American National 10-Q 5 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Entity Registrant Name	'AMERICAN NATIONAL INSURANCE CO /TX/	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000904163	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	26,895,188

Consolidated_Statements_of_Fin

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
ASSETS	'	'
Fixed maturity, bonds held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (Fair Value $9,102,292 and $9,840,751)	$8,674,301	$9,009,282
Fixed maturity, bonds available-for-sale, at fair value (Amortized cost $4,371,545 and $4,316,467)	4,557,161	4,665,576
Equity securities, at fair value (Cost $724,658 and $688,579)	1,277,131	1,075,439
Mortgage loans on real estate, net of allowance	3,333,363	3,143,011
Policy loans	395,709	395,333
Investment real estate, net of accumulated depreciation of $207,346 and $223,462	471,810	511,233
Short-term investments	339,479	313,086
Other invested assets	161,515	125,104
Total investments	19,210,469	19,238,064
Cash and cash equivalents	122,637	303,008
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	316,062	248,425
Accrued investment income	203,684	207,314
Reinsurance recoverables	400,860	418,743
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	51,881	56,826
Premiums due and other receivables	309,694	283,446
Deferred policy acquisition costs	1,274,750	1,247,675
Property and equipment, net	101,245	92,695
Current tax receivable	0	14,578
Other assets	179,903	154,911
Separate account assets	931,947	841,389
Total assets	23,103,132	23,107,074
LIABILITIES	'	'
Life	2,677,978	2,650,822
Annuity	854,576	811,192
Accident and health	65,919	69,962
Policyholders' account balances	11,201,569	11,555,201
Policy and contract claims	1,290,890	1,340,366
Unearned premium reserve	773,020	757,532
Other policyholder funds	303,680	288,391
Liability for retirement benefits	273,410	265,317
Notes payable	114,126	163,384
Current federal income taxes	16,397	0
Deferred tax liabilities, net	120,992	92,150
Other liabilities	453,576	432,041
Separate account liabilities	931,947	841,389
Total liabilities	19,078,080	19,267,747
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	'	'
Common stock, $1.00 par value,-Authorized 50,000,000 Issued 30,832,449 and 30,832,449, Outstanding 26,895,044 and 26,836,664 shares	30,832	30,832
Additional paid-in capital	4,120	0
Accumulated other comprehensive income	281,995	242,010
Retained earnings	3,791,911	3,653,280
Treasury stock, at cost	-97,442	-98,286
Total American National stockholders' equity	4,011,416	3,827,836
Noncontrolling interest	13,636	11,491
Total stockholders' equity	4,025,052	3,839,327
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$23,103,132	$23,107,074

Consolidated_Statements_of_Fin1

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Fair value of bonds held-to-maturity	$9,102,292	$9,840,751
Amortized cost of bonds available-for-sale	4,371,545	4,316,467
Cost of equity securities	724,658	688,579
Accumulated depreciation of investment real estate	$207,346	$223,462
Common stock, par value	$1	$1
Common stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	30,832,449	30,832,449
Common stock, shares outstanding	26,895,044	26,836,664

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Premiums	'	'	'	'
Life	$75,278	$72,203	$215,479	$209,353
Annuity	23,412	30,140	89,733	93,275
Accident and health	52,839	56,199	159,100	167,965
Property and casualty	271,270	272,903	801,106	814,503
Other policy revenues	52,975	49,343	152,910	146,406
Net investment income	254,336	258,190	752,488	754,449
Realized investment gains (losses)	43,795	26,905	107,473	46,852
Other-than-temporary impairments	-312	-13,975	-3,503	-22,073
Other income	11,911	8,160	29,423	22,975
Total premiums and other revenues	785,504	760,068	2,304,209	2,233,705
Policyholder benefits	'	'	'	'
Life	83,821	84,615	246,896	245,237
Annuity	34,860	37,964	118,155	120,931
Claims incurred	'	'	'	'
Accident and health	34,404	38,436	106,378	119,586
Property and casualty	182,809	187,944	581,042	620,462
Interest credited to policyholders' account balances	98,862	108,069	309,738	323,952
Commissions for acquiring and servicing policies	94,504	92,253	273,360	283,295
Other operating expenses	128,115	114,234	381,850	336,378
Change in deferred policy acquisition costs	7,265	7,168	19,568	12,468
Total benefits, losses and expenses	664,640	670,683	2,036,987	2,062,309
Income (loss) before federal income tax and equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated affiliates	120,864	89,385	267,222	171,396
Less: Provision (benefit) for federal income taxes	'	'	'	'
Current	36,541	19,900	63,920	43,384
Deferred	-782	7,754	7,959	-1,131
Total provision (benefit) for federal income taxes	35,759	27,654	71,879	42,253
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax	121	-895	9,774	-2,462
Net income (loss)	85,226	60,836	205,117	126,681
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	2,613	1,650	4,364	1,773
Net income (loss) attributable to American National	$82,613	$59,186	$200,753	$124,908
Earnings per share	'	'	'	'
Basic	$3.08	$2.21	$7.49	$4.68
Diluted	$3.07	$2.20	$7.46	$4.65
Cash dividends to common stockholders	$0.77	$0.77	$2.31	$2.31
Weighted average common shares outstanding	26,780,313	26,736,464	26,789,564	26,699,211
Weighted average common shares outstanding and dilutive potential common shares	26,905,093	26,870,655	26,910,017	26,859,100

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Statement Of Partners Capital [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	$85,226	$60,836	$205,117	$126,681
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	'	'	'	'
Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on securities	26,747	53,446	31,569	113,183
Foreign currency transaction and translation adjustments	-625	-300	-211	30
Defined benefit plan adjustment	2,876	2,351	8,627	7,144
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	28,998	55,497	39,985	120,357
Total comprehensive income (loss)	114,224	116,333	245,102	247,038
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,613	1,650	4,364	1,773
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to American National	$111,611	$114,683	$240,738	$245,265

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cha

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
In Thousands
Balance at beginning of the period at Dec. 31, 2011	'	$30,832	$0	$159,403	$3,545,546	($98,490)	$12,947
Reissuance of treasury shares	'	'	-204	'	'	204	'
Contributions	'	'	'	'	'	'	0
Net income (loss) attributable to American National	124,908	'	'	'	124,908	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	120,357	'	'	120,357	'	'	'
Income tax effect from restricted stock arrangement	'	'	-610	'	'	'	'
Distributions	'	'	'	'	'	'	-2,591
Cash dividends to common stockholders	'	'	'	'	-61,995	'	'
Amortization of restricted stock	'	'	7,710	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,773	'	'	'	'	'	1,773
Purchase of ownership interest from noncontrolling interest	'	'	-1,892	'	'	'	299
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2012	3,838,197	30,832	5,004	279,760	3,608,459	-98,286	12,428
Balance at beginning of the period at Dec. 31, 2012	3,839,327	30,832	0	242,010	3,653,280	-98,286	11,491
Reissuance of treasury shares	'	'	3,012	'	'	844	'
Contributions	'	'	'	'	'	'	456
Net income (loss) attributable to American National	200,753	'	'	'	200,753	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	39,985	'	'	39,985	'	'	'
Income tax effect from restricted stock arrangement	'	'	80	'	'	'	'
Distributions	'	'	'	'	'	'	-2,675
Cash dividends to common stockholders	'	'	'	'	-62,122	'	'
Amortization of restricted stock	'	'	1,028	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	4,364	'	'	'	'	'	4,364
Purchase of ownership interest from noncontrolling interest	'	'	0	'	'	'	0
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2013	$4,025,052	$30,832	$4,120	$281,995	$3,791,911	($97,442)	$13,636

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
OPERATING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Net income (loss)	$205,117	$126,681
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities	'	'
Realized investment (gains) losses	-107,473	-46,852
Other-than-temporary impairments	3,503	22,073
Accretion (amortization) of discounts, premiums and loan origination fees	4,460	-1,719
Net capitalized interest on policy loans and mortgage loans	-20,156	-22,635
Depreciation	24,873	27,697
Interest credited to policyholders' account balances	309,738	323,952
Charges to policyholders' account balances	-152,910	-146,406
Deferred federal income tax (benefit) expense	7,959	-1,131
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates	-9,774	2,462
Distributions from equity method investments	18,925	11,274
Changes in	'	'
Policyholder liabilities	48,816	79,909
Deferred policy acquisition costs	19,568	12,468
Reinsurance recoverables	17,883	16,574
Premiums due and other receivables	-26,248	-30,021
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	4,945	7,368
Accrued investment income	3,630	-3,877
Current tax receivable/payable	30,975	21,856
Liability for retirement benefits	8,093	2,117
Other, net	-38,730	-80,674
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	353,194	321,116
Proceeds from sale/maturity/prepayment of	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities	1,209,058	975,850
Available-for-sale securities	702,625	437,265
Investment real estate	84,371	0
Mortgage loans	446,480	226,527
Policy loans	43,911	50,928
Other invested assets	11,021	6,436
Disposals of property and equipment	674	1,323
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates	22,834	19,246
Payment for the purchase/origination of	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities	-856,086	-916,538
Available-for-sale securities	-737,342	-568,180
Investment real estate	-35,240	-21,948
Mortgage loans	-638,690	-385,263
Policy loans	-19,564	-33,423
Other invested assets	-13,690	-11,507
Additions to property and equipment	-17,958	-19,733
Contributions to unconsolidated affiliates	-94,078	-29,099
Change in short-term investments	-26,393	23,818
Other, net	8,561	8,945
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	90,494	-235,353
FINANCING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Policyholders' account deposits	654,346	897,654
Policyholders' account withdrawals	-1,164,806	-960,668
Change in notes payable	-49,258	102,353
Dividends to stockholders	-62,122	-61,995
Proceeds from (payments to) noncontrolling interest	-2,219	-2,591
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-624,059	-25,247
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	-180,371	60,516
Beginning of the period	303,008	102,114
End of period	$122,637	$162,630

Nature_of_Operations

Nature of Operations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Nature of Operations	'
	1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS
	American National Insurance Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively “American National”) offer a broad spectrum of insurance products, including individual and group life insurance, health insurance, annuities, and property and casualty insurance. Through non-insurance subsidiaries, American National invests primarily in stocks and real estate. Business is conducted in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and American Samoa. The majority of revenues are generated by the insurance business. Various distribution systems are utilized, including multiple-line exclusive agents, independent agents, third-party marketing organizations, career agents, and direct sales to the public.

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices	'
	2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRACTICES
	The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and are reported in U.S. currency. American National consolidates all entities that are wholly-owned and those in which American National owns less than 100% but controls, as well as any variable interest entities in which American National is the primary beneficiary. All material intercompany transactions with consolidated entities have been eliminated. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Certain amounts in prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
	The interim consolidated financial statements and notes herein are unaudited and reflect all adjustments which management considers necessary for the fair presentation of the interim consolidated statements of financial position, operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows.
	The interim consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the annual consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in American National’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2012. The consolidated results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year.
	The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported consolidated financial statement balances. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recently_Issued_Accounting_Pro

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Changes And Error Corrections [Abstract]	'
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	'
	3. RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
	Adoption of New Accounting Standards—The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued the following accounting guidance relevant to American National, including technical amendments and corrections to make the accounting standards easier to understand and fair value measurement easier to apply. Each became effective for American National on January 1, 2013, and unless stated otherwise, did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements:
	Amended guidance for derecognition of an in substance real estate subsidiary. The amendment clarifies that when a reporting entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary that is in substance real estate because of a default on the subsidiary’s nonrecourse debt secured by the real estate, the reporting entity should apply the guidance for real estate sales when evaluating the subsidiary for deconsolidation.
	Guidance that amends the disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities. The new guidance requires disclosures of both gross and net information about offsetting and related arrangements. Subsequently, amendments were issued to clarify the scope of this guidance covering only those derivatives that are either offsets in accordance with the right of setoff conditions, the balance sheet netting criteria or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement.
	Amended guidance on presentation of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). The amendments require disclosures about the amounts reclassified out of AOCI by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement of operations or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of AOCI by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts.
	Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards—The FASB issued the following significant accounting guidance relevant to American National. Each will become effective for American National on January 1, 2014 and unless stated otherwise, is not expected to have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements:
	Guidance addressing questions on the recognition and classification of fees mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on the health insurers’ financial statements. The guidance specifies that the liability for the fee should be recorded in full once the entity provides qualifying health insurance in the applicable calendar year. The corresponding deferred cost is then amortized to expense using a straight-line method of allocation unless another method better allocates the fee over the calendar year that it is payable.
	Amended guidance for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation within the scope of the guidance is fixed at the reporting date, except for obligations addressed within existing GAAP guidance.

Investments_in_Securities

Investments in Securities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]	'
Investments in Securities	'
	4. INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES
	The cost or amortized cost and estimated fair value of investments in securities are shown below (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013
		Cost or			Gross			Gross			Estimated Fair
		Amortized Cost			Unrealized			Unrealized			Value
					Gains			(Losses)
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds held-to-maturity
	U.S. treasury and government	$	1,967		$	19		$	—		$	1,986
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		357,495			21,895			(333	)		379,057
	Foreign governments		29,092			3,005			—			32,097
	Corporate debt securities		7,844,517			465,822			(89,678	)		8,220,661
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		421,530			26,654			(2,039	)		446,145
	Collateralized debt securities		2,370			243			—			2,613
	Other debt securities		17,330			2,403			—			19,733
	Total bonds held-to-maturity		8,674,301			520,041			(92,050	)		9,102,292
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds available-for-sale
	U.S. treasury and government		21,537			853			—			22,390
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		608,732			25,882			(11,290	)		623,324
	Foreign governments		5,000			1,803			—			6,803
	Corporate debt securities		3,622,629			193,827			(42,486	)		3,773,970
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		67,257			3,240			(688	)		69,809
	Commercial mortgage-backed securities		20,934			12,251			—			33,185
	Collateralized debt securities		15,436			1,157			(19	)		16,574
	Other debt securities		10,020			1,086			—			11,106
	Total bonds available-for-sale		4,371,545			240,099			(54,483	)		4,557,161
	Equity securities
	Common stock		701,968			543,559			(6,232	)		1,239,295
	Preferred stock		22,690			15,440			(294	)		37,836
	Total equity securities		724,658			558,999			(6,526	)		1,277,131
	Total investments in securities	$	13,770,504		$	1,319,139		$	(153,059	)	$	14,936,584
		December 31, 2012
		Cost or			Gross			Gross			Estimated Fair
		Amortized Cost			Unrealized			Unrealized			Value
					Gains			(Losses)
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds held-to-maturity
	U.S. treasury and government	$	3,593		$	69		$	—		$	3,662
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		393,541			40,161			(7	)		433,695
	Foreign governments		29,071			4,367			—			33,438
	Corporate debt securities		7,993,167			748,773			(6,782	)		8,735,158
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		549,384			42,313			(1,195	)		590,502
	Collateralized debt securities		2,500			321			—			2,821
	Other debt securities		38,026			3,449			—			41,475
	Total bonds held-to-maturity		9,009,282			839,453			(7,984	)		9,840,751
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds available-for-sale
	U.S. treasury and government		19,649			1,156			—			20,805
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		570,751			44,792			(105	)		615,438
	Foreign governments		5,000			2,344			—			7,344
	Corporate debt securities		3,582,913			303,908			(14,188	)		3,872,633
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		89,486			5,165			(266	)		94,385
	Commercial mortgage-backed securities		20,933			3,509			—			24,442
	Collateralized debt securities		17,676			1,448			(33	)		19,091
	Other debt securities		10,059			1,379			—			11,438
	Total bonds available-for-sale		4,316,467			363,701			(14,592	)		4,665,576
	Equity securities
	Common stock		660,889			383,634			(6,739	)		1,037,784
	Preferred stock		27,690			9,995			(30	)		37,655
	Total equity securities		688,579			393,629			(6,769	)		1,075,439
	Total investments in securities	$	14,014,328		$	1,596,783		$	(29,345	)	$	15,581,766
	The amortized cost and estimated fair value, by contractual maturity, of fixed maturity securities are shown below (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013
		Bonds Held-to-Maturity						Bonds Available-for-Sale
		Amortized			Estimated			Amortized			Estimated Fair
		Cost			Fair Value			Cost			Value
Due in one year or less	$	626,017		$	635,488		$	587,342		$	601,975
Due after one year through five years		2,597,458			2,837,116			1,174,148			1,290,383
Due after five years through ten years		4,928,988			5,082,875			2,223,776			2,271,703
Due after ten years		515,987			541,638			381,279			388,300
Without single maturity date		5,851			5,175			5,000			4,800
Total	$	8,674,301		$	9,102,292		$	4,371,545		$	4,557,161
Actual maturities differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, which are not due at a single maturity, have been allocated to their respective categories based on the year of final contractual maturity.
Proceeds from the sales of available-for-sale securities, with the related gross realized gains and losses, are shown below (in thousands):
	Three months ended						Nine months ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2013			2012			2013			2012
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	$	33,390		$	85,400		$	189,438		$	123,705
Gross realized gains		10,349			15,742			33,699			27,769
Gross realized losses		(97	)		(204	)		(623	)		(374	)
All gains and losses for securities sold throughout the year were determined using specific identification of the securities sold. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, bonds with a carrying value of $13,492,000 and $34,227,000, respectively, were transferred from held-to-maturity to available-for-sale after a significant deterioration in the issuers’ creditworthiness became evident. An unrealized loss of $263,000 was established at the time of the transfer in 2013, while an other-than-temporary impairment of $11,358,000 was recorded in 2012 following the transfers at fair value.
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities
The components of the change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities are shown below (in thousands):
	Nine months ended
	September 30,
	2013			2012
Bonds available-for-sale	$	(163,493	)	$	109,003
Equity securities		165,613			111,498
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities during the year		2,120			220,501
Adjustments for
Deferred policy acquisition costs		46,643			(38,358	)
Participating policyholders’ interest		1,018			(8,192	)
Deferred federal income tax benefit (expense)		(18,212	)		(60,768	)
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities, net of tax	$	31,569		$	113,183
Gross unrealized losses on investment securities and the fair value of the related securities, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, are shown below (in thousands):
	September 30, 2013
	Less than 12 months						12 Months or more						Total
	Unrealized			Fair			Unrealized			Fair			Unrealized			Fair
	(Losses)			Value			(Losses)			Value			(Losses)			Value
Fixed maturity securities, bonds held-to-maturity
U.S. states and political subdivisions	$	(333	)	$	9,506		$	—		$	—		$	(333	)	$	9,506
Corporate debt securities		(84,681	)		1,675,699			(4,997	)		65,551			(89,678	)		1,741,250
Residential mortgage-backed securities		(1,113	)		32,648			(926	)		13,333			(2,039	)		45,981
Total bonds held-to-maturity		(86,127	)		1,717,853			(5,923	)		78,884			(92,050	)		1,796,737
Fixed maturity securities, bonds available-for-sale
U.S. states and political subdivisions		(11,290	)		139,386			—			—			(11,290	)		139,386
Corporate debt securities		(38,704	)		869,875			(3,782	)		88,918			(42,486	)		958,793
Residential mortgage-backed securities		(552	)		17,462			(136	)		1,902			(688	)		19,364
Collateralized debt securities		(2	)		208			(17	)		644			(19	)		852
Total bonds available-for-sale		(50,548	)		1,026,931			(3,935	)		91,464			(54,483	)		1,118,395
Equity securities
Common stock		(6,232	)		59,238			—			—			(6,232	)		59,238
Preferred stock		(294	)		6,207			—			—			(294	)		6,207
Total equity securities		(6,526	)		65,445			—			—			(6,526	)		65,445
Total	$	(143,201	)	$	2,810,229		$	(9,858	)	$	170,348		$	(153,059	)	$	2,980,577
	31-Dec-12
	Less than 12 months						12 Months or more						Total
	Unrealized			Fair			Unrealized			Fair			Unrealized			Fair
	(Losses)			Value			(Losses)			Value			(Losses)			Value
Fixed maturity securities, bonds held-to-maturity
U.S. states and political subdivisions	$	(6	)	$	914		$	(1	)	$	80		$	(7	)	$	994
Corporate debt securities		(4,394	)		319,434			(2,388	)		39,632			(6,782	)		359,066
Residential mortgage-backed securities		(147	)		13,824			(1,048	)		24,666			(1,195	)		38,490
Total bonds held-to-maturity		(4,547	)		334,172			(3,437	)		64,378			(7,984	)		398,550
Fixed maturity securities, bonds available-for-sale
U.S. states and political subdivisions		(105	)		6,523			—			—			(105	)		6,523
Corporate debt securities		(2,077	)		242,261			(12,111	)		70,187			(14,188	)		312,448
Residential mortgage-backed securities		(34	)		1,527			(232	)		8,029			(266	)		9,556
Collateralized debt securities		(8	)		527			(25	)		911			(33	)		1,438
Total bonds available-for-sale		(2,224	)		250,838			(12,368	)		79,127			(14,592	)		329,965
Equity securities
Common stock		(6,739	)		64,003			—			—			(6,739	)		64,003
Preferred stock		(30	)		30			—			—			(30	)		30
Total equity securities		(6,769	)		64,033			—			—			(6,769	)		64,033
Total	$	(13,540	)	$	649,043		$	(15,805	)	$	143,505		$	(29,345	)	$	792,548
As of September 30, 2013, the securities with unrealized losses were not deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, including those with the duration of the unrealized losses exceeding one year. American National has the ability and intent to hold those securities until a market price recovery or maturity. Further, it is not more-likely-than-not that American National will be required to sell them prior to recovery, and recovery is expected in a reasonable period of time. It is possible an issuer’s financial circumstances may be different in the future, which may lead to a different impairment conclusion in future periods.
Credit Risk Management
The bond portfolio distributed by credit quality rating, using both S&P and Moody’s ratings, is shown below:
	September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
AAA		4.9	%		5.5	%
AA		10.8			10.6
A		41			38.2
BBB		39.6			41.4
BB and below		3.7			4.3
Total		100	%		100	%
Equity securities by market sector distribution are shown below:
	September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
Consumer goods		18.9	%		20.3	%
Energy and utilities		15.9			15.8
Financials		19.6			18.9
Healthcare		12.7			12.7
Industrials		8.9			9.1
Information technology		15.9			16.9
Other		8.1			6.3
Total		100	%		100	%

