FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Successor
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	$ 33,736,825
Total fixed maturity securities	35,507,098
Equity securities	699,925
Other long-term investments	323,570
Short-term investments	263,837
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	12,829,188
Variable universal life	827,610
Successor | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	32,843,049
Trading securities	2,700,000
Successor | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,765,273
Successor | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,285,864
Successor | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	797,051
Successor | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,532,177
Successor | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,603,600
Successor | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	17,740
Successor | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	25,778,657
Successor | Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	62,687
Successor | Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Total investments	587,031
Successor | Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Total investments	875,810
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	1,333,895
Equity securities	620,358
Other long-term investments	113,699
Short-term investments	261,659
Total investments	2,329,611
Cash	212,358
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	12,829,188
Variable universal life	827,610
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	16,198,767
Liabilities:
Other liabilities	40,067
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	40,067
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,097,509
Trading securities	236,386
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,054,353
Trading securities	233,592
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	83
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	43,073
Trading securities	2,794
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	32,512,913
Equity securities	13,063
Other long-term investments	141,487
Short-term investments	2,178
Total investments	32,669,641
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	32,669,641
Liabilities:
Other liabilities	106,310
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	106,310
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	30,256,387
Trading securities	2,256,526
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,765,270
Trading securities	286,658
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,285,864
Trading securities	146,743
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	210,020
Trading securities	122,511
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	477,824
Trading securities	4,755
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,603,600
Trading securities	313,354
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	17,740
Trading securities	58,827
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	24,876,455
Trading securities	1,322,276
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	19,614
Trading securities	1,402
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	1,660,290
Equity securities	66,504
Other long-term investments	68,384
Total investments	1,795,178
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	1,795,178
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	92,512
Other liabilities	375,848
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	468,360
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,489,153
Trading securities	171,137
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	3
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	587,031
Trading securities	152,912
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	0
Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	902,119
Trading securities	18,225
Predecessor
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		$ 34,824,298
Total fixed maturity securities		36,756,240
Equity securities		756,790
Other long-term investments		270,701
Short-term investments		246,717
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity		13,157,429
Variable universal life		834,940
Predecessor | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		33,937,420
Trading securities		2,800,000
Predecessor | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,418,258
Predecessor | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,177,252
Predecessor | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		839,376
Predecessor | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,428,895
Predecessor | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,687,689
Predecessor | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		20,172
Predecessor | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		27,365,778
Predecessor | Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Total investments		563,752
Predecessor | Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Total investments		1,282,864
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities		1,410,883
Equity securities		590,832
Other long-term investments		119,997
Short-term investments		243,436
Total investments		2,365,148
Cash		268,286
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity		13,157,429
Variable universal life		834,940
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		16,625,803
Liabilities:
Other liabilities		62,146
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis		62,146
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,165,320
Trading securities		245,563
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,165,188
Trading securities		245,563
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		132
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities		33,257,830
Equity securities		99,267
Other long-term investments		106,079
Short-term investments		3,281
Total investments		33,466,457
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		33,466,457
Liabilities:
Other liabilities		61,046
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis		61,046
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		30,878,778
Trading securities		2,379,052
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,418,255
Trading securities		288,114
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,177,252
Trading securities		151,111
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		275,415
Trading securities		105,118
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		263,707
Trading securities		4,898
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,684,014
Trading securities		325,446
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		20,172
Trading securities		57,032
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		26,039,963
Trading securities		1,447,333
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities		2,087,527
Equity securities		66,691
Other long-term investments		44,625
Total investments		2,198,843
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		2,198,843
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances		97,825
Other liabilities		506,343
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis		604,168
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,893,322
Trading securities		194,205
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		3
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		563,961
Trading securities		169,461
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		3,675
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,325,683
Trading securities		24,744
Fair Values | Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	35,507,098
Equity securities	699,925
Other long-term investments	323,570
Short-term investments	263,837
Total investments	36,794,430
Cash	212,358
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	12,829,188
Variable universal life	827,610
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	50,663,586
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	92,512
Other liabilities	522,225
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	614,737
Fair Values | Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	32,843,049
Trading securities	2,664,049
Fair Values | Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,765,273
Trading securities	286,658
Fair Values | Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,285,864
Trading securities	146,743
Fair Values | Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	797,051
Trading securities	275,423
Fair Values | Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,532,177
Trading securities	238,347
Fair Values | Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,603,600
Trading securities	313,354
Fair Values | Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	17,740
Trading securities	58,827
Fair Values | Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	25,778,657
Trading securities	1,340,501
Fair Values | Successor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	62,687
Trading securities	$ 4,196
Fair Values | Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities		36,756,240
Equity securities		756,790
Other long-term investments		270,701
Short-term investments		246,717
Total investments		38,030,448
Cash		268,286
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity		13,157,429
Variable universal life		834,940
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		52,291,103
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances		97,825
Other liabilities		629,535
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis		727,360
Fair Values | Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		33,937,420
Trading securities		2,818,820
Fair Values | Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,418,258
Trading securities		288,114
Fair Values | Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,177,252
Trading securities		151,111
Fair Values | Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		839,376
Trading securities		274,579
Fair Values | Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,428,895
Trading securities		250,461
Fair Values | Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,687,689
Trading securities		325,446
Fair Values | Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		20,172
Trading securities		57,032
Fair Values | Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		27,365,778
Trading securities		$ 1,472,077