BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Revenues:
Fee revenue and other income	$ 12.9	$ 16.0	$ 44.7	$ 29.4
Total revenues	909.3	947.2	2,815.4	2,867.5
Expenses:
Insurance policy benefits	582.1	565.5	1,756.4	1,946.9
Other operating costs and expenses	190.3	191.5	570.4	587.1
Total expenses	821.5	827.4	2,540.8	2,547.0
Pre-tax operating earnings	87.8	119.8	274.6	320.5
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Total segment revenues	909.3	947.2	2,815.4	2,867.5
Net realized investment gains (losses)	(19.6)	4.0	(32.1)	37.0
Revenues related to certain non-strategic investments and earnings attributable to VIEs	9.8	8.3	39.0	21.9
Fee revenue related to transition and support services agreements	5.0	7.5	20.0	7.5
Revenues of CLIC prior to being sold	0.0	0.0	0.0	210.8
Total revenues	904.5	967.0	2,842.3	3,144.7
Total segment expenses	821.5	827.4	2,540.8	2,547.0
Insurance policy benefits - fair value changes in embedded derivative liabilities	20.5	0.0	3.4	25.3
Amortization related to fair value changes in embedded derivative liabilities	(4.8)	0.1	(0.7)	(6.8)
Amortization related to net realized investment gains	(0.6)	0.1	(0.5)	0.6
Expenses related to certain non-strategic investments and expenses attributable to VIEs	10.1	10.9	32.6	30.7
Fair value changes related to agent deferred compensation plan	0.0	0.0	0.0	11.8
Loss on extinguishment or modification of debt	0.0	0.0	32.8	0.6
Loss on sale of subsidiary, gain on reinsurance transactions and transition expenses	0.0	(32.1)	9.0	242.7
Expenses related to transition and support services agreements	5.4	6.2	17.5	6.2
Expenses of CLIC prior to being sold	0.0	0.0	0.0	187.4
Total benefits and expenses	852.1	812.6	2,634.9	3,045.5
Income before income taxes	52.4	154.4	207.4	99.2
Tax expense on period income	18.6	53.8	74.0	133.1
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets and other tax items	0.0	(16.8)	0.0	(1.4)
Net income (loss)	33.8	117.4	133.4	(32.5)
Bankers Life [Member]
Revenues:
Annuities	5.2	6.6	17.0	21.8
Health	311.6	319.4	940.5	970.4
Life	95.7	90.4	281.6	248.6
Net investment income	196.3	231.2	648.0	703.2
Fee revenue and other income	7.0	7.0	19.8	18.1
Total revenues	615.8	654.6	1,906.9	1,962.1
Expenses:
Insurance policy benefits	386.1	394.9	1,202.1	1,237.8
Amortization	44.1	47.1	143.4	140.7
Interest expense on investment borrowings	2.2	2.0	6.4	5.8
Other operating costs and expenses	103.6	98.8	306.6	294.4
Total expenses	536.0	542.8	1,658.5	1,678.7
Pre-tax operating earnings	79.8	111.8	248.4	283.4
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Total segment revenues	615.8	654.6	1,906.9	1,962.1
Total segment expenses	536.0	542.8	1,658.5	1,678.7
Washington National [Member]
Revenues:
Annuities	0.7	0.9	2.3	3.3
Health	155.0	147.1	459.9	444.8
Life	6.4	6.0	19.0	18.2
Net investment income	58.4	65.2	187.1	206.0
Fee revenue and other income	0.3	0.3	1.0	0.7
Total revenues	220.8	219.5	669.3	673.0
Expenses:
Insurance policy benefits	129.8	129.5	408.8	394.1
Amortization	13.5	14.8	42.5	47.1
Interest expense on investment borrowings	0.5	0.4	1.4	1.3
Other operating costs and expenses	46.4	47.2	137.4	139.5
Total expenses	190.2	191.9	590.1	582.0
Pre-tax operating earnings	30.6	27.6	79.2	91.0
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Total segment revenues	220.8	219.5	669.3	673.0
Total segment expenses	190.2	191.9	590.1	582.0
Colonial Penn [Member]
Revenues:
Health	0.7	0.8	2.3	2.7
Life	65.3	60.9	194.6	181.2
Net investment income	10.5	10.3	32.0	31.5
Fee revenue and other income	0.2	0.2	0.7	0.7
Total revenues	76.7	72.2	229.6	216.1
Expenses:
Insurance policy benefits	45.7	41.1	142.1	129.0
Amortization	3.6	3.7	10.9	11.5
Other operating costs and expenses	26.8	27.0	77.7	77.6
Total expenses	76.1	71.8	230.7	218.1
Pre-tax operating earnings	0.6	0.4	(1.1)	(2.0)
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Total segment revenues	76.7	72.2	229.6	216.1
Total segment expenses	76.1	71.8	230.7	218.1
Corporate operations [Member]
Revenues:
Net investment income	(6.1)	(1.0)	3.4	11.7
Fee revenue and other income	2.1	1.9	6.2	4.6
Total revenues	(4.0)	0.9	9.6	16.3
Expenses:
Interest expense on corporate debt	11.3	10.9	33.7	33.1
Interest expense on investment borrowings	0.1	0.0	0.2	0.0
Other operating costs and expenses	7.8	10.0	27.6	35.1
Total expenses	19.2	20.9	61.5	68.2
Pre-tax operating earnings	(23.2)	(20.0)	(51.9)	(51.9)
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Total segment revenues	(4.0)	0.9	9.6	16.3
Total segment expenses	$ 19.2	$ 20.9	$ 61.5	$ 68.2