Mortgage_Loans

Mortgage Loans	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Mortgage Loans	'
	5. MORTGAGE LOANS
	Generally, commercial mortgage loans are secured by first liens on income-producing real estate. American National attempts to maintain a diversified portfolio by considering the property-type and location of the underlying collateral. Mortgage loans by property-type and geographic distribution are as follows:
		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Hotel and motel		9.6	%		13.9	%
	Industrial		25.1			24
	Office		34.1			34.9
	Retail		18.6			17.7
	Other		12.6			9.5
	Total		100	%		100	%
		30-Sep-13			31-Dec-12
	East North Central		18.6	%		18.2	%
	East South Central		5.5			7.1
	Mountain		8			7
	Pacific		11.3			13.3
	South Atlantic		21.6			23
	West South Central		28.5			23.2
	Other		6.5			8.2
	Total		100	%		100	%
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, American National foreclosed one loan with a recorded investment of $5,600,000, and four loans with a recorded investment of $34,562,000 in the same period in 2012. There were no loans sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, however, during the same period in 2012, American National sold one commercial loan with a recorded investement of $19,665,000 resulting in a realized gain of $2,607,000.
	Credit Quality
	Commercial mortgage loans placed on nonaccrual status are shown below (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Commercial mortgages
	Retail	$	—		$	12,861
	The credit quality of the mortgage loan portfolio is assessed by evaluating the credit risk of each borrower. A loan is classified as performing or non-performing based on whether all of the contractual terms of the loan have been met.
	The age analysis of past due commercial mortgage loans is shown below (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013
		30-59 Days			60-89 Days			Greater Than		Total			Current		Total
		Past Due			Past Due			90 Days		Past Due					Mortgage Loans
	Commercial mortgages
	Industrial	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—		$	839,095	$	839,095
	Office		—			—			—		—			1,141,901		1,141,901
	Retail		—			—			—		—			627,821		627,821
	Other		—			—			—		—			739,789		739,789
	Total	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—		$	3,348,606		3,348,606
	Allowance for loan losses															15,243
	Mortgage loans on real estate, net of allowance														$	3,333,363
		31-Dec-12
		30-59 Days			60-89 Days			Greater Than		Total			Current		Total
		Past Due			Past Due			90 Days		Past Due					Mortgage Loans
	Commercial mortgages
	Industrial	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—		$	755,198	$	755,198
	Office		—			—			—		—			1,100,407		1,100,407
	Retail		—			—			12,861		12,861			547,965		560,826
	Other		—			—			—		—			738,592		738,592
	Total	$	—		$	—		$	12,861	$	12,861		$	3,142,162	$	3,155,023
	Allowance for loan losses															12,012
	Mortgage loans on real estate, net of allowance														$	3,143,011
	Total mortgage loans are net of unamortized discounts of $898,000 and $4,346,000 and unamortized origination fees of $15,599,000 and $14,076,000 at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. No unearned income is included in these amounts.
	Allowance for Credit Losses
	Loans not evaluated individually for collectibility are segregated by property-type and location, and allowance factors are applied. These factors are developed annually, and reviewed quarterly based on our historical loss experience adjusted for the expected trend in the rate of foreclosure losses. Allowance factors are higher for loans of certain property types and in certain regions based on loss experience or a blended historical loss factor.
	The change in allowance for credit losses in commercial mortgage loans is shown below (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30
		Collectively			Individually			Collectively		Individually
		Evaluated for			Evaluated for			Evaluated for		Evaluated for
		Impairment			Impairment			Impairment		Impairment
	Beginning balance, 2013	$	12,019		$	1,662		$	11,519	$	493
	Change in allowance		1,562			—			2,062		1,169
	Ending balance, 2013	$	13,581		$	1,662		$	13,581	$	1,662
	Beginning balance, 2012	$	11,873		$	493		$	10,828	$	493
	Write down		—			—			—		(2,277	)
	Change in allowance		475			—			1,520		2,277
	Ending balance, 2012	$	12,348		$	493		$	12,348	$	493
At September 30, 2013 and 2012, the recorded investment for loans collectively evaluated for impairment was $3,318,555,000 and $2,999,164,000, respectively, and the recorded investment for loans individually evaluated for impairment was $30,051,000 and $72,340,000, respectively.
Loans individually evaluated for impairment with and without an allowance are shown below (in thousands):
	September 30, 2013						September 30, 2012
	Average			Interest			Average		Interest
	Recorded			Income			Recorded		Income
	Investment			Recognized			Investment		Recognized
Three months ended
With an allowance recorded
Office	$	23,159		$	393		$	—	$	—
Retail		493			—			493		—
Total	$	23,652		$	393		$	493	$	—
Without an allowance recorded
Office		6,432			110			13,022		847
Retail		—			—			14,425		158
Other		—			—			45,277		756
Total	$	6,432		$	110		$	72,724	$	1,761
Nine months ended
With an allowance recorded
Office	$	23,234		$	1,192		$	—	$	—
Retail		493			—			493		—
Total	$	23,727		$	1,192		$	493	$	—
Without an allowance recorded
Office	$	6,439		$	331		$	13,050	$	635
Retail		—			—			13,992		604
Other		—			—			45,283		2,276
Total	$	6,439		$	331		$	72,325	$	3,515
	30-Sep-13						31-Dec-12
	Recorded			Unpaid			Recorded		Unpaid
	Investment			Principal			Investment		Principal
				Balance					Balance
With an allowance recorded
Office (related allowance of $1,169 and $0)	$	23,126		$	23,304		$	—	$	—
Retail (related allowance of $493 and $493)		493			493			493		493
Total	$	23,619		$	23,797		$	493	$	493
Without an allowance recorded
Office	$	6,432		$	6,432		$	36,544	$	36,544
Retail		—			—			17,180		17,180
Other		—			—			55,320		55,320
Total	$	6,432		$	6,432		$	109,044	$	109,044
Troubled Debt Restructurings
A small portion of the mortgage loan portfolio for which American National has granted concessions related to the borrowers’ ability to pay the loans is classified as troubled debt restructurings. Concessions are generally one of, or a combination of, a delay in payment of principal or interest, a reduction of the contractual interest rate or an extension of the maturity date. American National considers the amount, timing and extent of concessions in determining any impairment or changes in the specific allowance for loan losses recorded in connection with a troubled debt restructuring. The carrying value after specific allowance, before and after modification in a troubled debt restructuring, may not change significantly, or may increase if the expected recovery is higher than the pre-modification recovery assessment.
The number of mortgage loans and recorded investment in troubled debt restructuring are as follows:
	Nine months ended September 30, 2013								Nine months ended September 30, 2012
	Number of			Recorded			Recorded		Number of			Recorded		Recorded
	contracts			investment pre-			investment post		contracts			investment pre-		investment post
				modification			modification					modification		modification
Office		1		$	6,432		$	6,432		1		$	6,803	$	6,803
Retail		—			—			—		1			4,319		4,319
Total		1		$	6,432		$	6,432		2		$	11,122	$	11,122
There are no commitments to lend additional funds to debtors whose loans have been modified in troubled debt restructuring, and there have been no defaults on modified loans during the period.

Investment_Real_Estate

Investment Real Estate	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Real Estate [Abstract]	'
Investment Real Estate	'
	6. INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE
	Investment real estate by property-type and geographic distribution are as follows:
		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Industrial		17.8	%		18.1	%
	Office		25.7			21.9
	Shopping centers		33.4			41
	Other		23.1			19
	Total		100	%		100	%
		30-Sep-13			31-Dec-12
	East North Central		8.9	%		10.3	%
	East South Central		6.4			5.3
	Mountain		6.9			6.2
	South Atlantic		10.8			11.2
	West South Central		58.7			60.8
	Other		8.3			6.2
	Total		100	%		100	%
	American National and its wholly-owned subsidiaries regularly invest in real estate partnerships and joint ventures. American National participates in the design of these entities with the sponsor, but in most cases, its involvement is limited to financing. Through analysis performed by American National, some of these partnerships and joint ventures have been determined to be variable interest entities (“VIEs”). In certain instances, in addition to an economic interest in the entity, American National holds the power to direct the most significant activities of the entity and is deemed the primary beneficiary or consolidator of the entity. The assets of the consolidated VIEs are restricted and must first be used to settle the liabilities of the VIE. Creditors or beneficial interest holders of these VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of American National, as American National’s obligation is limited to the amount of its committed investment. American National has not provided financial or other support to the VIEs in the form of liquidity arrangements, guarantees, or other commitments to third parties that may affect the fair value or risk of its variable interest in the VIEs in 2013 or 2012.
	The assets and liabilities relating to the VIEs which are consolidated in American National’s financial statements are as follows (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Investment real estate	$	113,214		$	162,502
	Short-term investments		—			969
	Cash and cash equivalents		2,372			3,671
	Accrued investment income		2,146			2,641
	Other receivables		9,165			11,709
	Other assets		5,437			6,487
	Total assets of consolidated VIEs	$	132,334		$	187,979
	Notes payable	$	114,126		$	163,384
	Other liabilities		5,470			6,647
	Total liabilities of consolidated VIEs	$	119,596		$	170,031
	The total notes payable in the consolidated statements of financial position pertain to the borrowings of the consolidated VIEs. The liability of American National Insurance Company on notes payable of the consolidated VIEs is limited to the amount of its direct or indirect investment in the respective ventures, which totaled $12,856,000 and $18,063,000 at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The current portion of notes payable was $3,200,000 and $50,884,000 at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The average interest rate on the current portion of the notes payable was 4.0% during 2013. The total long-term portion of notes payable consists of three notes with the following interest rates: 4.0%, adjusted LIBOR plus 1.0% and adjusted LIBOR plus 2.5%. Of the long-term notes payable, $9,375,000 will mature in 2016, with the remainder maturing beyond 5 years.
	For other VIEs in which American National is a partner, it is not the primary beneficiary and these entities were not consolidated, as the major decisions that most significantly impact the economic activities of the VIE require unanimous consent of all partners. The following table presents the carrying amount and maximum exposure to loss relating to unconsolidated VIEs (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013						December 31, 2012
		Carrying			Maximum			Carrying		Maximum
		Amount			Exposure			Amount		Exposure
					to Loss					to Loss
	Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	$	153,425		$	153,425		$	81,548	$	81,548
	Mortgage loans		84,497			84,497			57,434		57,434
	Accured investment income		631			631			309		309

Derivative_Instruments

Derivative Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Derivative Instruments	'
	7. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
	American National purchases over-the-counter equity-indexed options as economic hedges against fluctuations in the equity markets to which equity-indexed products are exposed. Equity-indexed contracts include a fixed host universal-life insurance or annuity contract and an equity-indexed embedded derivative. The detail of derivative instruments is shown below (in thousands, except the number of instruments):
			September 30, 2013									December 31, 2012
	Derivatives Not Designated	Location in the	Number of			Notional			Estimated Fair			Number of			Notional		Estimated Fair
	as Hedging Instruments	Consolidated Statements of Financial Position	Instruments			Amounts			Value			Instruments			Amounts		Value
	Equity-indexed options	Other invested assets		379		$	918,100		$	129,749			356		$	846,900	$	82,625
	Equity-indexed embedded derivative	Future policy benefits		30,804			782,900			111,289			22,941			722,500		75,032
			Gains (Losses) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
			Three months ended						Nine months ended
	Derivatives Not Designated	Location in the	September 30,						September 30,
	as Hedging Instruments	Consolidated Statements of Operations	2013			2012			2013			2012
	Equity-indexed options	Net investment income	$	13,260		$	10,448		$	48,019		$	21,947
	Equity-indexed embedded derivative	Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances		(11,056	)		(7,756	)		(39,750	)		(16,765	)

Net_Investment_Income_and_Real

Net Investment Income and Realized Investment Gains (Losses)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Net Investment Income and Realized Investment Gains (Losses)	'
	8. NET INVESTMENT INCOME AND REALIZED INVESTMENT GAINS (LOSSES)
	Net investment income is shown below (in thousands):
		Three months ended						Nine months ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Bonds	$	157,888		$	171,515		$	479,296		$	514,237
	Equity securities		7,417			6,965			22,653			20,718
	Mortgage loans		55,629			52,501			163,497			153,008
	Real estate		11,297			8,173			10,228			16,456
	Options		13,260			10,448			48,019			21,947
	Other invested assets		8,845			8,588			28,795			28,083
	Total	$	254,336		$	258,190		$	752,488		$	754,449
	Realized investment gains (losses) are shown below (in thousands):
		Three months ended						Nine months ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Bonds	$	9,907		$	8,393		$	16,826		$	21,813
	Equity securities		10,149			12,172			30,668			22,386
	Mortgage loans		(1,561	)		2,132			(1,172	)		(1,190	)
	Real estate		25,311			3,386			61,257			3,134
	Other invested assets		(11	)		822			(106	)		709
	Total	$	43,795		$	26,905		$	107,473		$	46,852
	The other-than-temporary-impairment losses are shown below (in thousands):
		Three months ended						Nine months ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Bonds	$	—		$	(12,659	)	$	—		$	(12,659	)
	Equity securities		(312	)		(1,316	)		(3,503	)		(9,414	)
	Total	$	(312	)	$	(13,975	)	$	(3,503	)	$	(22,073	)

