Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
Sep. 30, 2012
Security
Dec. 31, 2011
Security
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Percentage of carrying value of investments from external pricing services 96.00%  
Percentage of carrying value of investments from brokers 1.00%  
Percentage of carrying value of investments from internal matrices and calculations 3.00%  
Prices obtained for the number of securities from brokers 6 5
Number of securities on which company internally determined the prices 18 15
Fixed maturity securities available for sale, at fair value $ 2,878,625,000 $ 2,682,142,000
Level 3
   
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Fixed maturity securities available for sale, at fair value 51,792,000 43,759,000
Estimated increase in Basis Spread of fixed maturity securities 0.10%  
Reduction in reported fair value $ 200,000