	-23,880	-37,746	-67,391
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary - related party	4,332	1,927	26,847	10,537
Net income	157,156	59,689	363,073	214,087
Operating Segments | Small Commercial Business	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gross written premium	722,897	423,328	2,366,451	1,189,088
Net written premium	422,539	239,890	1,526,347	632,183
Change in unearned premium	-815	-37,694	-337,362	-115,087
Net earned premium	421,724	202,196	1,188,985	517,096
Loss and loss adjustment expense	-279,056	-130,971	-792,224	-339,669
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	-111,939	-49,783	-299,082	-130,056
Operating Expenses	-390,995	-180,754	-1,091,306	-469,725
Underwriting income	30,729	21,442	97,679	47,371
Service and fee income	26,781	22,024	69,801	65,360
Investment income and realized gain	16,819	10,673	45,390	34,950
Other expenses	-49,901	-35,726	-142,484	-87,099
Interest expense, net of interest income - related party - three months $365; $0 and nine months $365; $0)	-5,619	-3,589	-18,348	-9,365
Foreign currency gain (loss)	0	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on life settlement contracts	-1,449	29	-2,649	30
Acquisition gain on purchase	'	'	'	23,183
Gain on sale of subsidiary	'	'	6,631	'
Provision for income taxes	1,709	-4,942	-5,276	-19,543
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary - related party	0	0	0	0
Net income	19,069	9,911	50,744	54,887
Operating Segments | Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gross written premium	436,845	352,866	1,387,651	1,129,080
Net written premium	331,590	247,383	933,245	722,097
Change in unearned premium	-3,564	-1,001	-12,096	-126,411
Net earned premium	328,026	246,382	921,149	595,686
Loss and loss adjustment expense	-219,535	-164,977	-618,469	-401,998
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	-68,612	-40,096	-185,120	-115,399
Operating Expenses	-288,147	-205,073	-803,589	-517,397
Underwriting income	39,879	41,309	117,560	78,289
Service and fee income	75,178	56,130	193,534	136,196
Investment income and realized gain	13,770	7,664	42,604	31,118
Other expenses	-29,992	-30,559	-83,551	-82,633
Interest expense, net of interest income - related party - three months $365; $0 and nine months $365; $0)	-3,396	-3,037	-10,759	-8,892
Foreign currency gain (loss)	26,594	368	25,826	2,423
Gain (loss) on life settlement contracts	-859	28	-1,553	30
Acquisition gain on purchase	'	'	'	25,532
Gain on sale of subsidiary	'	'	0	'
Provision for income taxes	2,646	-18,203	-26,713	-41,782
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary - related party	0	0	0	0
Net income	123,820	53,700	256,948	140,281
Operating Segments | Specialty Program	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gross written premium	358,739	290,677	874,215	673,612
Net written premium	250,067	234,257	598,555	479,726
Change in unearned premium	-85,551	-95,241	-99,197	-118,556
Net earned premium	164,516	139,016	499,358	361,170
Loss and loss adjustment expense	-110,654	-96,417	-338,483	-247,791
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	-44,915	-39,275	-133,355	-96,187
Operating Expenses	-155,569	-135,692	-471,838	-343,978
Underwriting income	8,947	3,324	27,520	17,192
Service and fee income	117	19	328	86
Investment income and realized gain	9,016	6,142	21,912	16,986
Other expenses	-23,600	-23,443	-52,637	-49,133
Interest expense, net of interest income - related party - three months $365; $0 and nine months $365; $0)	-2,786	-2,417	-6,778	-5,305
Foreign currency gain (loss)	0	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on life settlement contracts	-602	17	-978	18
Acquisition gain on purchase	'	'	'	0
Gain on sale of subsidiary	'	'	0	'
Provision for income taxes	689	3,231	1,001	4,043
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary - related party	0	0	0	0
Net income	-8,219	-13,127	-9,632	-16,113
Operating Segments | Personal Lines Reinsurance	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gross written premium	0	7,266	0	66,893
Net written premium	0	7,266	0	66,893
Change in unearned premium	147	19,035	8,909	17,583
Net earned premium	147	26,301	8,909	84,476
Loss and loss adjustment expense	-107	-18,214	-5,979	-57,487
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	-46	-8,032	-2,624	-25,775
Operating Expenses	-153	-26,246	-8,603	-83,262
Underwriting income	-6	55	306	1,214
Service and fee income	0	0	0	0
Investment income and realized gain	33	-77	198	1,428
Other expenses	0	-467	0	-4,467
Interest expense, net of interest income - related party - three months $365; $0 and nine months $365; $0)	0	-77	0	-527
Foreign currency gain (loss)	0	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on life settlement contracts	0	2	0	2
Acquisition gain on purchase	'	'	'	0
Gain on sale of subsidiary	'	'	0	'
Provision for income taxes	39	292	-47	674
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary - related party	0	0	0	0
Net income	66	-272	457	-1,676
Operating Segments | Corporate and Other	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gross written premium	0	0	0	0
Net written premium	0	0	0	0
Change in unearned premium	0	0	0	0
Net earned premium	0	0	0	0
Loss and loss adjustment expense	0	0	0	0
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating Expenses	0	0	0	0
Underwriting income	0	0	0	0
Service and fee income	15,507	11,808	44,420	36,954
Investment income and realized gain	0	0	0	0
Other expenses	0	0	0	0
Interest expense, net of interest income - related party - three months $365; $0 and nine months $365; $0)	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency gain (loss)	0	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on life settlement contracts	0	0	0	0
Acquisition gain on purchase	'	'	'	0
Gain on sale of subsidiary	'	'	0	'
Provision for income taxes	2,581	-4,258	-6,711	-10,783
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary - related party	4,332	1,927	26,847	10,537
Net income	$22,420	$9,477	$64,556	$36,708

Segments_Long_Lived_Assets_and

Segments - Long Lived Assets and Total Assets of Business Segments (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Property and equipment, net	$150,873	$104,299
Goodwill and intangible assets	724,536	665,393
Total assets	13,220,307	11,279,126
Operating Segments | Small Commercial Business	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Property and equipment, net	77,142	42,054
Goodwill and intangible assets	257,668	233,566
Total assets	5,860,050	4,261,764
Operating Segments | Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Property and equipment, net	45,234	38,297
Goodwill and intangible assets	410,391	399,954
Total assets	5,092,984	5,036,121
Operating Segments | Specialty Program	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Property and equipment, net	28,497	22,280
Goodwill and intangible assets	56,477	31,873
Total assets	2,257,546	1,894,538
Operating Segments | Personal Lines Reinsurance	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Property and equipment, net	0	1,668
Goodwill and intangible assets	0	0
Total assets	9,727	86,703
Operating Segments | Corporate and Other	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets	0	0
Total assets	$0	$0

Subsequent_Event_Additional_In

Subsequent Event - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 01, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
					OptaComp	OptaComp
					Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Payment towards acquisition	'	'	'	'	$34,000	'
Premium earned annually by acquired entity	$914,413	$613,895	$2,618,401	$1,558,428	'	$70,000