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	9. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
	The carrying amount and estimated fair value of financial instruments are shown below (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013						December 31, 2012
		Carrying			Estimated			Carrying			Estimated
		Amount			Fair Value			Amount			Fair Value
	Financial assets
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds held-to-maturity	$	8,674,301		$	9,102,292		$	9,009,282		$	9,840,751
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds available-for-sale		4,557,161			4,557,161			4,665,576			4,665,576
	Equity securities		1,277,131			1,277,131			1,075,439			1,075,439
	Equity-indexed options		129,749			129,749			82,625			82,625
	Mortgage loans on real estate, net of allowance		3,333,363			3,679,838			3,143,011			3,441,645
	Policy loans		395,709			395,709			395,333			395,333
	Short-term investments		339,479			339,479			313,086			313,086
	Separate account assets		931,947			931,947			841,389			841,389
	Total financial assets	$	19,638,840		$	20,413,306		$	19,525,741		$	20,655,844
	Financial liabilities
	Investment contracts	$	9,495,111		$	9,495,111		$	9,987,431		$	9,987,431
	Embedded derivative liability for equity-indexed contracts		111,289			111,289			75,032			75,032
	Notes payable		114,126			114,126			163,384			163,384
	Separate account liabilities		931,947			931,947			841,389			841,389
	Total financial liabilities	$	10,652,473		$	10,652,473		$	11,067,236		$	11,067,236
	Summary
	Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability. A fair value hierarchy is used to determine fair value based on a hypothetical transaction at the measurement date from the perspective of a market participant. American National has evaluated the types of securities in its investment portfolio to determine an appropriate hierarchy level based upon trading activity and the observability of market inputs. The classification of assets or liabilities within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of significant input to its valuation. The input levels are defined as follows:
	Level 1	Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
	Level 2	Quoted prices in markets that are not active or inputs that are observable directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities other than quoted prices in Level 1; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
	Level 3	Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Unobservable inputs reflect American National’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose values are determined using pricing models and third-party evaluation, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.
	Fixed Maturity Securities and Equity Options—American National utilizes a pricing service to estimate fair value measurements. The estimates of fair value for most fixed maturity securities, including municipal bonds, provided by the pricing service are disclosed as Level 2 measurements as the estimates are based on observable market information rather than market quotes.
	The pricing service utilizes market quotations for fixed maturity securities that have quoted prices in active markets. Since fixed maturity securities generally do not trade on a daily basis, the pricing service prepares estimates of fair value measurements for these securities using its proprietary pricing applications, which include available relevant market information, benchmark curves, benchmarking of like securities, sector groupings and matrix pricing. Additionally, an option adjusted spread model is used to develop prepayment and interest rate scenarios.
	The pricing service evaluates each asset class based on relevant market information, credit information, perceived market movements and sector news. The market inputs utilized in the pricing evaluation, listed in the approximate order of priority, include: benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, reference data, and economic events. The extent of the use of each market input depends on the asset class and the market conditions. Depending on the security, the priority of the use of inputs may change or some market inputs may not be relevant. For some securities, additional inputs may be necessary.
	American National has reviewed the inputs and methodology used and the techniques applied by the pricing service to produce quotes that represent the fair value of a specific security. The review confirms that the pricing service is utilizing information from observable transactions or a technique that represents a market participant’s assumptions. American National does not adjust quotes received from the pricing service. The pricing service utilized by American National has indicated that they will only produce an estimate of fair value if there is objectively verifiable information available.
	American National holds a small amount of private placement debt and fixed maturity securities that have characteristics that make them unsuitable for matrix pricing. For these securities, a quote from an independent broker (typically a market maker) is obtained. Due to the disclaimers on the quotes that indicate that the price is indicative only, American National includes these fair value estimates in Level 3.
	The pricing of certain commercial mortgage-backed securities use discounted cash flow models, and these securities are classified as Level 3 measurements. These models include significant non-observable inputs including an internally determined credit rating of the security and an externally provided credit spread. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the modeled discount rate ranges from 5.9% to 6.0%.
	For securities priced using a quote from an independent broker, such as the equity options and certain fixed maturity securities, American National uses a market-based fair value analysis to validate the reasonableness of prices received from an independent broker. Price variances above a certain threshold are analyzed further to determine if any pricing issue exists. This analysis is generally performed on a weekly basis, but no less frequently than on a monthly basis.
	Equity Securities—For publicly-traded equity securities, prices are received from a nationally recognized pricing service that are based on observable market transactions, and these securities are classified as Level 1 measurements. For certain preferred stock, current market quotes in active markets are unavailable. In these instances, an estimate of fair value is received from the pricing service. The service utilizes similar methodologies to price preferred stocks as it does for fixed maturity securities. These estimates are disclosed as Level 2 measurements. American National tests the accuracy of the information provided by reference to other services regularly.
	Mortgage Loans—The fair value of mortgage loans is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses on a loan by loan basis by applying a discount rate to expected cash flows from future installment and balloon payments. The discount rate takes into account general market trends and specific credit risk trends for the individual loan. Factors used to arrive at the discount rate include inputs from spreads based on U.S. Treasury notes and the loan’s credit quality, region, property type, lien number, payment type and current status.
	Embedded Derivative—The embedded derivative liability for equity-indexed contracts is measured at fair value and is recalculated each reporting period using equity option pricing models. To validate the assumptions used to price the embedded derivative liability, American National measures and compares embedded derivative returns against the returns of equity options held to hedge the liability cash flows.
	The significant unobservable input used to calculate the fair value of the embedded derivatives is equity option implied volatility. This volatility assumption is the range of implied volatilities that American National has determined market participants would use to price equity options that match the current derivative characteristics of our in-force equity-indexed contracts. Implied volatility can vary by term and strike price. An increase in implied volatility will result in an increase in the value of the equity-indexed embedded derivatives, all other things being equal. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the implied volatility used to estimate embedded derivative value ranges from 14.5% to 29.4% and 15.9.% to 30.1%, respectively.
	Other Financial Instruments—Other financial instruments classified as Level 3 measurements, as there is little or no market activity, are as follows:
	Policy loans—The carrying value of policy loans is the outstanding balance plus any accrued interest. Due to the collateralized nature of policy loans, unpredictable timing of repayments and the fact that it cannot be separated from the policy contract and it is settled at outstanding value, American National believes that the carrying value of policy loans approximates fair value.
	Investment contracts —The carrying value of investment contracts is equivalent to the accrued account balance. The accrued account balance consists of deposits, net of withdrawals, plus or minus interest credited, fees and charges assessed and other adjustments. American National believes that the carrying value of investment contracts approximates fair value because the majority of these contracts’ interest rates reset to current rates offered at anniversary.
	Notes payable—Notes payable are carried at outstanding principal balance. The carrying value of the notes payable approximates fair value because the underlying interest rates approximate market rates at the balance sheet date.
	Quantitative Disclosures
	The fair value hierarchy measurements of the financial instruments are shown below (in thousands):
		Fair Value Measurement as of September 30, 2013
		Total Estimated
		Fair Value			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	Financial assets
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds held-to-maturity
	U.S. treasury and government	$	1,986		$	—		$	1,986		$	—
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		379,057			—			379,057			—
	Foreign governments		32,097			—			32,097			—
	Corporate debt securities		8,220,661			—			8,174,665			45,996
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		446,145			—			445,139			1,006
	Collateralized debt securities		2,613			—			—			2,613
	Other debt securities		19,733			—			19,733			—
	Total bonds held-to-maturity		9,102,292			—			9,052,677			49,615
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds available-for-sale
	U.S. treasury and government		22,390			—			22,390			—
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		623,324			—			620,804			2,520
	Foreign governments		6,803			—			6,803			—
	Corporate debt securities		3,773,970			—			3,761,613			12,357
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		69,809			—			67,683			2,126
	Commercial mortgage-backed securities		33,185			—			—			33,185
Collateralized debt securities		16,574			—			14,614			1,960
Other debt securities		11,106			—			11,106			—
Total bonds available-for-sale		4,557,161			—			4,505,013			52,148
Equity securities
Common stock		1,239,295			1,239,295			—			—
Preferred stock		37,836			37,836			—			—
Total equity securities		1,277,131			1,277,131			—			—
Options		129,749			—			—			129,749
Mortgage loans on real estate		3,679,838			—			3,679,838			—
Policy loans		395,709			—			—			395,709
Short-term investments		339,479			—			339,479			—
Separate account assets		931,947			—			931,947			—
Total financial assets	$	20,413,306		$	1,277,131		$	18,508,954		$	627,221
Financial liabilities
Investment contracts	$	9,495,111		$	—		$	—		$	9,495,111
Embedded derivative liability for equity-indexed contracts		111,289			—			—			111,289
Notes payable		114,126			—			—			114,126
Separate account liabilities		931,947			—			931,947			—
Total financial liabilities	$	10,652,473		$	—		$	931,947		$	9,720,526
	Fair Value Measurement as of December 31, 2012
	Total Estimated
	Fair Value			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
Financial assets
Fixed maturity securities, bonds held-to-maturity
U.S. treasury and government	$	3,662		$	—		$	3,662		$	—
U.S. states and political subdivisions		433,695			—			433,695			—
Foreign governments		33,438			—			33,438			—
Corporate debt securities		8,735,158			—			8,662,164			72,994
Residential mortgage-backed securities		590,502			—			589,441			1,061
Collateralized debt securities		2,821			—			—			2,821
Other debt securities		41,475			—			41,475			—
Total bonds held-to-maturity		9,840,751			—			9,763,875			76,876
Fixed maturity securities, bonds available-for-sale
U.S. treasury and government		20,805			—			20,805			—
U.S. states and political subdivisions		615,438			—			612,913			2,525
Foreign governments		7,344			—			7,344			—
Corporate debt securities		3,872,633			—			3,796,949			75,684
Residential mortgage-backed securities		94,385			—			91,938			2,447
Commercial mortgage-backed securities		24,442			—			—			24,442
Collateralized debt securities		19,091			—			17,156			1,935
Other debt securities		11,438			—			11,438			—
Total bonds available-for-sale		4,665,576			—			4,558,543			107,033
Equity securities
Common stock		1,037,784			1,037,784			—			—
Preferred stock		37,655			37,652			—			3
Total equity securities		1,075,439			1,075,436			—			3
Options		82,625			—			—			82,625
Mortgage loans on real estate		3,441,645			—			3,441,645			—
Policy loans		395,333			—			—			395,333
Short-term investments		313,086			—			313,086			—
Separate account assets		841,389			—			841,389			—
Total financial assets	$	20,655,844		$	1,075,436		$	18,918,538		$	661,870
Financial liabilities
Investment contracts	$	9,987,431		$	—		$	—		$	9,987,431
Embedded derivative liability for equity-indexed contracts		75,032			—			—			75,032
Notes payable		163,384			—			—			163,384
Separate account liabilities		841,389			—			841,389			—
Total financial liabilities	$	11,067,236		$	—		$	841,389		$	10,225,847
For financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs during the period, a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances is shown below (in thousands):
	Level 3
	Three months ended September 30,									Nine months ended September 30,
	Assets						Liability			Assets						Liability
				Equity-									Equity-
	Investment			Indexed			Embedded			Investment			Indexed			Embedded
	Securities			Options			Derivative			Securities			Options			Derivative
Beginning balance, 2013	$	55,558		$	115,558		$	100,963		$	107,036		$	82,625		$	75,032
Total realized and unrealized investment gains/losses included in other comprehensive income		(633	)		—			—			10,496			—			—
Net fair value change included in realized gains/losses		(1	)		—			—			218			—			—
Net gain (loss) for derivatives included in net investment income		—			11,775			—			—			42,941			—
Net change included in interest credited		—			—			11,056			—			—			39,750
Purchases, sales and settlements or maturities
Purchases		45			4,470			—			2,115			12,178			—
Sales		(138	)		—			—			(14,272	)		—			—
Settlements or maturities		—			(2,054	)		—			—			(7,995	)		—
Premiums less benefits		—			—			(730	)		—			—			(3,493	)
Gross transfers into Level 3		157			—			—			157			—			—
Gross transfers out of Level 3		(2,840	)		—			—			(53,602	)		—			—
Ending balance September 30, 2013	$	52,148		$	129,749		$	111,289		$	52,148		$	129,749		$	111,289
	Level 3
	Three months ended September 30,									Nine months ended September 30,
	Assets						Liability			Assets						Liability
	Investment			Equity-			Embedded			Investment			Equity-			Embedded
	Securities			Indexed			Derivative			Securities			Indexed			Derivative
				Options									Options
Beginning balance, 2012	$	47,921		$	77,136		$	72,194		$	15,815		$	65,188		$	63,275
Total realized and unrealized investment gains/losses included in other comprehensive income		11,372			—			—			10,836			—			—
Net fair value change included in realized gains/losses		(11,471	)		—			—			(11,441	)		—			—
Net gain (loss) for derivatives included in net investment income		—			9,708			—			—			17,878			—
Net change included in interest credited		—			—			7,756			—			—			16,765
Purchases, sales and settlements or maturities
Purchases		46			2,991			—			598			11,472			—
Sales		(3	)		—			—			(269	)		—			—
Settlements or maturities		—			(1,359	)		—			(395	)		(6,062	)		—
Premiums less benefits		—			—			374			—			—			284
Transfers from held to maturity		13,118									13,118
Gross transfers into Level 3		2			—			—			32,723			—			—
Ending balance, 2012	$	60,985		$	88,476		$	80,324		$	60,985		$	88,476		$	80,324
Within the net gain (loss) for derivatives included in net investment income were unrealized gains of $39,652,000 and $16,334,000 relating to assets still held at September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value hierarchies. The transfers into Level 3 were the result of existing securities no longer being priced by the third-party pricing service at the end of the period. American National’s valuation of these securities involves judgment regarding assumptions market participants would use including quotes from independent brokers. The transfers out of Level 3 were securities being priced by a third-party service at the end of the period, using inputs that are observable or derived from market data, which resulted in classification of these assets as Level 2.

Deferred_Policy_Acquisition_Co

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Insurance [Abstract]	'
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs	'
	10. DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS
	Deferred policy acquisition costs are shown below (in thousands):
								Accident			Property &
		Life			Annuity			& Health			Casualty			Total
	Beginning balance 2013	$	653,416		$	406,540		$	49,206		$	138,513		$	1,247,675
	Additions		80,226			38,467			9,457			157,206			285,356
	Amortization		(59,201	)		(66,129	)		(11,537	)		(168,057	)		(304,924	)
	Effect of change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities		5,654			40,989			—			—			46,643
	Net change		26,679			13,327			(2,080	)		(10,851	)		27,075
	Ending balance at September 30, 2013	$	680,095		$	419,867		$	47,126		$	127,662		$	1,274,750
	Commissions comprise the majority of the additions to deferred policy acquisition costs for each year.

Liability_for_Unpaid_Claims_an

Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Insurance [Abstract]	'
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses	'
	11. LIABILITY FOR UNPAID CLAIMS AND CLAIM ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES
	The liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses (“claims”) for accident and health, and property and casualty insurance is included in the “Policy and contract claims” in the consolidated statements of financial position and represents the amount estimated for claims that have been reported but not settled and claims incurred but not reported (“IBNR”). Liability for unpaid claims are estimated based upon American National’s historical experience and actuarial assumptions that consider the effects of current developments, anticipated trends and risk management programs, reduced for anticipated salvage and subrogation. The effects of the changes are included in the consolidated results of operations in the period in which the changes occur.
	Information regarding the liability for unpaid claims is shown below (in thousands):
		Nine months  ended
		September 30,
		2013			2012
	Unpaid claims balance, beginning	$	1,168,047		$	1,180,259
	Less reinsurance recoverables		256,885			235,174
	Net beginning balance		911,162			945,085
	Incurred related to
	Current		743,194			779,602
	Prior years		(50,553	)		(46,037	)
	Total incurred claims		692,641			733,565
	Paid claims related to
	Current		442,100			454,183
	Prior years		266,472			284,025
	Total paid claims		708,572			738,208
	Net balance		895,231			940,442
	Plus reinsurance recoverables		226,822			238,268
	Unpaid claims balance, ending	$	1,122,053		$	1,178,710
	The net and gross reserve calculations have shown favorable development for the last several years as a result of favorable loss emergence compared to what was implied by the loss development patterns used in the original estimation of losses in prior years. Estimates for ultimate incurred claims attributable to insured events of prior years decreased by approximately $50,553,000 during the first nine months of 2013 and $46,037,000 during the same period in 2012.

Federal_Income_Taxes

Federal Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Federal Income Taxes	'
	12. FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
	A reconciliation of the effective tax rate to the statutory federal tax rate is shown below (in thousands, except percentages):
		Three months ended September 30,												Nine months ended September 30,
		2013						2012						2013						2012
		Amount			Rate			Amount			Rate			Amount			Rate			Amount			Rate
	Income tax expense on pre-tax income	$	42,302			35	%	$	31,285			35	%	$	93,527			35	%	$	59,989			35	%
	Tax-exempt investment income		(1,502	)		(1.2	)		(1,827	)		(2.0	)		(4,700	)		(1.8	)		(5,569	)		(3.2	)
	Dividend exclusion		(1,710	)		(1.4	)		(1,501	)		(1.7	)		(4,802	)		(1.8	)		(4,453	)		(2.6	)
	Miscellaneous tax credits, net		(1,930	)		(1.6	)		(2,206	)		(2.5	)		(5,820	)		(2.2	)		(6,669	)		(3.9	)
	Other items, net		(1,401	)		(1.2	)		1,903			2.1			(6,326	)		(2.3	)		(1,045	)		(0.6	)
	Effective tax	$	35,759			29.6	%	$	27,654			30.9	%	$	71,879			26.9	%	$	42,253			24.7	%
	American National made payments of $37,784,000 and $20,293,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to the deferred tax assets and liabilities are shown below (in thousands):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	DEFERRED TAX ASSETS
	Investments, principally due to impairment losses	$	71,740		$	74,117
	Investment in real estate and other invested assets principally due to investment valuation allowances		8,580			7,259
	Policyholder funds, principally due to policy reserve discount		230,922			229,429
	Policyholder funds, principally due to unearned premium reserve		32,916			30,337
	Participating policyholders’ surplus		42,144			37,014
	Pension		95,981			94,847
	Commissions and other expenses		7,365			7,889
	Tax carryforwards		13,179			23,041
	Gross deferred tax assets		502,827			503,933
	DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES
	Available-for-sale securities, principally due to net unrealized gains		257,847			257,290
	Investment in bonds, principally due to accrual of discount on bonds		5,994			9,415
	Deferred policy acquisition costs, due to difference between GAAP and tax amortization methods		338,928			327,245
	Property, plant and equipment, principally due to difference between
	GAAP and tax depreciation methods		8,113			1,462
	Other liabilities		12,937			671
	Gross deferred tax liabilities		623,819			596,083
	Total net deferred tax assets (liabilities)	$	(120,992	)	$	(92,150	)
	Management believes that a sufficient level of taxable income will be achieved over time to utilize the deferred tax assets in the consolidated federal tax return; therefore, no valuation allowance was recorded as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. However, if not utilized beforehand, approximately $13,179,000 in ordinary loss tax carryforwards will expire on December 31, 2033.
	The statute of limitations for the examination of federal income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service for years 2006 to 2011 either has been extended or has not expired. In the opinion of management, all prior year deficiencies have been paid or adequate provisions have been made for any tax deficiencies that may be upheld. No provision for penalties was established, and no interest expense was incurred for 2013 or 2012, relating to uncertain tax positions. Management does not believe that there are any uncertain tax benefits that could be recognized within the next twelve months that would decrease American National’s effective tax rate.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	13. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
	The components of and changes in the accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”), and the related tax effects, are shown below (in thousands):
		Net Unrealized			Defined			Foreign			AOCI
		Gains/(Losses)			Benefit			Currency
		on Securities			Pension Plan			Adjustments
					Adjustments
	Beginning balance 2013	$	370,842		$	(129,003	)	$	171		$	242,010
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI (net of tax benefit $12,720 and expense $4,645)		(23,095	)		8,627			—			(14,468	)
	Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period (net of tax expense $13,277)		24,658									24,658
	Unrealized adjustment to DAC (net of tax expense $17,299)		29,344									29,344
	Unrealized (gains) losses on investments attributable to participating policyholders’ interest (net of tax expense $356)		662									662
	Foreign currency adjustment (net of tax benefit $114)								(211	)		(211	)
	Ending balance at September 30, 2013	$	402,411		$	(120,376	)	$	(40	)	$	281,995
	Beginning balance 2012	$	274,837		$	(115,485	)	$	51		$	159,403
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI (net of tax benefit $3,277 and expense $3,847)		(5,757	)		7,144			—			1,387
	Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period (net of tax expense $80,337)		149,198									149,198
	Unrealized adjustment to DAC (net of tax benefit $13,425)		(24,933	)								(24,933	)
	Unrealized (gains) losses on investments attributable to participating policyholders’ interest (net of tax benefit $2,867)		(5,325	)								(5,325	)
	Foreign currency adjustment (net of tax expense $16)								30			30
	Ending balance at September 30, 2012	$	388,020		$	(108,341	)	$	81		$	279,760

