BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenues:
Fee revenue and other income	$ 10.5	$ 12.9	$ 38.7	$ 44.7
Total revenues	991.3	909.3	2,907.6	2,815.4
Expenses:
Insurance policy benefits	609.8	582.1	1,861.2	1,756.4
Other operating costs and expenses	187.3	190.3	603.5	570.4
Total expenses	893.0	821.5	2,632.3	2,540.8
Pre-tax operating earnings	98.3	87.8	275.3	274.6
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Total segment revenues	991.3	909.3	2,907.6	2,815.4
Net realized investment gains (losses)	11.6	(19.6)	23.3	(20.8)
Revenues related to certain non-strategic investments and earnings attributable to VIEs	13.0	9.8	39.3	27.7
Fee revenue related to transition and support services agreements	0.0	5.0	10.0	20.0
Total revenues	1,015.9	904.5	2,980.2	2,842.3
Total segment expenses	893.0	821.5	2,632.3	2,540.8
Insurance policy benefits - fair value changes in embedded derivative liabilities	(12.1)	20.5	47.0	3.4
Amortization related to fair value changes in embedded derivative liabilities	2.7	(4.8)	(10.4)	(0.7)
Amortization related to net realized investment gains	0.2	(0.6)	0.9	(0.5)
Expenses related to certain non-strategic investments and expenses attributable to VIEs	13.7	10.1	40.5	32.6
Fair value changes and amendment related to agent deferred compensation plan	(6.3)	0.0	12.0	0.0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0.0	0.0	0.0	32.8
Loss on reinsurance transaction	75.4	0.0	75.4	0.0
Transition expenses	0.0	0.0	0.0	9.0
Expenses related to transition and support services agreements	0.0	5.4	10.0	17.5
Total benefits and expenses	966.6	852.1	2,807.7	2,634.9
Income before income taxes	49.3	52.4	172.5	207.4
Tax expense on period income	16.9	18.6	61.7	74.0
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets and other tax items	13.8	0.0	(13.2)	0.0
Net income	18.6	33.8	124.0	133.4
Operating segments [Member] | Bankers Life [Member]
Revenues:
Annuities	6.8	5.2	17.4	17.0
Health	310.3	311.6	933.3	940.5
Life	96.6	95.7	295.8	281.6
Net investment income	244.7	196.3	686.8	648.0
Fee revenue and other income	9.6	7.0	23.5	19.8
Total revenues	668.0	615.8	1,956.8	1,906.9
Expenses:
Insurance policy benefits	427.1	386.1	1,240.9	1,202.1
Amortization	43.8	44.1	135.3	143.4
Interest expense on investment borrowings	3.5	2.2	9.4	6.4
Other operating costs and expenses	105.5	103.6	312.2	306.6
Total expenses	579.9	536.0	1,697.8	1,658.5
Pre-tax operating earnings	88.1	79.8	259.0	248.4
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Total segment revenues	668.0	615.8	1,956.8	1,906.9
Total segment expenses	579.9	536.0	1,697.8	1,658.5
Operating segments [Member] | Washington National [Member]
Revenues:
Annuities	1.2	0.7	2.3	2.3
Health	156.9	155.0	469.1	459.9
Life	6.3	6.4	18.6	19.0
Net investment income	67.1	58.4	191.3	187.1
Fee revenue and other income	0.4	0.3	1.0	1.0
Total revenues	231.9	220.8	682.3	669.3
Expenses:
Insurance policy benefits	144.5	129.8	422.0	408.8
Amortization	14.3	13.5	44.5	42.5
Interest expense on investment borrowings	0.9	0.5	2.5	1.4
Other operating costs and expenses	47.0	46.4	140.3	137.4
Total expenses	206.7	190.2	609.3	590.1
Pre-tax operating earnings	25.2	30.6	73.0	79.2
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Total segment revenues	231.9	220.8	682.3	669.3
Total segment expenses	206.7	190.2	609.3	590.1
Operating segments [Member] | Colonial Penn [Member]
Revenues:
Health	0.6	0.7	2.0	2.3
Life	70.3	65.3	208.5	194.6
Net investment income	11.1	10.5	33.0	32.0
Fee revenue and other income	0.2	0.2	0.8	0.7
Total revenues	82.2	76.7	244.3	229.6
Expenses:
Insurance policy benefits	50.3	45.7	151.3	142.1
Amortization	3.7	3.6	11.3	10.9
Interest expense on investment borrowings	0.1	0.0	0.4	0.0
Other operating costs and expenses	27.2	26.8	84.2	77.7
Total expenses	81.3	76.1	247.2	230.7
Pre-tax operating earnings	0.9	0.6	(2.9)	(1.1)
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Total segment revenues	82.2	76.7	244.3	229.6
Total segment expenses	81.3	76.1	247.2	230.7
Corporate [Member]
Revenues:
Net investment income	6.7	(6.1)	16.6	3.4
Fee revenue and other income	2.5	2.1	7.6	6.2
Total revenues	9.2	(4.0)	24.2	9.6
Expenses:
Interest expense on corporate debt	11.5	11.3	34.3	33.7
Interest expense on investment borrowings	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.2
Other operating costs and expenses	13.6	7.8	43.7	27.6
Total expenses	25.1	19.2	78.0	61.5
Pre-tax operating earnings	(15.9)	(23.2)	(53.8)	(51.9)
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Total segment revenues	9.2	(4.0)	24.2	9.6
Total segment expenses	$ 25.1	$ 19.2	$ 78.0	$ 61.5