Stockholders_Equity_and_Noncon

Stockholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interests	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Stockholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interests	'
	14. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
	American National has one class of common stock with a par value of $1.00 per share and 50,000,000 authorized shares. The amounts outstanding at the dates indicated are shown below:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Common stock
	Shares issued		30,832,449			30,832,449
	Treasury shares		(3,937,405	)		(3,995,785	)
	Outstanding shares		26,895,044			26,836,664
	Restricted shares		(190,667	)		(185,334	)
	Unrestricted outstanding shares		26,704,377			26,651,330
	Stock-based compensation
	American National has one stock-based compensation plan, which allows for grants of Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights (“SAR”), Restricted Stock (“RS”) Awards, Restricted Stock Units (“RSU”), Performance Awards, Incentive Awards or any combination thereof. This plan is administered by the American National Board Compensation Committee. The Board Compensation Committee makes incentive awards under this plan to our executives after meeting established performance objectives. All awards are subject to review and approval by the committee and the Board of Directors, both at the time of setting applicable performance objectives and at the time of payment of the awards. The number of shares available for grants under the plan cannot exceed 2,900,000 shares, and no more than 200,000 shares may be granted to any one individual in any calendar year. Grants are made to certain officers and directors as compensation and to align their interests with those of other shareholders.
	SAR, RS and RSU information for the periods indicated is shown below:
		SAR						RS Shares					RS Units
		Shares			Weighted-			Shares			Weighted-Average		Units			Weighted-Average
					Average Grant						Grant Date  Fair					Grant Date  Fair
					Date Fair Value						Value					Value
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012		108,951		$	111.31			185,334		$	109.13		127,059		$	75.06
	Granted		—			—			10,000			80.05		71,084			80.05
	Exercised		(10,249	)		95.61			(4,667	)		111.6		(76,179	)		77.04
	Forfeited		(334	)		96.53			—			—		(396	)		77.2
	Expired		(14,333	)		107.93			—			—		—			—
	Outstanding at September 30, 2013		84,035		$	113.86			190,667		$	107.54		121,568		$	76.73
		SAR			RS Shares			RS Units
	Weighted-average contractual remaining life		2.5			4.5			2
	Weighted-average exercise price	$	113.86		$	107.54		$	76.73
	Exercisable shares		82,992			N/A			—
	Weighted-average exercise price Exercisable shares	$	114.21			N/A			N/A
	Compensation expense (credits)
	Three months ended September 30, 2013	$	87,000		$	674,000		$	409,000
	Three months ended September 30, 2012		2,000			(766,000	)		(175,000	)
	Nine months ended September 30, 2013		160,000			1,703,000			8,692,000
	Nine months ended September 30, 2012		(1,000	)		573,000			7,137,000
	Fair value of liability award
	September 30, 2013		163,000			N/A			11,389,000
	December 31, 2012		3,000			N/A			7,974,000
	The SARs give the holder the right to cash compensation based on the difference between the stock price on the grant date and the stock price on the exercise date. The SARs vest at a rate of 20% per year for five years and expire five years after vesting.
	Effective December 31, 2012, the settlement provision within outstanding RSU awards was modified to allow the recipient of the awards to settle the vested RSUs in either cash or American National’s common stock. This change in the settlement provision is expected to apply to all future issuance of RSU awards. Prior to the modification, vested RSUs were converted to American National’s common stock on a one-for-one basis. This modification changes the award classification from equity to liability award. At the date of modification, American National recorded a liability of $7,974,000 with a corresponding reduction in additional paid-in capital. The liability will be remeasured and adjusted for changes in the fair value each reporting period through the vesting date.
	RSUs generally vest after a three-year graded vesting requirement. Certain awards vest over a shorter period as a result of retirement provisions. The modification, which was applied consistently to all participants, resulted in an incremental gain of $84,000 and incremental cost of $2,947,000 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013.
	RS Awards entitle the participant to full dividend and voting rights. Each award has the value of one share of restricted stock and vests 10 years from the grant date. Unvested shares are restricted as to disposition, and are subject to forfeiture under certain circumstances. Compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period. The restrictions on these awards lapse after 10 years, and these awards feature a graded vesting schedule in the case of the retirement of an award holder. Restricted stock for 350,334 shares has been granted at an exercise price of zero, of which 190,667 shares are unvested.
	Earnings (loss) per share
	Basic earnings (losses) per share were calculated using a weighted average number of shares outstanding. The Restricted Stock awards and units resulted in diluted earnings per share as follows (in thousands, except share-related data):
		Three months ended						Nine months ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Weighted average shares outstanding		26,780,313			26,736,464			26,789,564			26,699,211
	Incremental shares from RS awards and RSUs		124,780			134,191			120,453			159,889
	Total shares for diluted calculations		26,905,093			26,870,655			26,910,017			26,859,100
	Net income (loss) attributable to American National Insurance Company	$	82,613		$	59,186		$	200,753		$	124,908
	Basic earnings (loss) per share	$	3.08		$	2.21		$	7.49		$	4.68
	Diluted earnings (loss) per share		3.07			2.2			7.46			4.65
	Statutory Capital and Surplus
	Risk Based Capital (“RBC”) requirements are measures insurance regulators use to evaluate the capital adequacy of American National Insurance Company and its insurance subsidiaries. RBC is calculated using formulas applied to certain financial balances and activities that consider, among other things, risks related to the type and quality of the invested assets, insurance-related risks associated with an insurer’s products and liabilities, interest rate risks and general business risks. Insurance companies that do not maintain capital and surplus at a level at least 200% of the authorized control level RBC are required to take certain actions. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, American National Insurance Company’s statutory capital and surplus was $2,513,623,000 and $2,260,268,000, respectively. Additionally, each of the insurance subsidiaries had statutory capital and surplus at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 substantially above each individual subsidiary’s authorized control level RBC.
	American National’s insurance subsidiaries prepare statutory-basis financial statements in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the insurance department of the state of domicile which include certain components of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Codification of Statutory Accounting Principles (“NAIC Codification”). NAIC Codification is intended to standardize regulatory accounting and reporting to state insurance departments. However, statutory accounting practices continue to be established by individual state laws and permitted practices. Modifications by the various state insurance departments may impact the statutory capital and surplus of American National and its insurance subsidiaries.
	Statutory accounting differs from GAAP primarily by charging policy acquisition costs to expense as incurred, establishing future policy benefit liabilities using different actuarial assumptions, and valuing securities on a different basis. In addition, certain assets are not admitted under statutory accounting principles and are charged directly to surplus.
	One of American National’s insurance subsidiaries has been granted a permitted practice from the Missouri Department of Insurance to record as the valuation of its investment in a wholly-owned subsidiary that is the attorney-in-fact for a Texas domiciled insurer, the statutory capital and surplus of the Texas domiciled insurer. This permitted practice increases the statutory capital and surplus of both American National Insurance Company and the Missouri domiciled insurance subsidiary by $56,205,000 and $54,234,000 at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. Additionally, the statutory capital and surplus of both American National Insurance Company and the Missouri domiciled insurance subsidiary would have remained substantially above the company action level RBC had it not used the permitted practice.
	The statutory capital and surplus and net income (loss) of our life and property and casualty insurance entities in accordance with statutory accounting practices are shown below (in thousands):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Statutory capital and surplus
	Life insurance entities	$	3,013,474		$	2,750,786
	Property and casualty insurance entities		856,150			814,682
		Three months  ended						Nine months  ended
September 30,					September 30,
	2013			2012			2013			2012
Statutory net income
Life insurance entities	$	59,602		$	51,020		$	159,286		$	137,553
Property and casualty insurance entities		20,205			19,734			26,136			13,085
Dividends
American National Insurance Company’s payment of dividends to stockholders is restricted by statutory regulations. The restrictions require life insurance companies to maintain minimum amounts of capital and surplus, and in the absence of special approval, limit the payment of dividends to the greater of statutory net gain from operations on an annual, non-cumulative basis, or 10% of statutory surplus. Under Texas insurance law, American National Insurance Company is permitted to pay total dividends of $251,362,000 during 2013, without prior approval of the Texas Department of Insurance. Similar restrictions on amounts that can transfer in the form of dividends, loans, or advances to American National Insurance Company apply to its insurance subsidiaries.
Noncontrolling interests
American National County Mutual Insurance Company (“County Mutual”) is a mutual insurance company that is owned by its policyholders. American National has a management agreement that effectively gives it complete control of County Mutual. As a result, County Mutual is included in the consolidated financial statements of American National. Policyholder interests in the financial position of County Mutual are reflected as noncontrolling interest of $6,750,000 at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.
American National Insurance Company and its subsidiaries exercise significant control or ownership of various joint ventures, resulting in their consolidation into American National’s consolidated financial statements. The interests of the other partners in the consolidated joint ventures are shown as noncontrolling interests of $6,886,000 and $4,741,000 at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	15. SEGMENT INFORMATION
	Management organizes the business into five operating segments:
		•		Life—markets whole, term, universal, indexed and variable life insurance on a national basis primarily through career and multiple-line agents, as well as through independent agents and direct marketing channels.
		•		Annuity—offers fixed, indexed, and variable annuity products. These products are primarily sold through independent agents, brokers, and financial institutions, along with multiple-line and career agents.
		•		Health—primary lines of business are Medicare Supplement, stop loss, other supplemental health products and credit disability insurance. Health products are typically distributed through independent agents and managing general underwriters.
		•		Property and Casualty—writes personal, commercial and credit-related property insurance. These products are primarily sold through multiple-line and independent agents.
		•		Corporate and Other—consists of net investment income on the investments not allocated to the insurance segments and revenues from non-insurance operations.
	The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 2. All revenue and expense amounts specifically attributable to policy transactions are recorded directly to the appropriate operating segment. Revenues and expenses not specifically attributable to policy transactions are allocated to each segment as follows:
		•		Recurring income from bonds and mortgage loans is allocated based on the assets allocated to each line of business at the average yield available from these assets.
		•		Net investment income from all other assets is allocated to the insurance segments in accordance with the amount of equity allocated to each segment, with the remainder recorded in the Corporate and Other business segment.
		•		Expenses are allocated based upon various factors, including premium and commission ratios within the respective operating segments.
	The following summarizes results of operations by operating segments (in thousands):
			Three months  ended				Nine months  ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2013		2012		2013		2012
	Income (loss) from continuing operations before federal income taxes and equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated affiliates
	Life		$	9,005	$	9,212	$	23,420	$	36,025
	Annuity			18,631		25,384		69,633		72,998
	Health			7,170		6,179		16,164		10,989
	Property and casualty			24,634		25,021		33,198		13,173
	Corporate and other			61,424		23,589		124,807		38,211
	Total		$	120,864	$	89,385	$	267,222	$	171,396

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	16. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	Commitments
	American National had aggregate commitments at September 30, 2013, to purchase, expand or improve real estate, to fund fixed interest rate mortgage loans, and to purchase other invested assets of $337,107,000 of which $203,930,000 is expected to be funded in 2013. The remaining $133,177,000 will be funded in 2014 and beyond.
	In September 2013, American National renewed an existing $100,000,000 short-term variable rate borrowing facility containing a $55,000,000 sub-feature for the issuance of letters of credit. Borrowings under the facility are at the discretion of the lender and would be used only for funding working capital requirements. The combination of borrowings and outstanding letters of credit cannot exceed $100,000,000 at any time. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the outstanding letters of credit were $31,595,000 and $33,696,000, respectively, and there were no borrowings on this facility to meet liquidity requirements. This facility expires on September 30, 2014. American National expects it will be renewed on substantially equivalent terms upon expiration.
	Guarantees
	American National has guaranteed bank loans for customers of a third-party marketing operation. The bank loans are used to fund premium payments on life insurance policies issued by American National. The loans are secured by the cash values of the life insurance policies. If the customer were to default on the bank loan, American National would be obligated to pay off the loans. As the cash values of the life insurance policies always equal or exceed the balance of the loans, management does not foresee any loss on these guarantees. The total amount of the guarantees outstanding as of September 30, 2013, was approximately $206,376,000, while the total cash values of the related life insurance policies was approximately $208,702,000.
	Litigation
	American National and certain subsidiaries, in common with the insurance industry in general, are defendants in various lawsuits concerning alleged breaches of contracts, various employment matters, allegedly deceptive insurance sales and marketing practices, and miscellaneous other causes of action arising in the ordinary course of operations. Certain of these lawsuits include claims for compensatory and punitive damages. We provide accruals for these items to the extent we deem the losses probable and reasonably estimable. After reviewing these matters with legal counsel, based upon information presently available, management is of the opinion that the ultimate resultant liability, if any, would not have a material adverse effect on American National’s consolidated financial position, liquidity or results of operations; however, assessing the eventual outcome of litigation necessarily involves forward-looking speculation as to judgments to be made by judges, juries and appellate courts in the future. Such speculation warrants caution, as the frequency of large damage awards, which bear little or no relation to the economic damages incurred by plaintiffs in some jurisdictions, continues to create the potential for an unpredictable judgment in any given lawsuit. These lawsuits are in various stages of development, and future facts and circumstances could result in management’s changing its conclusions. It is possible that, if the defenses in these lawsuits are not successful, and the judgments are greater than management can anticipate, the resulting liability could have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, liquidity or results of operations. With respect to the existing litigation, management currently believes that the possibility of a material judgment adverse to American National is remote and no estimate of range can be made for loss contingencies that are at least reasonably possible but not accrued.

Related_Party_Transactions

Related Party Transactions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Related Party Transactions	'
	17. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
	American National has entered into recurring transactions and agreements with certain related parties. These include mortgage loans, management contracts, agency commission contracts, marketing agreements, accident and health insurance contracts and legal services. The impact on the consolidated financial statements of the significant related party transactions is shown below (in thousands):
			Dollar Amount of Transactions				Amount due  to/(from)
							American National
			Nine months ended September 30,				September 30,			December 31,
	Related Party	Financial Statement Line Impacted	2013		2012		2013			2012
	Gal-Tex Hotel Corporation	Mortgage loan on real estate	$	853	$	794	$	8,037		$	8,890
	Gal-Tex Hotel Corporation	Net investment income		463		522		49			54
	Greer, Herz and Adams, LLP	Other operating expenses		7,484		5,689		(412	)		(268	)
	Mortgage Loans to Gal-Tex Hotel Corporation (“Gal-Tex”): American National holds a first mortgage loan issued to Gal-Tex collateralized by hotel property in San Antonio, Texas. This loan was originated in 1999, has a current interest rate of 7.30%, and has a final maturity date of April 1, 2019. This loan is current as to principal and interest payments.
	Transactions with Greer, Herz & Adams, L.L.P.: Irwin M. Herz, Jr. is an American National advisory director and a Partner with Greer, Herz Adams, L.L.P., which serves as American National’s General Counsel.

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Events	'
	18. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
	On October 31, 2013, American National adopted certain amendments to freeze its defined benefit pension plans. Effective December 31, 2013, benefits accrued through this plan will no longer include additional years of service credit or future salary increase credit, and no new participants will be added to the plans. Benefits earned by eligible employees prior to the effective date of the plan amendments will not be affected. Management does not anticipate any curtailment gain or loss as a result of the adoption of the plan amendments. Management anticipates a reduction in the projected future liability for these plans, but an estimate has not been determined at this time. Effective January 1, 2014, American National will shift its retirement benefits for eligible employees to contributory defined contribution plans.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Accounting	'
	The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and are reported in U.S. currency.
	The interim consolidated financial statements and notes herein are unaudited and reflect all adjustments which management considers necessary for the fair presentation of the interim consolidated statements of financial position, operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows.
	The interim consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the annual consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in American National’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2012. The consolidated results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year.
Consolidation Policy	'
	American National consolidates all entities that are wholly-owned and those in which American National owns less than 100% but controls, as well as any variable interest entities in which American National is the primary beneficiary. All material intercompany transactions with consolidated entities have been eliminated. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.
Reclassification Policy	'
	Certain amounts in prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
Use of Estimates	'
	The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported consolidated financial statement balances. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Investments_in_Securities_Tabl

Investments in Securities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]	'
Investments in Securities	'
	The cost or amortized cost and estimated fair value of investments in securities are shown below (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013
		Cost or			Gross			Gross			Estimated Fair
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized			Value
		Cost			Gains			(Losses)
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds held-to-maturity
	U.S. treasury and government	$	1,967		$	19		$	—		$	1,986
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		357,495			21,895			(333	)		379,057
	Foreign governments		29,092			3,005			—			32,097
	Corporate debt securities		7,844,517			465,822			(89,678	)		8,220,661
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		421,530			26,654			(2,039	)		446,145
	Collateralized debt securities		2,370			243			—			2,613
	Other debt securities		17,330			2,403			—			19,733
	Total bonds held-to-maturity		8,674,301			520,041			(92,050	)		9,102,292
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds available-for-sale
	U.S. treasury and government		21,537			853			—			22,390
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		608,732			25,882			(11,290	)		623,324
	Foreign governments		5,000			1,803			—			6,803
	Corporate debt securities		3,622,629			193,827			(42,486	)		3,773,970
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		67,257			3,240			(688	)		69,809
	Commercial mortgage-backed securities		20,934			12,251			—			33,185
	Collateralized debt securities		15,436			1,157			(19	)		16,574
	Other debt securities		10,020			1,086			—			11,106
	Total bonds available-for-sale		4,371,545			240,099			(54,483	)		4,557,161
	Equity securities
	Common stock		701,968			543,559			(6,232	)		1,239,295
	Preferred stock		22,690			15,440			(294	)		37,836
	Total equity securities		724,658			558,999			(6,526	)		1,277,131
	Total investments in securities	$	13,770,504		$	1,319,139		$	(153,059	)	$	14,936,584
		December 31, 2012
		Cost or			Gross			Gross			Estimated Fair
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized			Value
		Cost			Gains			(Losses)
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds held-to-maturity
	U.S. treasury and government	$	3,593		$	69		$	—		$	3,662
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		393,541			40,161			(7	)		433,695
	Foreign governments		29,071			4,367			—			33,438
	Corporate debt securities		7,993,167			748,773			(6,782	)		8,735,158
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		549,384			42,313			(1,195	)		590,502
	Collateralized debt securities		2,500			321			—			2,821
	Other debt securities		38,026			3,449			—			41,475
	Total bonds held-to-maturity		9,009,282			839,453			(7,984	)		9,840,751
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds available-for-sale
	U.S. treasury and government		19,649			1,156			—			20,805
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		570,751			44,792			(105	)		615,438
	Foreign governments		5,000			2,344			—			7,344
	Corporate debt securities		3,582,913			303,908			(14,188	)		3,872,633
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		89,486			5,165			(266	)		94,385
	Commercial mortgage-backed securities		20,933			3,509			—			24,442
	Collateralized debt securities		17,676			1,448			(33	)		19,091
	Other debt securities		10,059			1,379			—			11,438
	Total bonds available-for-sale		4,316,467			363,701			(14,592	)		4,665,576
	Equity securities
	Common stock		660,889			383,634			(6,739	)		1,037,784
	Preferred stock		27,690			9,995			(30	)		37,655
	Total equity securities		688,579			393,629			(6,769	)		1,075,439
	Total investments in securities	$	14,014,328		$	1,596,783		$	(29,345	)	$	15,581,766
Maturities of Investments	'
	The amortized cost and estimated fair value, by contractual maturity, of fixed maturity securities are shown below (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013
		Bonds Held-to-Maturity						Bonds Available-for-Sale
		Amortized Cost			Estimated Fair			Amortized Cost			Estimated Fair
					Value						Value
	Due in one year or less	$	626,017		$	635,488		$	587,342		$	601,975
	Due after one year through five years		2,597,458			2,837,116			1,174,148			1,290,383
	Due after five years through ten years		4,928,988			5,082,875			2,223,776			2,271,703
	Due after ten years		515,987			541,638			381,279			388,300
	Without single maturity date		5,851			5,175			5,000			4,800
	Total	$	8,674,301		$	9,102,292		$	4,371,545		$	4,557,161
Proceeds from Available for Sale Securities and Realized Gain Loss	'
	Proceeds from the sales of available-for-sale securities, with the related gross realized gains and losses, are shown below (in thousands):
		Three months ended						Nine months ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	$	33,390		$	85,400		$	189,438		$	123,705
	Gross realized gains		10,349			15,742			33,699			27,769
	Gross realized losses		(97	)		(204	)		(623	)		(374	)
Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available-for-Sale Securities	'
	The components of the change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities are shown below (in thousands):
		Nine months ended
		September 30,
		2013			2012
	Bonds available-for-sale	$	(163,493	)	$	109,003
	Equity securities		165,613			111,498
	Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities during the year		2,120			220,501
	Adjustments for:
	Deferred policy acquisition costs		46,643			(38,358	)
	Participating policyholders’ interest		1,018			(8,192	)
	Deferred federal income tax benefit (expense)		(18,212	)		(60,768	)
	Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities, net of tax	$	31,569		$	113,183
Gross Unrealized Losses on Investment Securities and Estimated Fair Value Securities	'
	Gross unrealized losses on investment securities and the fair value of the related securities, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, are shown below (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013
		Less than 12 months						12 Months or more						Total
		Unrealized			Fair			Unrealized			Fair			Unrealized			Fair
		(Losses)			Value			(Losses)			Value			(Losses)			Value
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds held-to-maturity
	U.S. states and political subdivisions	$	(333	)	$	9,506		$	—		$	—		$	(333	)	$	9,506
	Corporate debt securities		(84,681	)		1,675,699			(4,997	)		65,551			(89,678	)		1,741,250
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		(1,113	)		32,648			(926	)		13,333			(2,039	)		45,981
	Total bonds held-to-maturity		(86,127	)		1,717,853			(5,923	)		78,884			(92,050	)		1,796,737
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds available-for-sale
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		(11,290	)		139,386			—			—			(11,290	)		139,386
	Corporate debt securities		(38,704	)		869,875			(3,782	)		88,918			(42,486	)		958,793
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		(552	)		17,462			(136	)		1,902			(688	)		19,364
	Collateralized debt securities		(2	)		208			(17	)		644			(19	)		852
	Total bonds available-for-sale		(50,548	)		1,026,931			(3,935	)		91,464			(54,483	)		1,118,395
	Equity securities
	Common stock		(6,232	)		59,238			—			—			(6,232	)		59,238
	Preferred stock		(294	)		6,207			—			—			(294	)		6,207
	Total equity securities		(6,526	)		65,445			—			—			(6,526	)		65,445
	Total	$	(143,201	)	$	2,810,229		$	(9,858	)	$	170,348		$	(153,059	)	$	2,980,577
		December 31, 2012
		Less than 12 months						12 Months or more						Total
		Unrealized			Fair			Unrealized			Fair			Unrealized			Fair
		(Losses)			Value			(Losses)			Value			(Losses)			Value
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds held-to-maturity
	U.S. states and political subdivisions	$	(6	)	$	914		$	(1	)	$	80		$	(7	)	$	994
	Corporate debt securities		(4,394	)		319,434			(2,388	)		39,632			(6,782	)		359,066
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		(147	)		13,824			(1,048	)		24,666			(1,195	)		38,490
	Total bonds held-to-maturity		(4,547	)		334,172			(3,437	)		64,378			(7,984	)		398,550
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds available-for-sale
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		(105	)		6,523			—			—			(105	)		6,523
	Corporate debt securities		(2,077	)		242,261			(12,111	)		70,187			(14,188	)		312,448
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		(34	)		1,527			(232	)		8,029			(266	)		9,556
	Collateralized debt securities		(8	)		527			(25	)		911			(33	)		1,438
	Total bonds available-for-sale		(2,224	)		250,838			(12,368	)		79,127			(14,592	)		329,965
	Equity securities
	Common stock		(6,739	)		64,003			—			—			(6,739	)		64,003
	Preferred stock		(30	)		30			—			—			(30	)		30
	Total equity securities		(6,769	)		64,033			—			—			(6,769	)		64,033
	Total	$	(13,540	)	$	649,043		$	(15,805	)	$	143,505		$	(29,345	)	$	792,548
Bond by Credit Quality Rating Distribution	'
	The bond portfolio distributed by credit quality rating, using both S&P and Moody’s ratings, is shown below:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	AAA		4.9	%		5.5	%
	AA		10.8			10.6
	A		41			38.2
	BBB		39.6			41.4
	BB and below		3.7			4.3
	Total		100	%		100	%
Equity Securities by Market Sector Distribution	'
	Equity securities by market sector distribution are shown below:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Consumer goods		18.9	%		20.3	%
	Energy and utilities		15.9			15.8
	Financials		19.6			18.9
	Healthcare		12.7			12.7
	Industrials		8.9			9.1
	Information technology		15.9			16.9
	Other		8.1			6.3
	Total		100	%		100	%

Mortgage_Loans_Tables

Mortgage Loans (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Mortgage Loans by Property Type and Geographic Distribution	'
	Mortgage loans by property-type and geographic distribution are as follows:
		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Hotel and motel		9.6	%		13.9	%
	Industrial		25.1			24
	Office		34.1			34.9
	Retail		18.6			17.7
	Other		12.6			9.5
	Total		100	%		100	%
		30-Sep-13			31-Dec-12
	East North Central		18.6	%		18.2	%
	East South Central		5.5			7.1
	Mountain		8			7
	Pacific		11.3			13.3
	South Atlantic		21.6			23
	West South Central		28.5			23.2
	Other		6.5			8.2
	Total		100	%		100	%
Commercial Mortgage Loans Placed on Nonaccrual Status	'
	Commercial mortgage loans placed on nonaccrual status are shown below (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Commercial mortgages
	Retail	$	—		$	12,861
Age Analysis of Past Due Commercial Mortgage Loans	'
	The age analysis of past due commercial mortgage loans is shown below (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013
		30-59 Days			60-89 Days			Greater Than		Total			Current		Total
		Past Due			Past Due			90 Days		Past Due					Mortgage Loans
	Commercial mortgages
	Industrial	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—		$	839,095	$	839,095
	Office		—			—			—		—			1,141,901		1,141,901
	Retail		—			—			—		—			627,821		627,821
	Other		—			—			—		—			739,789		739,789
	Total	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—		$	3,348,606		3,348,606
	Allowance for loan losses															15,243
	Mortgage loans on real estate, net of allowance														$	3,333,363
		31-Dec-12
		30-59 Days			60-89 Days			Greater Than		Total			Current		Total
		Past Due			Past Due			90 Days		Past Due					Mortgage Loans
	Commercial mortgages
	Industrial	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—		$	755,198	$	755,198
	Office		—			—			—		—			1,100,407		1,100,407
	Retail		—			—			12,861		12,861			547,965		560,826
	Other		—			—			—		—			738,592		738,592
	Total	$	—		$	—		$	12,861	$	12,861		$	3,142,162	$	3,155,023
	Allowance for loan losses															12,012
	Mortgage loans on real estate, net of allowance														$	3,143,011
Change in Allowance for Credit Losses in Commercial Mortgage Loans	'
	The change in allowance for credit losses in commercial mortgage loans is shown below (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30
		Collectively			Individually			Collectively		Individually
		Evaluated for			Evaluated for			Evaluated for		Evaluated for
		Impairment			Impairment			Impairment		Impairment
	Beginning balance, 2013	$	12,019		$	1,662		$	11,519	$	493
	Change in allowance		1,562			—			2,062		1,169
	Ending balance, 2013	$	13,581		$	1,662		$	13,581	$	1,662
	Beginning balance, 2012	$	11,873		$	493		$	10,828	$	493
	Write down		—			—			—		(2,277	)
	Change in allowance		475			—			1,520		2,277
	Ending balance, 2012	$	12,348		$	493		$	12,348	$	493
Loans Individually Evaluated for Impairment With and Without Allowance	'
	Loans individually evaluated for impairment with and without an allowance are shown below (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013						September 30, 2012
		Average			Interest			Average		Interest
		Recorded			Income			Recorded		Income
		Investment			Recognized			Investment		Recognized
	Three months ended
	With an allowance recorded
	Office	$	23,159		$	393		$	—	$	—
	Retail		493			—			493		—
	Total	$	23,652		$	393		$	493	$	—
	Without an allowance recorded
	Office		6,432			110			13,022		847
	Retail		—			—			14,425		158
	Other		—			—			45,277		756
	Total	$	6,432		$	110		$	72,724	$	1,761
	Nine months ended
	With an allowance recorded
	Office	$	23,234		$	1,192		$	—	$	—
	Retail		493			—			493		—
	Total	$	23,727		$	1,192		$	493	$	—
	Without an allowance recorded
	Office	$	6,439		$	331		$	13,050	$	635
	Retail		—			—			13,992		604
	Other		—			—			45,283		2,276
	Total	$	6,439		$	331		$	72,325	$	3,515
		30-Sep-13						31-Dec-12
		Recorded			Unpaid			Recorded		Unpaid
		Investment			Principal			Investment		Principal
					Balance					Balance
	With an allowance recorded
	Office (related allowance of $1,169 and $0)	$	23,126		$	23,304		$	—	$	—
	Retail (related allowance of $493 and $493)		493			493			493		493
	Total	$	23,619		$	23,797		$	493	$	493
	Without an allowance recorded
	Office	$	6,432		$	6,432		$	36,544	$	36,544
	Retail		—			—			17,180		17,180
	Other		—			—			55,320		55,320
	Total	$	6,432		$	6,432		$	109,044	$	109,044
Number of Mortgage Loans and Recorded Investment	'
	The number of mortgage loans and recorded investment in troubled debt restructuring are as follows:
		Nine months ended September 30, 2013								Nine months ended September 30, 2012
		Number of			Recorded			Recorded		Number of			Recorded		Recorded
		contracts			investment pre-			investment post		contracts			investment pre-		investment post
					modification			modification					modification		modification
	Office		1		$	6,432		$	6,432		1		$	6,803	$	6,803
	Retail		—			—			—		1			4,319		4,319
	Total		1		$	6,432		$	6,432		2		$	11,122	$	11,122

Investment_Real_Estate_Tables

Investment Real Estate (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Real Estate [Abstract]	'
Investment Real Estate by Property-Type and Geographic Distribution	'
	Investment real estate by property-type and geographic distribution are as follows:
		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Industrial		17.8	%		18.1	%
	Office		25.7			21.9
	Shopping centers		33.4			41
	Other		23.1			19
	Total		100	%		100	%
		30-Sep-13			31-Dec-12
	East North Central		8.9	%		10.3	%
	East South Central		6.4			5.3
	Mountain		6.9			6.2
	South Atlantic		10.8			11.2
	West South Central		58.7			60.8
	Other		8.3			6.2
	Total		100	%		100	%
Assets and Liabilities Related to VIEs	'
	The assets and liabilities relating to the VIEs which are consolidated in American National’s financial statements are as follows (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Investment real estate	$	113,214		$	162,502
	Short-term investments		—			969
	Cash and cash equivalents		2,372			3,671
	Accrued investment income		2,146			2,641
	Other receivables		9,165			11,709
	Other assets		5,437			6,487
	Total assets of consolidated VIEs	$	132,334		$	187,979
	Notes payable	$	114,126		$	163,384
	Other liabilities		5,470			6,647
	Total liabilities of consolidated VIEs	$	119,596		$	170,031
Carrying Amount and Maximum Exposure to Loss Related to VIEs	'
	The following table presents the carrying amount and maximum exposure to loss relating to unconsolidated VIEs (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013						December 31, 2012
		Carrying			Maximum			Carrying		Maximum
		Amount			Exposure			Amount		Exposure
					to Loss					to Loss
	Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	$	153,425		$	153,425		$	81,548	$	81,548
	Mortgage loans		84,497			84,497			57,434		57,434
	Accured investment income		631			631			309		309

Derivative_Instruments_Tables

Derivative Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Derivative Instruments Reported in Financial Position	'
	The detail of derivative instruments is shown below (in thousands, except the number of instruments):
			September 30, 2013									December 31, 2012
	Derivatives Not Designated	Location in the	Number of			Notional			Estimated Fair			Number of			Notional		Estimated Fair
	as Hedging Instruments	Consolidated Statements of Financial Position	Instruments			Amounts			Value			Instruments			Amounts		Value
	Equity-indexed options	Other invested assets		379		$	918,100		$	129,749			356		$	846,900	$	82,625
	Equity-indexed embedded derivative	Future policy benefits		30,804			782,900			111,289			22,941			722,500		75,032
Schedule of Derivative Instruments Reported in Statements of Operations	'
			Gains (Losses) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
			Three months ended						Nine months ended
	Derivatives Not Designated	Location in the	September 30,						September 30,
	as Hedging Instruments	Consolidated Statements of Operations	2013			2012			2013			2012
	Equity-indexed options	Net investment income	$	13,260		$	10,448		$	48,019		$	21,947
	Equity-indexed embedded derivative	Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances		(11,056	)		(7,756	)		(39,750	)		(16,765	)

Net_Investment_Income_and_Real1

Net Investment Income and Realized Investment Gains (Losses) (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Summary of Net Investment Income	'
	Net investment income is shown below (in thousands):
		Three months ended						Nine months ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Bonds	$	157,888		$	171,515		$	479,296		$	514,237
	Equity securities		7,417			6,965			22,653			20,718
	Mortgage loans		55,629			52,501			163,497			153,008
	Real estate		11,297			8,173			10,228			16,456
	Options		13,260			10,448			48,019			21,947
	Other invested assets		8,845			8,588			28,795			28,083
	Total	$	254,336		$	258,190		$	752,488		$	754,449
Summary of Realized Investment Gains (Losses) and Other than Temporary Impairment Losses	'
	Realized investment gains (losses) are shown below (in thousands):
		Three months ended						Nine months ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Bonds	$	9,907		$	8,393		$	16,826		$	21,813
	Equity securities		10,149			12,172			30,668			22,386
	Mortgage loans		(1,561	)		2,132			(1,172	)		(1,190	)
	Real estate		25,311			3,386			61,257			3,134
	Other invested assets		(11	)		822			(106	)		709
	Total	$	43,795		$	26,905		$	107,473		$	46,852
	The other-than-temporary-impairment losses are shown below (in thousands):
		Three months ended						Nine months ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Bonds	$	—		$	(12,659	)	$	—		$	(12,659	)
	Equity securities		(312	)		(1,316	)		(3,503	)		(9,414	)
	Total	$	(312	)	$	(13,975	)	$	(3,503	)	$	(22,073	)

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Carrying Amount and Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	The carrying amount and estimated fair value of financial instruments are shown below (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013						December 31, 2012
		Carrying			Estimated			Carrying			Estimated
		Amount			Fair Value			Amount			Fair Value
	Financial assets
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds held-to-maturity	$	8,674,301		$	9,102,292		$	9,009,282		$	9,840,751
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds available-for-sale		4,557,161			4,557,161			4,665,576			4,665,576
	Equity securities		1,277,131			1,277,131			1,075,439			1,075,439
	Equity-indexed options		129,749			129,749			82,625			82,625
	Mortgage loans on real estate, net of allowance		3,333,363			3,679,838			3,143,011			3,441,645
	Policy loans		395,709			395,709			395,333			395,333
	Short-term investments		339,479			339,479			313,086			313,086
	Separate account assets		931,947			931,947			841,389			841,389
	Total financial assets	$	19,638,840		$	20,413,306		$	19,525,741		$	20,655,844
	Financial liabilities
	Investment contracts	$	9,495,111		$	9,495,111		$	9,987,431		$	9,987,431
	Embedded derivative liability for equity-indexed contracts		111,289			111,289			75,032			75,032
	Notes payable		114,126			114,126			163,384			163,384
	Separate account liabilities		931,947			931,947			841,389			841,389
	Total financial liabilities	$	10,652,473		$	10,652,473		$	11,067,236		$	11,067,236
Quantitative Disclosures Regarding Fair Value Hierarchy Measurements	'
	The fair value hierarchy measurements of the financial instruments are shown below (in thousands):
		Fair Value Measurement as of September 30, 2013
		Total Estimated
		Fair Value			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	Financial assets
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds held-to-maturity
	U.S. treasury and government	$	1,986		$	—		$	1,986		$	—
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		379,057			—			379,057			—
	Foreign governments		32,097			—			32,097			—
	Corporate debt securities		8,220,661			—			8,174,665			45,996
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		446,145			—			445,139			1,006
	Collateralized debt securities		2,613			—			—			2,613
	Other debt securities		19,733			—			19,733			—
	Total bonds held-to-maturity		9,102,292			—			9,052,677			49,615
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds available-for-sale
	U.S. treasury and government		22,390			—			22,390			—
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		623,324			—			620,804			2,520
	Foreign governments		6,803			—			6,803			—
	Corporate debt securities		3,773,970			—			3,761,613			12,357
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		69,809			—			67,683			2,126
	Commercial mortgage-backed securities		33,185			—			—			33,185
	Collateralized debt securities		16,574			—			14,614			1,960
	Other debt securities		11,106			—			11,106			—
	Total bonds available-for-sale		4,557,161			—			4,505,013			52,148
	Equity securities
	Common stock		1,239,295			1,239,295			—			—
	Preferred stock		37,836			37,836			—			—
	Total equity securities		1,277,131			1,277,131			—			—
	Options		129,749			—			—			129,749
	Mortgage loans on real estate		3,679,838			—			3,679,838			—
	Policy loans		395,709			—			—			395,709
	Short-term investments		339,479			—			339,479			—
	Separate account assets		931,947			—			931,947			—
	Total financial assets	$	20,413,306		$	1,277,131		$	18,508,954		$	627,221
	Financial liabilities
	Investment contracts	$	9,495,111		$	—		$	—		$	9,495,111
	Embedded derivative liability for equity-indexed contracts		111,289			—			—			111,289
	Notes payable		114,126			—			—			114,126
	Separate account liabilities		931,947			—			931,947			—
	Total financial liabilities	$	10,652,473		$	—		$	931,947		$	9,720,526
		Fair Value Measurement as of December 31, 2012
		Total Estimated
		Fair Value			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	Financial assets
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds held-to-maturity
	U.S. treasury and government	$	3,662		$	—		$	3,662		$	—
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		433,695			—			433,695			—
	Foreign governments		33,438			—			33,438			—
	Corporate debt securities		8,735,158			—			8,662,164			72,994
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		590,502			—			589,441			1,061
	Collateralized debt securities		2,821			—			—			2,821
	Other debt securities		41,475			—			41,475			—
	Total bonds held-to-maturity		9,840,751			—			9,763,875			76,876
	Fixed maturity securities, bonds available-for-sale
	U.S. treasury and government		20,805			—			20,805			—
	U.S. states and political subdivisions		615,438			—			612,913			2,525
	Foreign governments		7,344			—			7,344			—
	Corporate debt securities		3,872,633			—			3,796,949			75,684
	Residential mortgage-backed securities		94,385			—			91,938			2,447
	Commercial mortgage-backed securities		24,442			—			—			24,442
	Collateralized debt securities		19,091			—			17,156			1,935
	Other debt securities		11,438			—			11,438			—
	Total bonds available-for-sale		4,665,576			—			4,558,543			107,033
Equity securities
Common stock		1,037,784			1,037,784			—			—
Preferred stock		37,655			37,652			—			3
Total equity securities		1,075,439			1,075,436			—			3
Options		82,625			—			—			82,625
Mortgage loans on real estate		3,441,645			—			3,441,645			—
Policy loans		395,333			—			—			395,333
Short-term investments		313,086			—			313,086			—
Separate account assets		841,389			—			841,389			—
Total financial assets	$	20,655,844		$	1,075,436		$	18,918,538		$	661,870
Financial liabilities
Investment contracts	$	9,987,431		$	—		$	—		$	9,987,431
Embedded derivative liability for equity-indexed contracts		75,032			—			—			75,032
Notes payable		163,384			—			—			163,384
Separate account liabilities		841,389			—			841,389			—
Total financial liabilities	$	11,067,236		$	—		$	841,389		$	10,225,847
Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using (Level 3) Inputs	'
	For financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs during the period, a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances is shown below (in thousands):
		Level 3
		Three months ended September 30,									Nine months ended September 30,
		Assets						Liability			Assets						Liability
					Equity-									Equity-
		Investment			Indexed			Embedded			Investment			Indexed			Embedded
		Securities			Options			Derivative			Securities			Options			Derivative
	Beginning balance, 2013	$	55,558		$	115,558		$	100,963		$	107,036		$	82,625		$	75,032
	Total realized and unrealized investment gains/losses included in other comprehensive income		(633	)		—			—			10,496			—			—
	Net fair value change included in realized gains/losses		(1	)		—			—			218			—			—
	Net gain (loss) for derivatives included in net investment income		—			11,775			—			—			42,941			—
	Net change included in interest credited		—			—			11,056			—			—			39,750
	Purchases, sales and settlements or maturities
	Purchases		45			4,470			—			2,115			12,178			—
	Sales		(138	)		—			—			(14,272	)		—			—
	Settlements or maturities		—			(2,054	)		—			—			(7,995	)		—
	Premiums less benefits		—			—			(730	)		—			—			(3,493	)
	Gross transfers into Level 3		157			—			—			157			—			—
	Gross transfers out of Level 3		(2,840	)		—			—			(53,602	)		—			—
	Ending balance September 30, 2013	$	52,148		$	129,749		$	111,289		$	52,148		$	129,749		$	111,289
		Level 3
		Three months ended September 30,									Nine months ended September 30,
		Assets						Liability			Assets						Liability
		Investment			Equity-			Embedded			Investment			Equity-			Embedded
		Securities			Indexed			Derivative			Securities			Indexed			Derivative
					Options									Options
	Beginning balance, 2012	$	47,921		$	77,136		$	72,194		$	15,815		$	65,188		$	63,275
	Total realized and unrealized investment gains/losses included in other comprehensive income		11,372			—			—			10,836			—			—
	Net fair value change included in realized gains/losses		(11,471	)		—			—			(11,441	)		—			—
	Net gain (loss) for derivatives included in net investment income		—			9,708			—			—			17,878			—
	Net change included in interest credited		—			—			7,756			—			—			16,765
	Purchases, sales and settlements or maturities
	Purchases		46			2,991			—			598			11,472			—
	Sales		(3	)		—			—			(269	)		—			—
	Settlements or maturities		—			(1,359	)		—			(395	)		(6,062	)		—
	Premiums less benefits		—			—			374			—			—			284
	Transfers from held to maturity		13,118									13,118
	Gross transfers into Level 3		2			—			—			32,723			—			—
	Ending balance, 2012	$	60,985		$	88,476		$	80,324		$	60,985		$	88,476		$	80,324

Deferred_Policy_Acquisition_Co1

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Insurance [Abstract]	'
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs	'
	Deferred policy acquisition costs are shown below (in thousands):
								Accident			Property &
		Life			Annuity			& Health			Casualty			Total
	Beginning balance 2013	$	653,416		$	406,540		$	49,206		$	138,513		$	1,247,675
	Additions		80,226			38,467			9,457			157,206			285,356
	Amortization		(59,201	)		(66,129	)		(11,537	)		(168,057	)		(304,924	)
	Effect of change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities		5,654			40,989			—			—			46,643
	Net change		26,679			13,327			(2,080	)		(10,851	)		27,075
	Ending balance at September 30, 2013	$	680,095		$	419,867		$	47,126		$	127,662		$	1,274,750

Liability_for_Unpaid_Claims_an1

Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Insurance [Abstract]	'
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses	'
	Information regarding the liability for unpaid claims is shown below (in thousands):
		Nine months  ended
		September 30,
		2013			2012
	Unpaid claims balance, beginning	$	1,168,047		$	1,180,259
	Less reinsurance recoverables		256,885			235,174
	Net beginning balance		911,162			945,085
	Incurred related to
	Current		743,194			779,602
	Prior years		(50,553	)		(46,037	)
	Total incurred claims		692,641			733,565
	Paid claims related to
	Current		442,100			454,183
	Prior years		266,472			284,025
	Total paid claims		708,572			738,208
	Net balance		895,231			940,442
	Plus reinsurance recoverables		226,822			238,268
	Unpaid claims balance, ending	$	1,122,053		$	1,178,710

Federal_Income_Taxes_Tables

Federal Income Taxes (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Effective Income Tax Reconciliation	'
	A reconciliation of the effective tax rate to the statutory federal tax rate is shown below (in thousands, except percentages):
		Three months ended September 30,												Nine months ended September 30,
		2013						2012						2013						2012
		Amount			Rate			Amount			Rate			Amount			Rate			Amount			Rate
	Income tax expense on pre-tax income	$	42,302			35	%	$	31,285			35	%	$	93,527			35	%	$	59,989			35	%
	Tax-exempt investment income		(1,502	)		(1.2	)		(1,827	)		(2.0	)		(4,700	)		(1.8	)		(5,569	)		(3.2	)
	Dividend exclusion		(1,710	)		(1.4	)		(1,501	)		(1.7	)		(4,802	)		(1.8	)		(4,453	)		(2.6	)
	Miscellaneous tax credits, net		(1,930	)		(1.6	)		(2,206	)		(2.5	)		(5,820	)		(2.2	)		(6,669	)		(3.9	)
	Other items, net		(1,401	)		(1.2	)		1,903			2.1			(6,326	)		(2.3	)		(1,045	)		(0.6	)
	Effective tax	$	35,759			29.6	%	$	27,654			30.9	%	$	71,879			26.9	%	$	42,253			24.7	%
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	'
	The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to the deferred tax assets and liabilities are shown below (in thousands):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	DEFERRED TAX ASSETS
	Investments, principally due to impairment losses	$	71,740		$	74,117
	Investment in real estate and other invested assets principally due to investment valuation allowances		8,580			7,259
	Policyholder funds, principally due to policy reserve discount		230,922			229,429
	Policyholder funds, principally due to unearned premium reserve		32,916			30,337
	Participating policyholders’ surplus		42,144			37,014
	Pension		95,981			94,847
	Commissions and other expenses		7,365			7,889
	Tax carryforwards		13,179			23,041
	Gross deferred tax assets		502,827			503,933
	DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES
	Available-for-sale securities, principally due to net unrealized gains		257,847			257,290
	Investment in bonds, principally due to accrual of discount on bonds		5,994			9,415
	Deferred policy acquisition costs, due to difference between GAAP and tax amortization methods		338,928			327,245
	Property, plant and equipment, principally due to difference between
	GAAP and tax depreciation methods		8,113			1,462
	Other liabilities		12,937			671
	Gross deferred tax liabilities		623,819			596,083
	Total net deferred tax assets (liabilities)	$	(120,992	)	$	(92,150	)

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Components of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	The components of and changes in the accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”), and the related tax effects, are shown below (in thousands):
		Net Unrealized			Defined			Foreign			AOCI
		Gains/(Losses)			Benefit			Currency
		on Securities			Pension Plan			Adjustments
					Adjustments
	Beginning balance 2013	$	370,842		$	(129,003	)	$	171		$	242,010
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI (net of tax benefit $12,720 and expense $4,645)		(23,095	)		8,627			—			(14,468	)
	Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period (net of tax expense $13,277)		24,658									24,658
	Unrealized adjustment to DAC (net of tax expense $17,299)		29,344									29,344
	Unrealized (gains) losses on investments attributable to participating policyholders’ interest (net of tax expense $356)		662									662
	Foreign currency adjustment (net of tax benefit $114)								(211	)		(211	)
	Ending balance at September 30, 2013	$	402,411		$	(120,376	)	$	(40	)	$	281,995
	Beginning balance 2012	$	274,837		$	(115,485	)	$	51		$	159,403
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI (net of tax benefit $3,277 and expense $3,847)		(5,757	)		7,144			—			1,387
	Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period (net of tax expense $80,337)		149,198									149,198
	Unrealized adjustment to DAC (net of tax benefit $13,425)		(24,933	)								(24,933	)
	Unrealized (gains) losses on investments attributable to participating policyholders’ interest (net of tax benefit $2,867)		(5,325	)								(5,325	)
	Foreign currency adjustment (net of tax expense $16)								30			30
	Ending balance at September 30, 2012	$	388,020		$	(108,341	)	$	81		$	279,760

Stockholders_Equity_and_Noncon1

Stockholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interests (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Common Stock, Amounts Outstanding	'
	The amounts outstanding at the dates indicated are shown below:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Common stock
	Shares issued		30,832,449			30,832,449
	Treasury shares		(3,937,405	)		(3,995,785	)
	Outstanding shares		26,895,044			26,836,664
	Restricted shares		(190,667	)		(185,334	)
	Unrestricted outstanding shares		26,704,377			26,651,330
Stock-Based Compensation Information	'
	SAR, RS and RSU information for the periods indicated is shown below:
		SAR						RS Shares					RS Units
		Shares			Weighted-			Shares			Weighted-Average		Units			Weighted-Average
					Average Grant						Grant Date  Fair					Grant Date  Fair
					Date Fair Value						Value					Value
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012		108,951		$	111.31			185,334		$	109.13		127,059		$	75.06
	Granted		—			—			10,000			80.05		71,084			80.05
	Exercised		(10,249	)		95.61			(4,667	)		111.6		(76,179	)		77.04
	Forfeited		(334	)		96.53			—			—		(396	)		77.2
	Expired		(14,333	)		107.93			—			—		—			—
	Outstanding at September 30, 2013		84,035		$	113.86			190,667		$	107.54		121,568		$	76.73
		SAR			RS Shares			RS Units
	Weighted-average contractual remaining life		2.5			4.5			2
	Weighted-average exercise price	$	113.86		$	107.54		$	76.73
	Exercisable shares		82,992			N/A			—
	Weighted-average exercise price Exercisable shares	$	114.21			N/A			N/A
	Compensation expense (credits)
	Three months ended September 30, 2013	$	87,000		$	674,000		$	409,000
	Three months ended September 30, 2012		2,000			(766,000	)		(175,000	)
	Nine months ended September 30, 2013		160,000			1,703,000			8,692,000
	Nine months ended September 30, 2012		(1,000	)		573,000			7,137,000
	Fair value of liability award
	September 30, 2013		163,000			N/A			11,389,000
	December 31, 2012		3,000			N/A			7,974,000
Summary of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	'
	The Restricted Stock awards and units resulted in diluted earnings per share as follows (in thousands, except share-related data):
		Three months ended						Nine months ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Weighted average shares outstanding		26,780,313			26,736,464			26,789,564			26,699,211
	Incremental shares from RS awards and RSUs		124,780			134,191			120,453			159,889
	Total shares for diluted calculations		26,905,093			26,870,655			26,910,017			26,859,100
	Net income (loss) attributable to American National Insurance Company	$	82,613		$	59,186		$	200,753		$	124,908
	Basic earnings (loss) per share	$	3.08		$	2.21		$	7.49		$	4.68
	Diluted earnings (loss) per share		3.07			2.2			7.46			4.65
Statutory Capital and Surplus and Net Income (Loss) of Insurance Entities in Accordance with Statutory Accounting Practices	'
	The statutory capital and surplus and net income (loss) of our life and property and casualty insurance entities in accordance with statutory accounting practices are shown below (in thousands):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Statutory capital and surplus
	Life insurance entities	$	3,013,474		$	2,750,786
	Property and casualty insurance entities		856,150			814,682
		Three months  ended						Nine months  ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Statutory net income
	Life insurance entities	$	59,602		$	51,020		$	159,286		$	137,553
	Property and casualty insurance entities		20,205			19,734			26,136			13,085

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Summary of Results of Operations by Operating Segments	'
	The following summarizes results of operations by operating segments (in thousands):
		Three months  ended				Nine months  ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Income (loss) from continuing operations before federal income taxes and equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated affiliates
	Life	$	9,005	$	9,212	$	23,420	$	36,025
	Annuity		18,631		25,384		69,633		72,998
	Health		7,170		6,179		16,164		10,989
	Property and casualty		24,634		25,021		33,198		13,173
	Corporate and other		61,424		23,589		124,807		38,211
	Total	$	120,864	$	89,385	$	267,222	$	171,396

Related_Party_Transactions_Tab

Related Party Transactions (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Related Party Transactions	'
	The impact on the consolidated financial statements of the significant related party transactions is shown below (in thousands):
			Dollar Amount of Transactions				Amount due  to/(from)
							American National
			Nine months ended September 30,				September 30,			December 31,
	Related Party	Financial Statement Line Impacted	2013		2012		2013			2012
	Gal-Tex Hotel Corporation	Mortgage loan on real estate	$	853	$	794	$	8,037		$	8,890
	Gal-Tex Hotel Corporation	Net investment income		463		522		49			54
	Greer, Herz and Adams, LLP	Other operating expenses		7,484		5,689		(412	)		(268	)

Nature_of_Operations_Additiona

Nature of Operations - Additional Information (Detail)	Sep. 30, 2013
	State
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Number of States	50

Investments_in_Securities_Inve

Investments in Securities - Investments in Securities (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	$8,674,301	$9,009,282
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	520,041	839,453
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	-92,050	-7,984
Held-to-maturity securities, Estimated Fair Value	9,102,292	9,840,751
Available-for-sale debt securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	4,371,545	4,316,467
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	240,099	363,701
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	-54,483	-14,592
Available-for-sale debt securities, Estimated Fair Value	4,557,161	4,665,576
Available-for-sale equity securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	724,658	688,579
Available-for-sale equity securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	558,999	393,629
Available-for-sale equity securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	-6,526	-6,769
Available-for-sale equity securities, Estimated Fair Value	1,277,131	1,075,439
Investments in securities, Cost or Amortized cost	13,770,504	14,014,328
Investments in securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	1,319,139	1,596,783
Investments in securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	-153,059	-29,345
Investments in securities, Estimated Fair Value	14,936,584	15,581,766
Common Stock [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale equity securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	701,968	660,889
Available-for-sale equity securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	543,559	383,634
Available-for-sale equity securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	-6,232	-6,739
Available-for-sale equity securities, Estimated Fair Value	1,239,295	1,037,784
Preferred Stock [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale equity securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	22,690	27,690
Available-for-sale equity securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	15,440	9,995
Available-for-sale equity securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	-294	-30
Available-for-sale equity securities, Estimated Fair Value	37,836	37,655
U.S. Treasury and Government [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	1,967	3,593
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	19	69
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	0	0
Held-to-maturity securities, Estimated Fair Value	1,986	3,662
Available-for-sale debt securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	21,537	19,649
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	853	1,156
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	0	0
Available-for-sale debt securities, Estimated Fair Value	22,390	20,805
U.S. States and Political Subdivisions [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	357,495	393,541
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	21,895	40,161
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	-333	-7
Held-to-maturity securities, Estimated Fair Value	379,057	433,695
Available-for-sale debt securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	608,732	570,751
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	25,882	44,792
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	-11,290	-105
Available-for-sale debt securities, Estimated Fair Value	623,324	615,438
Foreign Governments [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	29,092	29,071
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	3,005	4,367
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	0	0
Held-to-maturity securities, Estimated Fair Value	32,097	33,438
Available-for-sale debt securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	5,000	5,000
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	1,803	2,344
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	0	0
Available-for-sale debt securities, Estimated Fair Value	6,803	7,344
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	7,844,517	7,993,167
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	465,822	748,773
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	-89,678	-6,782
Held-to-maturity securities, Estimated Fair Value	8,220,661	8,735,158
Available-for-sale debt securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	3,622,629	3,582,913
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	193,827	303,908
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	-42,486	-14,188
Available-for-sale debt securities, Estimated Fair Value	3,773,970	3,872,633
Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	421,530	549,384
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	26,654	42,313
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	-2,039	-1,195
Held-to-maturity securities, Estimated Fair Value	446,145	590,502
Available-for-sale debt securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	67,257	89,486
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	3,240	5,165
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	-688	-266
Available-for-sale debt securities, Estimated Fair Value	69,809	94,385
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale debt securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	20,934	20,933
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	12,251	3,509
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	0	0
Available-for-sale debt securities, Estimated Fair Value	33,185	24,442
Collateralized Debt Securities [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	2,370	2,500
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	243	321
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	0	0
Held-to-maturity securities, Estimated Fair Value	2,613	2,821
Available-for-sale debt securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	15,436	17,676
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	1,157	1,448
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	-19	-33
Available-for-sale debt securities, Estimated Fair Value	16,574	19,091
Other Debt Securities [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	17,330	38,026
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	2,403	3,449
Held-to-maturity securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	0	0
Held-to-maturity securities, Estimated Fair Value	19,733	41,475
Available-for-sale debt securities, Cost or Amortized Cost	10,020	10,059
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	1,086	1,379
Available-for-sale debt securities, Gross Unrealized (Losses)	0	0
Available-for-sale debt securities, Estimated Fair Value	$11,106	$11,438

Investments_in_Securities_Matu

Investments in Securities - Maturities of Investments (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Available For Sale Securities And Held To Maturity Securities [Abstract]	'	'
Bonds Held-to-Maturity, Amortized Cost, Due in one year or less	$626,017	'
Bonds Held-to-Maturity, Amortized Cost, Due after one year through five years	2,597,458	'
Bonds Held-to-Maturity, Amortized Cost, Due after five years through ten years	4,928,988	'
Bonds Held-to-Maturity, Amortized Cost, Due after ten years	515,987	'
Bonds Held-to-Maturity, Amortized Cost, Without single maturity date	5,851	'
Bonds Held-to-Maturity, Amortized Cost	8,674,301	9,009,282
Bonds Held-to-Maturity, Estimated Fair Value, Due in one year or less	635,488	'
Bonds Held-to-Maturity, Estimated Fair Value, Due after one year through five years	2,837,116	'
Bonds Held-to-Maturity, Estimated Fair Value, Due after five years through ten years	5,082,875	'
Bonds Held-to-Maturity, Estimated Fair Value, Due after ten years	541,638	'
Bonds Held-to-Maturity, Estimated Fair Value, Without single maturity date	5,175	'
Held-to-maturity securities, Estimated Fair Value	9,102,292	9,840,751
Bonds Available-for-Sale, Amortized Cost, Due in one year or less	587,342	'
Bonds Available-for-Sale, Amortized Cost, Due after one year through five years	1,174,148	'
Bonds Available-for-Sale, Amortized Cost, Due after five years through ten years	2,223,776	'
Bonds Available-for-Sale, Amortized Cost, Due after ten years	381,279	'
Bonds Available-for-Sale, Amortized Cost, Without single maturity date	5,000	'
Bonds Available-for-Sale, Amortized Cost	4,371,545	4,316,467
Bonds Available-for-Sale, Estimated Fair Value, Due in one year or less	601,975	'
Bonds Available-for-Sale, Estimated Fair Value, Due after one year through five years	1,290,383	'
Bonds Available-for-Sale, Estimated Fair Value, Due after five years through ten years	2,271,703	'
Bonds Available-for-Sale, Estimated Fair Value, Due after ten years	388,300	'
Bonds Available-for-Sale, Estimated Fair Value, Without single maturity date	4,800	'
Available-for-sale debt securities, Estimated Fair Value	$4,557,161	$4,665,576

Investments_in_Securities_Proc

Investments in Securities - Proceeds from Available for Sale Securities and Realized Gain Loss (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gain Loss [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	$33,390	$85,400	$189,438	$123,705
Gross realized gains	10,349	15,742	33,699	27,769
Gross realized losses	($97)	($204)	($623)	($374)

Investments_in_Securities_Addi

Investments in Securities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Held To Maturity Securities Sales Or Transfers Of Investments [Abstract]	'	'
Securities transferred from held-to-maturity to available-for-sale	$13,492,000	$34,227,000
Unrealized gain (loss), transferred securities	263,000	'
Other-than-temporary impairment loss	'	$11,358,000

Investments_in_Securities_Chan

Investments in Securities - Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available-for-Sale Securities (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities during the year	$2,120	$220,501
Adjustments for:	'	'
Deferred policy acquisition costs	46,643	-38,358
Participating policyholders' interest	1,018	-8,192
Deferred federal income tax benefit (expense)	-18,212	-60,768
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities, net of tax	31,569	113,183
Bonds Available-for-Sale [Member]	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities during the year	-163,493	109,003
Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities during the year	$165,613	$111,498

Investments_in_Securities_Gros

Investments in Securities - Gross Unrealized Losses on Investment Securities and Estimated Fair Value Securities (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Bonds held-to-maturity, Less than 12 months, Unrealized Losses	($86,127)	($4,547)
Bonds held-to-maturity, Less than 12 months, Estimated Fair Value	1,717,853	334,172
Bonds held-to-maturity, 12 months or more, Unrealized Losses	-5,923	-3,437
Bonds held-to-maturity, 12 months or more, Estimated Fair Value	78,884	64,378
Bonds held-to-maturity, Total, Unrealized Losses	-92,050	-7,984
Bonds held-to-maturity, Total, Estimated Fair Value	1,796,737	398,550
Investment in securities, Less than 12 months, Unrealized Losses	-143,201	-13,540
Investment in securities, Less than 12 months, Estimated Fair Value	2,810,229	649,043
Investment in securities, More than 12 months, Unrealized Losses	-9,858	-15,805
Investment in securities, More than 12 months, Fair Value	170,348	143,505
Investment in securities, Total, Unrealized Losses	-153,059	-29,345
Investment in securities, Total, Estimated Fair Value	2,980,577	792,548
Common Stock [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Unrealized Losses	-6,232	-6,739
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Estimated Fair Value	59,238	64,003
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Estimated Fair Value	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Unrealized (Losses)	-6,232	-6,739
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Estimated Fair Value	59,238	64,003
Preferred Stock [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Unrealized Losses	-294	-30
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Estimated Fair Value	6,207	30
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Estimated Fair Value	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Unrealized (Losses)	-294	-30
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Estimated Fair Value	6,207	30
Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Unrealized Losses	-6,526	-6,769
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Estimated Fair Value	65,445	64,033
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Estimated Fair Value	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Unrealized (Losses)	-6,526	-6,769
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Estimated Fair Value	65,445	64,033
U.S. States and Political Subdivisions [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Bonds held-to-maturity, Less than 12 months, Unrealized Losses	-333	-6
Bonds held-to-maturity, Less than 12 months, Estimated Fair Value	9,506	914
Bonds held-to-maturity, 12 months or more, Unrealized Losses	0	-1
Bonds held-to-maturity, 12 months or more, Estimated Fair Value	0	80
Bonds held-to-maturity, Total, Unrealized Losses	-333	-7
Bonds held-to-maturity, Total, Estimated Fair Value	9,506	994
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Unrealized Losses	-11,290	-105
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Estimated Fair Value	139,386	6,523
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Estimated Fair Value	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Unrealized (Losses)	-11,290	-105
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Estimated Fair Value	139,386	6,523
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Bonds held-to-maturity, Less than 12 months, Unrealized Losses	-84,681	-4,394
Bonds held-to-maturity, Less than 12 months, Estimated Fair Value	1,675,699	319,434
Bonds held-to-maturity, 12 months or more, Unrealized Losses	-4,997	-2,388
Bonds held-to-maturity, 12 months or more, Estimated Fair Value	65,551	39,632
Bonds held-to-maturity, Total, Unrealized Losses	-89,678	-6,782
Bonds held-to-maturity, Total, Estimated Fair Value	1,741,250	359,066
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Unrealized Losses	-38,704	-2,077
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Estimated Fair Value	869,875	242,261
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Unrealized Losses	-3,782	-12,111
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Estimated Fair Value	88,918	70,187
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Unrealized (Losses)	-42,486	-14,188
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Estimated Fair Value	958,793	312,448
Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Bonds held-to-maturity, Less than 12 months, Unrealized Losses	-1,113	-147
Bonds held-to-maturity, Less than 12 months, Estimated Fair Value	32,648	13,824
Bonds held-to-maturity, 12 months or more, Unrealized Losses	-926	-1,048
Bonds held-to-maturity, 12 months or more, Estimated Fair Value	13,333	24,666
Bonds held-to-maturity, Total, Unrealized Losses	-2,039	-1,195
Bonds held-to-maturity, Total, Estimated Fair Value	45,981	38,490
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Unrealized Losses	-552	-34
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Estimated Fair Value	17,462	1,527
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Unrealized Losses	-136	-232
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Estimated Fair Value	1,902	8,029
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Unrealized (Losses)	-688	-266
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Estimated Fair Value	19,364	9,556
Collateralized Debt Securities [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Bonds held-to-maturity, Total, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Unrealized Losses	-2	-8
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Estimated Fair Value	208	527
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Unrealized Losses	-17	-25
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Estimated Fair Value	644	911
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Unrealized (Losses)	-19	-33
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Estimated Fair Value	852	1,438
Bonds Available-for-Sale [Member]	'	'
Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Unrealized Losses	-50,548	-2,224
Available-for-sale securities, Less than 12 months, Estimated Fair Value	1,026,931	250,838
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Unrealized Losses	-3,935	-12,368
Available-for-sale securities, 12 months or more, Estimated Fair Value	91,464	79,127
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Unrealized (Losses)	-54,483	-14,592
Available-for-sale securities, Total, Estimated Fair Value	$1,118,395	$329,965

Investments_in_Securities_Bond

Investments in Securities - Bond by Credit Quality Rating Distribution (Detail)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Portfolio of investment by credit quality	100.00%	100.00%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Portfolio of investment by credit quality	100.00%	100.00%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | AAA [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Portfolio of investment by credit quality	4.90%	5.50%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | AA [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Portfolio of investment by credit quality	10.80%	10.60%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | A [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Portfolio of investment by credit quality	41.00%	38.20%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | BBB [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Portfolio of investment by credit quality	39.60%	41.40%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | BB and Below [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Portfolio of investment by credit quality	3.70%	4.30%

Investments_in_Securities_Equi

Investments in Securities - Equity Securities by Market Sector Distribution (Detail)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Equity securities with market sector distribution	100.00%	100.00%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Equity securities with market sector distribution	100.00%	100.00%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Consumer Goods [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Equity securities with market sector distribution	18.90%	20.30%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Energy and Utilities [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Equity securities with market sector distribution	15.90%	15.80%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Financials [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Equity securities with market sector distribution	19.60%	18.90%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Healthcare [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Equity securities with market sector distribution	12.70%	12.70%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Industrials [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Equity securities with market sector distribution	8.90%	9.10%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Information Technology [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Equity securities with market sector distribution	15.90%	16.90%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Other [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Equity securities with market sector distribution	8.10%	6.30%

Mortgage_Loans_Mortgage_Loans_

Mortgage Loans - Mortgage Loans by Property Type and Geographic Distribution (Detail)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Mortgage loans	100.00%	100.00%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Mortgage loans	100.00%	100.00%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Hotel and Motel [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Mortgage loans	9.60%	13.90%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Industrial [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Mortgage loans	25.10%	24.00%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Office [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Mortgage loans	34.10%	34.90%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Retail [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Mortgage loans	18.60%	17.70%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Other [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Mortgage loans	12.60%	9.50%
Geographic Concentration Risk [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Mortgage loans	100.00%	100.00%
Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | East North Central [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Mortgage loans	18.60%	18.20%
Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | East South Central [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Mortgage loans	5.50%	7.10%
Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | Mountain [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Mortgage loans	8.00%	7.00%
Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | Pacific [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Mortgage loans	11.30%	13.30%
Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | South Atlantic [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Mortgage loans	21.60%	23.00%
Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | West South Central [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Mortgage loans	28.50%	23.20%
Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | Other [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Mortgage loans	6.50%	8.20%

Mortgage_Loans_Additional_Info

Mortgage Loans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
	MortgageLoan	MortgageLoan
	Defaults
Receivables [Abstract]	'	'	'
Number of mortgage loan foreclosed	1	4	'
Mortgage loans foreclosed	$5,600,000	$34,562,000	'
Number of mortgage loans sold	0	1	'
Commercial loan sold with recorded investment	'	19,665,000	'
Realized gain on sale of commercial loan	'	2,607,000	'
Unamortized discounts	898,000	'	4,346,000
Unamortized origination fees, mortgage loans	15,599,000	'	14,076,000
Financing receivable, collectively evaluated for impairment	3,318,555,000	2,999,164,000	'
Financing receivable, individually evaluated for impairment	$30,051,000	$72,340,000	'
Number of defaults on modified loans	0	'	'

Mortgage_Loans_Commercial_Mort

Mortgage Loans - Commercial Mortgage Loans Placed on Nonaccrual Status (Detail) (Retail [Member], USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Retail [Member]	'	'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
Amounts of commercial mortgage loans	$0	$12,861

Mortgage_Loans_Age_Analysis_of

Mortgage Loans - Age Analysis of Past Due Commercial Mortgage Loans (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
30-59 Days Past Due	$0	$0
60-89 Days Past Due	0	0
Greater Than 90 Days	0	12,861
Total Past Due	0	12,861
Current	3,348,606	3,142,162
Mortgage loans on real estate, gross	3,348,606	3,155,023
Allowance for loan losses	15,243	12,012
Mortgage loans on real estate, net of allowance	3,333,363	3,143,011
Industrial [Member]	'	'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
30-59 Days Past Due	0	0
60-89 Days Past Due	0	0
Greater Than 90 Days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	839,095	755,198
Mortgage loans on real estate, gross	839,095	755,198
Office [Member]	'	'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
30-59 Days Past Due	0	0
60-89 Days Past Due	0	0
Greater Than 90 Days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	1,141,901	1,100,407
Mortgage loans on real estate, gross	1,141,901	1,100,407
Retail [Member]	'	'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
30-59 Days Past Due	0	0
60-89 Days Past Due	0	0
Greater Than 90 Days	0	12,861
Total Past Due	0	12,861
Current	627,821	547,965
Mortgage loans on real estate, gross	627,821	560,826
Other [Member]	'	'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
30-59 Days Past Due	0	0
60-89 Days Past Due	0	0
Greater Than 90 Days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	739,789	738,592
Mortgage loans on real estate, gross	$739,789	$738,592

Mortgage_Loans_Change_in_Allow

Mortgage Loans - Change in Allowance for Credit Losses in Commercial Mortgage Loans (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Allowance for credit losses, Collectively Evaluated for Impairment, Beginning Balance	$12,019	$11,873	$11,519	$10,828
Change in allowance, Collectively Evaluated for Impairment	1,562	475	2,062	1,520
Allowance for credit losses, Collectively Evaluated for Impairment, Ending Balance	13,581	12,348	13,581	12,348
Allowance for credit losses, Individually Evaluated for Impairment, Beginning balance	1,662	493	493	493
Write down, Individually Evaluated for Impairment	'	'	'	-2,277
Change in allowance, Individually Evaluated for Impairment	0	0	1,169	2,277
Allowance for credit losses, Individually Evaluated for Impairment, Ending balance	$1,662	$493	$1,662	$493

Mortgage_Loans_Loans_Individua

Mortgage Loans - Loans Individually Evaluated for Impairment With and Without Allowance (Average Recorded Investment and Interest Income Recognized) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Average Recorded Investment	$6,432	$72,724	$6,439	$72,325
Interest Income Recognized	110	1,761	331	3,515
Average Recorded Investment	23,652	493	23,727	493
Interest Income Recognized	393	0	1,192	0
Office [Member]	'	'	'	'
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Average Recorded Investment	6,432	13,022	6,439	13,050
Interest Income Recognized	110	847	331	635
Average Recorded Investment	23,159	0	23,234	0
Interest Income Recognized	393	0	1,192	0
Retail [Member]	'	'	'	'
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Average Recorded Investment	0	14,425	0	13,992
Interest Income Recognized	0	158	0	604
Average Recorded Investment	493	493	493	493
Interest Income Recognized	0	0	0	0
Other [Member]	'	'	'	'
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Average Recorded Investment	0	45,277	0	45,283
Interest Income Recognized	$0	$756	$0	$2,276

Mortgage_Loans_Loans_Individua1

Mortgage Loans - Loans Individually Evaluated for Impairment With and Without Allowance (Recorded Investment and Unpaid Principal Balance) (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]	'	'
Recorded Investment	$23,619	$493
Unpaid Principal Balance	23,797	493
Recorded Investment	6,432	109,044
Unpaid Principal Balance	6,432	109,044
Office [Member]	'	'
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]	'	'
Recorded Investment	23,126	0
Unpaid Principal Balance	23,304	0
Recorded Investment	6,432	36,544
Unpaid Principal Balance	6,432	36,544
Retail [Member]	'	'
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]	'	'
Recorded Investment	493	493
Unpaid Principal Balance	493	493
Recorded Investment	0	17,180
Unpaid Principal Balance	0	17,180
Other [Member]	'	'
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]	'	'
Recorded Investment	0	55,320
Unpaid Principal Balance	$0	$55,320

Mortgage_Loans_Loans_Individua2

Mortgage Loans - Loans Individually Evaluated for Impairment With and Without Allowance (Recorded Investment and Unpaid Principal Balance) (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Office [Member]	'	'
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]	'	'
Related Allowance	$1,169	$0
Retail [Member]	'	'
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]	'	'
Related Allowance	$493	$493

Mortgage_Loans_Number_of_Mortg

Mortgage Loans - Number of Mortgage Loans and Recorded Investment (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
	Contract	Contract
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]	'	'
Number of contracts	1	2
Recorded investment pre- modification	$6,432	$11,122
Recorded investment post modification	6,432	11,122
Office [Member]	'	'
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]	'	'
Number of contracts	1	1
Recorded investment pre- modification	6,432	6,803
Recorded investment post modification	6,432	6,803
Retail [Member]	'	'
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]	'	'
Number of contracts	0	1
Recorded investment pre- modification	0	4,319
Recorded investment post modification	$0	$4,319

Investment_Real_Estate_Investm

Investment Real Estate - Investment Real Estate by Property-Type and Geographic Distribution (Detail)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Investment real estate	100.00%	100.00%
Property Type Concentration Risk [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Investment real estate	100.00%	100.00%
Property Type Concentration Risk [Member] | Industrial [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Investment real estate	17.80%	18.10%
Property Type Concentration Risk [Member] | Office [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Investment real estate	25.70%	21.90%
Property Type Concentration Risk [Member] | Shopping Centers [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Investment real estate	33.40%	41.00%
Property Type Concentration Risk [Member] | Other [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Investment real estate	23.10%	19.00%
Geographic Distribution [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Investment real estate	100.00%	100.00%
Geographic Distribution [Member] | East North Central [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Investment real estate	8.90%	10.30%
Geographic Distribution [Member] | East South Central [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Investment real estate	6.40%	5.30%
Geographic Distribution [Member] | Mountain [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Investment real estate	6.90%	6.20%
Geographic Distribution [Member] | South Atlantic [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Investment real estate	10.80%	11.20%
Geographic Distribution [Member] | West South Central [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Investment real estate	58.70%	60.80%
Geographic Distribution [Member] | Other [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Investment real estate	8.30%	6.20%

Investment_Real_Estate_Assets_

Investment Real Estate - Assets and Liabilities Related to VIEs (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Investment real estate	$471,810	$511,233	'	'
Short-term investments	339,479	313,086	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	122,637	303,008	162,630	102,114
Accrued investment income	203,684	207,314	'	'
Other assets	179,903	154,911	'	'
Notes payable	114,126	163,384	'	'
Other liabilities	453,576	432,041	'	'
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]	'	'	'	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Investment real estate	113,214	162,502	'	'
Short-term investments	0	969	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	2,372	3,671	'	'
Accrued investment income	2,146	2,641	'	'
Other receivables	9,165	11,709	'	'
Other assets	5,437	6,487	'	'
Total assets of consolidated VIEs	132,334	187,979	'	'
Notes payable	114,126	163,384	'	'
Other liabilities	5,470	6,647	'	'
Total liabilities of consolidated VIEs	$119,596	$170,031	'	'

Investment_Real_Estate_Additio

Investment Real Estate - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
	Note
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Maximum amount of investment in long-term notes payable	$12,856,000	$18,063,000
Current portion of notes payable	3,200,000	50,884,000
Average interest rate on current portion of notes payable	4.00%	'
Number of notes included in notes payable	3	'
Long-term notes payable due in four and five years	$9,375,000	'
Long-Term Notes Payable 1 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate on long-term notes	4.00%	'
Notes payable maturity period	'Beyond 5 years	'
Long-Term Notes Payable 2 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rates on long-term notes payable	1.00%	'
Interest on long-term portion of notes payable	'Adjusted LIBOR	'
Notes payable maturity year	'2016	'
Long-Term Notes Payable 3 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rates on long-term notes payable	2.50%	'
Interest on long-term portion of notes payable	'Adjusted LIBOR	'
Notes payable maturity year	'2016	'

Investment_Real_Estate_Carryin

Investment Real Estate - Carrying Amount and Maximum Exposure to Loss Related to VIEs (Detail) (Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member], USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates [Member]	'	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'
Carrying Amount	$153,425	$81,548
Maximum Exposure to Loss	153,425	81,548
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]	'	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'
Carrying Amount	84,497	57,434
Maximum Exposure to Loss	84,497	57,434
Accured Investment Income [Member]	'	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'
Carrying Amount	631	309
Maximum Exposure to Loss	$631	$309

Derivative_Instruments_Schedul

Derivative Instruments - Schedule of Derivative Instruments Reported in Financial Position (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Derivative	Derivative
Equity-Indexed Options [Member] | Other Invested Assets [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Number of Instruments	379	356
Derivative Notional Amount, Asset	$918,100	$846,900
Estimated Fair Value of other invested assets	129,749	82,625
Equity-Indexed Embedded Derivative [Member] | Future Policy Benefits [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Number of Instruments	30,804	22,941
Derivative Notional Amount, Liability	782,900	722,500
Derivative Financial Instruments, Estimated Fair Value	$111,289	$75,032

Derivative_Instruments_Schedul1

Derivative Instruments - Schedule of Derivative Instruments Reported in Statements of Operations (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Equity-Indexed Options [Member] | Net Investment Income [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Equity-indexed options embedded derivative	$13,260	$10,448	$48,019	$21,947
Equity-Indexed Embedded Derivative [Member] | Interest Credited to Policyholders' Account Balances [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Equity-indexed options embedded derivative	($11,056)	($7,756)	($39,750)	($16,765)

Net_Investment_Income_and_Real2

Net Investment Income and Realized Investment Gains (Losses) - Summary of Net Investment Income (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net Investment Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net Investment Income, Total	$254,336	$258,190	$752,488	$754,449
Bonds Available-for-Sale [Member]	'	'	'	'
Net Investment Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net Investment Income, Total	157,888	171,515	479,296	514,237
Equity Securities [Member]	'	'	'	'
Net Investment Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net Investment Income, Total	7,417	6,965	22,653	20,718
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]	'	'	'	'
Net Investment Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net Investment Income, Total	55,629	52,501	163,497	153,008
Real Estate [Member]	'	'	'	'
Net Investment Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net Investment Income, Total	11,297	8,173	10,228	16,456
Options [Member]	'	'	'	'
Net Investment Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net Investment Income, Total	13,260	10,448	48,019	21,947
Other Invested Assets [Member]	'	'	'	'
Net Investment Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net Investment Income, Total	$8,845	$8,588	$28,795	$28,083

Net_Investment_Income_and_Real3

Net Investment Income and Realized Investment Gains (Losses) - Summary of Realized Investment Gains (Losses) and Other than Temporary Impairment Losses (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Realized investments gain (losses)	$43,795	$26,905	$107,473	$46,852
Other-than-temporary impairments	-312	-13,975	-3,503	-22,073
Bonds Available-for-Sale [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Realized investments gain (losses)	9,907	8,393	16,826	21,813
Other-than-temporary impairments	0	-12,659	0	-12,659
Equity Securities [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Realized investments gain (losses)	10,149	12,172	30,668	22,386
Other-than-temporary impairments	-312	-1,316	-3,503	-9,414
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Realized investments gain (losses)	-1,561	2,132	-1,172	-1,190
Real Estate [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Realized investments gain (losses)	25,311	3,386	61,257	3,134
Other Invested Assets [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Realized investments gain (losses)	($11)	$822	($106)	$709

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru2

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Carrying Amount and Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Financial assets	'	'
Held-to-maturity, fair value disclosure	$9,102,292	$9,840,751
Separate account assets, fair value disclosure	931,947	841,389
Financial liabilities	'	'
Separate account liabilities, fair value disclosure	931,947	841,389
Carrying Amount [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Held-to-maturity, fair value disclosure	8,674,301	9,009,282
Equity Indexed Options, fair value disclosure	129,749	82,625
Short-term investments, fair value disclosure	339,479	313,086
Separate account assets, fair value disclosure	931,947	841,389
Total financial assets, fair value disclosure	19,638,840	19,525,741
Financial liabilities	'	'
Liabilities related to investment contracts, fair value disclosure	9,495,111	9,987,431
Embedded derivative liability for equity-indexed contracts, fair value disclosure	111,289	75,032
Notes payable, fair value disclosure	114,126	163,384
Separate account liabilities, fair value disclosure	931,947	841,389
Total financial liabilities, fair value disclosure	10,652,473	11,067,236
Carrying Amount [Member] | Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Loans receivable, fair value disclosure	3,333,363	3,143,011
Carrying Amount [Member] | Policy Loans [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Loans receivable, fair value disclosure	395,709	395,333
Carrying Amount [Member] | Bonds Available-for-Sale [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Available-for-sale securities fair value disclosure	4,557,161	4,665,576
Carrying Amount [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Available-for-sale securities fair value disclosure	1,277,131	1,075,439
Estimated Fair Value [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Held-to-maturity, fair value disclosure	9,102,292	9,840,751
Equity Indexed Options, fair value disclosure	129,749	82,625
Short-term investments, fair value disclosure	339,479	313,086
Separate account assets, fair value disclosure	931,947	841,389
Total financial assets, fair value disclosure	20,413,306	20,655,844
Financial liabilities	'	'
Liabilities related to investment contracts, fair value disclosure	9,495,111	9,987,431
Embedded derivative liability for equity-indexed contracts, fair value disclosure	111,289	75,032
Notes payable, fair value disclosure	114,126	163,384
Separate account liabilities, fair value disclosure	931,947	841,389
Total financial liabilities, fair value disclosure	10,652,473	11,067,236
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Loans receivable, fair value disclosure	3,679,838	3,441,645
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Policy Loans [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Loans receivable, fair value disclosure	395,709	395,333
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Bonds Available-for-Sale [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Available-for-sale securities fair value disclosure	4,557,161	4,665,576
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Available-for-sale securities fair value disclosure	$1,277,131	$1,075,439

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru3

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
			Minimum [Member]	Minimum [Member]	Maximum [Member]	Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Modeled discount rate	'	'	5.90%	5.90%	6.00%	6.00%
Estimate embedded derivative value ranges	'	'	14.50%	15.90%	29.40%	30.10%
Net gain (loss) for derivatives included in net investment income	$39,652,000	$16,334,000	'	'	'	'

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru4

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Quantitative Disclosures Regarding Fair Value Hierarchy Measurements (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	$9,102,292	$9,840,751
Separate account assets, fair value disclosure	931,947	841,389
Separate account liabilities, fair value disclosure	931,947	841,389
U.S. Treasury and Government [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	1,986	3,662
U.S. States and Political Subdivisions [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	379,057	433,695
Foreign Governments [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	32,097	33,438
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	8,220,661	8,735,158
Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	446,145	590,502
Collateralized Debt Securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	2,613	2,821
Other Debt Securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	19,733	41,475
Recurring [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	9,102,292	9,840,751
Equity Indexed Options, fair value disclosure	129,749	82,625
Short-term investments, fair value disclosure	339,479	313,086
Separate account assets, fair value disclosure	931,947	841,389
Total financial assets, fair value disclosure	20,413,306	20,655,844
Liabilities related to investment contracts, fair value disclosure	9,495,111	9,987,431
Embedded derivative liability for equity-indexed, fair value disclosure	111,289	75,032
Notes payable, fair value disclosure	114,126	163,384
Separate account liabilities, fair value disclosure	931,947	841,389
Total financial liabilities, fair value disclosure	10,652,473	11,067,236
Recurring [Member] | Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Loans receivable, fair value disclosure	3,679,838	3,441,645
Recurring [Member] | Policy Loans [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Loans receivable, fair value disclosure	395,709	395,333
Recurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Equity Indexed Options, fair value disclosure	0	0
Short-term investments, fair value disclosure	0	0
Separate account assets, fair value disclosure	0	0
Total financial assets, fair value disclosure	1,277,131	1,075,436
Liabilities related to investment contracts, fair value disclosure	0	0
Embedded derivative liability for equity-indexed, fair value disclosure	0	0
Notes payable, fair value disclosure	0	0
Separate account liabilities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Total financial liabilities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Loans receivable, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Policy Loans [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Loans receivable, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	9,052,677	9,763,875
Equity Indexed Options, fair value disclosure	0	0
Short-term investments, fair value disclosure	339,479	313,086
Separate account assets, fair value disclosure	931,947	841,389
Total financial assets, fair value disclosure	18,508,954	18,918,538
Liabilities related to investment contracts, fair value disclosure	0	0
Embedded derivative liability for equity-indexed, fair value disclosure	0	0
Notes payable, fair value disclosure	0	0
Separate account liabilities, fair value disclosure	931,947	841,389
Total financial liabilities, fair value disclosure	931,947	841,389
Recurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Loans receivable, fair value disclosure	3,679,838	3,441,645
Recurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Policy Loans [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Loans receivable, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	49,615	76,876
Equity Indexed Options, fair value disclosure	129,749	82,625
Short-term investments, fair value disclosure	0	0
Separate account assets, fair value disclosure	0	0
Total financial assets, fair value disclosure	627,221	661,870
Liabilities related to investment contracts, fair value disclosure	9,495,111	9,987,431
Embedded derivative liability for equity-indexed, fair value disclosure	111,289	75,032
Notes payable, fair value disclosure	114,126	163,384
Separate account liabilities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Total financial liabilities, fair value disclosure	9,720,526	10,225,847
Recurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Loans receivable, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Policy Loans [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Loans receivable, fair value disclosure	395,709	395,333
Recurring [Member] | U.S. Treasury and Government [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	1,986	3,662
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	22,390	20,805
Recurring [Member] | U.S. Treasury and Government [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | U.S. Treasury and Government [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	1,986	3,662
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	22,390	20,805
Recurring [Member] | U.S. Treasury and Government [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | U.S. States and Political Subdivisions [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	379,057	433,695
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	623,324	615,438
Recurring [Member] | U.S. States and Political Subdivisions [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | U.S. States and Political Subdivisions [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	379,057	433,695
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	620,804	612,913
Recurring [Member] | U.S. States and Political Subdivisions [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	2,520	2,525
Recurring [Member] | Foreign Governments [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	32,097	33,438
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	6,803	7,344
Recurring [Member] | Foreign Governments [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Foreign Governments [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	32,097	33,438
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	6,803	7,344
Recurring [Member] | Foreign Governments [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	8,220,661	8,735,158
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	3,773,970	3,872,633
Recurring [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	8,174,665	8,662,164
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	3,761,613	3,796,949
Recurring [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	45,996	72,994
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	12,357	75,684
Recurring [Member] | Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	446,145	590,502
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	69,809	94,385
Recurring [Member] | Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	445,139	589,441
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	67,683	91,938
Recurring [Member] | Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	1,006	1,061
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	2,126	2,447
Recurring [Member] | Collateralized Debt Securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	2,613	2,821
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	16,574	19,091
Recurring [Member] | Collateralized Debt Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Collateralized Debt Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	14,614	17,156
Recurring [Member] | Collateralized Debt Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	2,613	2,821
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	1,960	1,935
Recurring [Member] | Other Debt Securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	19,733	41,475
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	11,106	11,438
Recurring [Member] | Other Debt Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Other Debt Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	19,733	41,475
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	11,106	11,438
Recurring [Member] | Other Debt Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	33,185	24,442
Recurring [Member] | Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	33,185	24,442
Recurring [Member] | Bonds Available-for-Sale [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	4,557,161	4,665,576
Recurring [Member] | Bonds Available-for-Sale [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Bonds Available-for-Sale [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	4,505,013	4,558,543
Recurring [Member] | Bonds Available-for-Sale [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	52,148	107,033
Recurring [Member] | Common Stock [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	1,239,295	1,037,784
Recurring [Member] | Common Stock [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	1,239,295	1,037,784
Recurring [Member] | Common Stock [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Common Stock [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Preferred Stock [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	37,836	37,655
Recurring [Member] | Preferred Stock [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	37,836	37,652
Recurring [Member] | Preferred Stock [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Preferred Stock [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	3
Recurring [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	1,277,131	1,075,439
Recurring [Member] | Equity Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	1,277,131	1,075,436
Recurring [Member] | Equity Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	0	0
Recurring [Member] | Equity Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, fair value disclosure	$0	$3

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru5

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using (Level 3) Inputs (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	$100,963	$72,194	$75,032	$63,275
Total realized and unrealized investment gains/losses included in other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Net fair value change included in realized gains/losses	0	0	0	0
Net gain (loss) for derivatives included in net investment income	0	0	0	0
Net change included in interest credited	11,056	7,756	39,750	16,765
Purchases	0	0	0	0
Sales	0	0	0	0
Settlements or maturities	0	0	0	0
Premiums less benefits	-730	374	-3,493	284
Gross transfers into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Gross transfers out of Level 3	0	'	0	'
Ending balance	111,289	80,324	111,289	80,324
Investment Securities [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	55,558	47,921	107,036	15,815
Total realized and unrealized investment gains/losses included in other comprehensive income	-633	11,372	10,496	10,836
Net fair value change included in realized gains/losses	-1	-11,471	218	-11,441
Net gain (loss) for derivatives included in net investment income	0	0	0	0
Net change included in interest credited	0	0	0	0
Purchases	45	46	2,115	598
Sales	-138	-3	-14,272	-269
Settlements or maturities	0	0	0	-395
Premiums less benefits	0	0	0	0
Transfers from held to maturity	'	13,118	'	13,118
Gross transfers into Level 3	157	2	157	32,723
Gross transfers out of Level 3	-2,840	'	-53,602	'
Ending balance	52,148	60,985	52,148	60,985
Equity-Indexed Options [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	115,558	77,136	82,625	65,188
Total realized and unrealized investment gains/losses included in other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Net fair value change included in realized gains/losses	0	0	0	0
Net gain (loss) for derivatives included in net investment income	11,775	9,708	42,941	17,878
Net change included in interest credited	0	0	0	0
Purchases	4,470	2,991	12,178	11,472
Sales	0	0	0	0
Settlements or maturities	-2,054	-1,359	-7,995	-6,062
Premiums less benefits	0	0	0	0
Gross transfers into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Gross transfers out of Level 3	0	'	0	'
Ending balance	$129,749	$88,476	$129,749	$88,476

Deferred_Policy_Acquisition_Co2

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs - Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning balance	$1,247,675	'
Additions	285,356	'
Amortization	-304,924	'
Effect of change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities	46,643	-38,358
Net change	27,075	'
Ending balance	1,274,750	'
Life Insurance Entities [Member]	'	'
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning balance	653,416	'
Additions	80,226	'
Amortization	-59,201	'
Effect of change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities	5,654	'
Net change	26,679	'
Ending balance	680,095	'
Annuity [Member]	'	'
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning balance	406,540	'
Additions	38,467	'
Amortization	-66,129	'
Effect of change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities	40,989	'
Net change	13,327	'
Ending balance	419,867	'
Accident & Health [Member]	'	'
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning balance	49,206	'
Additions	9,457	'
Amortization	-11,537	'
Effect of change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities	0	'
Net change	-2,080	'
Ending balance	47,126	'
Property & Casualty Insurance Entities [Member]	'	'
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning balance	138,513	'
Additions	157,206	'
Amortization	-168,057	'
Effect of change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities	0	'
Net change	-10,851	'
Ending balance	$127,662	'

Liability_for_Unpaid_Claims_an2

Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses - Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			Property and Casualty Accident and Health [Member]	Property and Casualty Accident and Health [Member]
Liability For Unpaid Claims And Claims Adjustment Expense Net	'	'	'	'
Unpaid claims balance, beginning	'	'	$1,168,047	$1,180,259
Less reinsurance recoverables	400,860	418,743	256,885	235,174
Net beginning balance	'	'	911,162	945,085
Incurred related to	'	'	'	'
Current	'	'	743,194	779,602
Prior years	'	'	-50,553	-46,037
Total incurred claims	'	'	692,641	733,565
Paid claims related to	'	'	'	'
Current	'	'	442,100	454,183
Prior years	'	'	266,472	284,025
Total paid claims	'	'	708,572	738,208
Net balance	'	'	895,231	940,442
Plus reinsurance recoverables	400,860	418,743	226,822	238,268
Unpaid claims balance, ending	'	'	$1,122,053	$1,178,710

Liability_for_Unpaid_Claims_an3

Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Insurance [Abstract]	'	'
Description of increase (decrease) in claims and claim adjustment expenses	'The net and gross reserve calculations have shown favorable development for the last several years as a result of favorable loss emergence compared to what was implied by the loss development patterns used in the original estimation	'The net and gross reserve calculations have shown favorable development for the last several years as a result of favorable loss emergence compared to what was implied by the loss development patterns used in the original estimation
Increase (decrease) in claims and claim adjustments expenses amount	($50,553,000)	($46,037,000)

Federal_Income_Taxes_Effective

Federal Income Taxes - Effective Income Tax Reconciliation (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Income tax expense on pre-tax income	$42,302	$31,285	$93,527	$59,989
Tax-exempt investment income	-1,502	-1,827	-4,700	-5,569
Dividend exclusion	-1,710	-1,501	-4,802	-4,453
Miscellaneous tax credits, net	-1,930	-2,206	-5,820	-6,669
Other items, net	-1,401	1,903	-6,326	-1,045
Total provision (benefit) for federal income taxes	$35,759	$27,654	$71,879	$42,253
Income tax expense on pre-tax income	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Tax-exempt investment income	-1.20%	-2.00%	-1.80%	-3.20%
Dividend exclusion	-1.40%	-1.70%	-1.80%	-2.60%
Miscellaneous tax credits, net	-1.60%	-2.50%	-2.20%	-3.90%
Other items, net	-1.20%	2.10%	-2.30%	-0.60%
Effective tax, Rate	29.60%	30.90%	26.90%	24.70%

Federal_Income_Taxes_Additiona

Federal Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
Income taxes paid or refunded, net	$37,784,000	$20,293,000	'
Valuation allowance	0	'	0
Ordinary loss tax carryforwards subject to expiration	13,179,000	'	'
Operating loss carryforwards expiration dates	31-Dec-33	'	'
Interest or penalties recognized	$0	$0	'

Federal_Income_Taxes_Component

Federal Income Taxes - Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS	'	'
Investments, principally due to impairment losses	$71,740	$74,117
Investment in real estate and other invested assets principally due to investment valuation allowances	8,580	7,259
Policyholder funds, principally due to policy reserve discount	230,922	229,429
Policyholder funds, principally due to unearned premium reserve	32,916	30,337
Participating policyholders' surplus	42,144	37,014
Pension	95,981	94,847
Commissions and other expenses	7,365	7,889
Tax carryforwards	13,179	23,041
Gross deferred tax assets	502,827	503,933
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, principally due to net unrealized gains	257,847	257,290
Investment in bonds, principally due to accrual of discount on bonds	5,994	9,415
Deferred policy acquisition costs, due to difference between GAAP and tax amortization methods	338,928	327,245
Property, plant and equipment, principally due to difference between GAAP and tax depreciation methods	8,113	1,462
Other liabilities	12,937	671
Gross deferred tax liabilities	623,819	596,083
Total net deferred tax assets (liabilities)	($120,992)	($92,150)

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Components of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Beginning balance	$242,010	$159,403
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax benefit (expense)	-14,468	1,387
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period, net of tax expense	24,658	149,198
Unrealized adjustment to DAC, net of tax benefit (expense)	29,344	-24,933
Unrealized (gains) losses on investments attributable to participating policyholders' interest, net of tax benefit (expense)	662	-5,325
Foreign currency adjustment, net of tax benefit expense	-211	30
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Ending balance	281,995	279,760
Net Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Securities [Member]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Beginning balance	370,842	274,837
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax benefit (expense)	-23,095	-5,757
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period, net of tax expense	24,658	149,198
Unrealized adjustment to DAC, net of tax benefit (expense)	29,344	-24,933
Unrealized (gains) losses on investments attributable to participating policyholders' interest, net of tax benefit (expense)	662	-5,325
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Ending balance	402,411	388,020
Defined Benefit Pension Plan Adjustments [Member]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Beginning balance	-129,003	-115,485
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax benefit (expense)	8,627	7,144
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Ending balance	-120,376	-108,341
Foreign Currency Adjustments [Member]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Beginning balance	171	51
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax benefit (expense)	0	0
Foreign currency adjustment, net of tax benefit expense	-211	30
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Ending balance	($40)	$81

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv3

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Components of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Equity [Abstract]	'	'
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, sale of securities	$12,720	$3,277
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, pension	-4,645	-3,847
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period, tax expense	13,277	80,337
Unrealized adjustment to deferred policy acquisition costs, tax expense (benefit)	17,299	-13,425
Unrealized (gains) losses on investments attributable to participating policyholders' interest, tax expense (benefit)	356	-2,867
Foreign currency adjustment, tax expense (benefit)	($114)	$16

Stockholders_Equity_and_Noncon2

Stockholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interests - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Common stock, par value	$1	$1	$1
Common stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000	50,000,000
Maximum limit of shares available for grants under stock-based compensation plan	2,900,000	2,900,000	'
Maximum limit of shares granted to any one individual in any calendar year	'	200,000	'
Incremental cost of modification	($84,000)	$2,947,000	'
Company's statutory capital and surplus in percentage	'	200.00%	'
Allowed increase in company's statutory capital and surplus	'	56,205,000	54,234,000
Description of regulatory capital requirement	'	'American National Insurance Company's payment of dividends to stockholders is restricted by statutory regulations. The restrictions require life insurance companies to maintain minimum amounts of capital and surplus, and in the absence of special approval, limit the payment of dividends to the greater of statutory net gain from operations on an annual, non-cumulative basis, or 10% of statutory surplus.	'
Statutory Amount Available for Dividend Payments without Regulatory Approval	251,362,000	251,362,000	'
Parent Company [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Company's statutory capital and surplus	2,513,623,000	2,513,623,000	2,260,268,000
Missouri Domiciled Insurance Subsidiary [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Allowed increase in company's statutory capital and surplus	'	56,205,000	54,234,000
Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Vesting rate per year	'	20.00%	'
Vesting period	'	'5 years	'
Expiration of vesting period	'	'5 years	'
Restricted Stock Awards [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Vesting period	'	'10 years	'
Shares granted	350,334	350,334	'
Exercise price of Restricted shares granted	'	$0	'
Number of shares unvested	190,667	190,667	'
Lapse restrictions on restricted stock awards	'	'10 years	'
Restricted Stock Units [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Vesting period	'	'3 years	'
Conversion of RSUs into common stock	1	1	'
Restricted Stock Units [Member] | Graded Vesting [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Reclassification of equity to liability	'	'	$7,974,000

Stockholders_Equity_and_Noncon3

Stockholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interests - Common Stock, Amounts Outstanding (Detail)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Stockholders Equity Note [Abstract]	'	'
Shares issued	30,832,449	30,832,449
Treasury shares	-3,937,405	-3,995,785
Outstanding shares	26,895,044	26,836,664
Restricted shares	-190,667	-185,334
Unrestricted outstanding shares	26,704,377	26,651,330

Stockholders_Equity_and_Noncon4

Stockholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interests - Stock-Based Compensation Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Authorized Classes Of Cumulative Preferred And Preference Stocks [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance, Shares	'	'	108,951	'	'
Granted, Shares	'	'	0	'	'
Exercised, Shares	'	'	-10,249	'	'
Forfeited, Shares	'	'	-334	'	'
Expired, Shares	'	'	-14,333	'	'
Ending balance, Shares	84,035	'	84,035	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Beginning balance	'	'	$111.31	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted	'	'	$0	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Exercised	'	'	$95.61	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited	'	'	$96.53	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Expired	'	'	$107.93	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Ending balance	$113.86	'	$113.86	'	'
Weighted-average contractual remaining life	'	'	'2 years 6 months	'	'
Weighted-average exercise price	'	'	$113.86	'	'
Exercisable shares	82,992	'	82,992	'	'
Weighted-average exercise price Exercisable shares	$114.21	'	$114.21	'	'
Compensation expense (credits)	$87,000	$2,000	$160,000	($1,000)	'
Fair value of liability award	163,000	'	163,000	'	3,000
Restricted Stock Awards [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Authorized Classes Of Cumulative Preferred And Preference Stocks [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance, Shares	'	'	185,334	'	'
Granted, Shares	'	'	10,000	'	'
Exercised, Shares	'	'	-4,667	'	'
Forfeited, Shares	'	'	0	'	'
Expired, Shares	'	'	0	'	'
Ending balance, Shares	190,667	'	190,667	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Beginning balance	'	'	$109.13	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted	'	'	$80.05	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Exercised	'	'	$111.60	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited	'	'	$0	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Expired	'	'	$0	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Ending balance	$107.54	'	$107.54	'	'
Weighted-average contractual remaining life	'	'	'4 years 6 months	'	'
Weighted-average exercise price	'	'	$107.54	'	'
Compensation expense (credits)	674,000	-766,000	1,703,000	573,000	'
Restricted Stock Units [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Authorized Classes Of Cumulative Preferred And Preference Stocks [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance, Shares	'	'	127,059	'	'
Granted, Shares	'	'	71,084	'	'
Exercised, Shares	'	'	-76,179	'	'
Forfeited, Shares	'	'	-396	'	'
Expired, Shares	'	'	0	'	'
Ending balance, Shares	121,568	'	121,568	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Beginning balance	'	'	$75.06	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted	'	'	$80.05	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Exercised	'	'	$77.04	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited	'	'	$77.20	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Expired	'	'	$0	'	'
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Ending balance	$76.73	'	$76.73	'	'
Weighted-average contractual remaining life	'	'	'2 years	'	'
Weighted-average exercise price	'	'	$76.73	'	'
Exercisable shares	0	'	0	'	'
Compensation expense (credits)	409,000	-175,000	8,692,000	7,137,000	'
Fair value of liability award	$11,389,000	'	$11,389,000	'	$7,974,000

Stockholders_Equity_and_Noncon5

Stockholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interests - Summary of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Weighted average shares outstanding	26,780,313	26,736,464	26,789,564	26,699,211
Incremental shares from RS awards and RSUs	124,780	134,191	120,453	159,889
Total shares for diluted calculations	26,905,093	26,870,655	26,910,017	26,859,100
Net income (loss) attributable to American National Insurance Company	$82,613	$59,186	$200,753	$124,908
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$3.08	$2.21	$7.49	$4.68
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$3.07	$2.20	$7.46	$4.65

Stockholders_Equity_and_Noncon6

Stockholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interests - Statutory Capital and Surplus and Net Income (Loss) of Insurance Entities in Accordance with Statutory Accounting Practices (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Life Insurance Entities [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Statutory capital and surplus	$3,013,474	'	$3,013,474	'	$2,750,786
Statutory net income	59,602	51,020	159,286	137,553	'
Property & Casualty Insurance Entities [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Statutory capital and surplus	856,150	'	856,150	'	814,682
Statutory net income	$20,205	$19,734	$26,136	$13,085	'

Stockholders_Equity_and_Noncon7

Stockholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interests - Noncontrolling Interests - Additional Information1 (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	$13,636,000	$11,491,000
County Mutual [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	6,750,000	6,750,000
Other Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	$6,886,000	$4,741,000

Segment_Information_Additional

Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
	Segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment information, number of operating segments	5

Segment_Information_Summary_of

Segment Information - Summary of Results of Operations by Operating Segments (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income (loss) from continuing operations before federal income taxes and equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated affiliates	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$120,864	$89,385	$267,222	$171,396
Life Insurance Entities [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations before federal income taxes and equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated affiliates	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations	9,005	9,212	23,420	36,025
Annuity [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations before federal income taxes and equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated affiliates	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations	18,631	25,384	69,633	72,998
Accident & Health [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations before federal income taxes and equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated affiliates	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations	7,170	6,179	16,164	10,989
Property & Casualty Insurance Entities [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations before federal income taxes and equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated affiliates	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations	24,634	25,021	33,198	13,173
Corporate and Other [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations before federal income taxes and equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated affiliates	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$61,424	$23,589	$124,807	$38,211

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Commitments outstanding, aggregate amount	$337,107,000	'
Commitments expected to be funded in 2013	203,930,000	'
Commitments expected to be funded in 2014 and beyond	133,177,000	'
Short-term borrowing facility, maximum capacity	100,000,000	'
Short-term borrowing facility, letters of credit	55,000,000	'
Letters of credit outstanding, amount	31,595,000	33,696,000
Short-term borrowing facility, expiration date	30-Sep-14	'
Short-term borrowing, liquidity requirement	0	'
Total amount of guarantees outstanding	206,376,000	'
Life insurance policies with guarantees, cash value	$208,702,000	'

Related_Party_Transactions_Rel

Related Party Transactions - Related Party Transactions (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Affiliated Entity [Member] | Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Dollar Amount of Transactions	$853	$794	'
Amount due to/(from) American National	8,037	'	8,890
Affiliated Entity [Member] | Net Investment Income [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Dollar Amount of Transactions	463	522	'
Amount due to/(from) American National	49	'	54
Greer, Herz and Adams, LLP [Member] | Other Operating Expenses [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Dollar Amount of Transactions	7,484	5,689	'
Amount due to/(from) American National	($412)	'	($268)

Related_Party_Transactions_Add

Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) (Affiliated Entity [Member])	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Affiliated Entity [Member]	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'
Interest rate on mortgage loans	7.30%
Due date of mortgage loans receivable	1-Apr-19

Subsequent_Events_Additional_I

Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Detail) (Subsequent Event [Member], USD $)	1 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
	Participant
Subsequent Event [Member]	'
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'
Defined benefit plan number of new participants added	0
Expected curtailment of gain or loss	$0