OPERATING SEGMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended							11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 01, 2015
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired	$ 4,817
Operating Segment Assets
Goodwill													$ 735,700
Life Marketing
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired	4,813
Acquisitions
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired	5,033
Annuities
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired	(6,999)
Stable Value Products
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired	25
Asset Protection
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired	1,858
Corporate and Other
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired	87
Successor
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues		$ 640,961	$ 976,457	$ 1,006,671	$ 862,953					$ 3,487,042
Realized investment (losses) gains - investments										(185,202)
Realized investment (losses) gains - derivatives										87,663
Income tax expense		(8,116)	(33,824)	(42,542)	9,991					(74,491)
Net income		16,420	75,274	113,579	(25,576)					179,697
Realized gain (losses) on investments
Investment gains (losses)										(193,928)
Less: amortization related to DAC/VOBA and benefits and settlement expenses										(8,726)
Realized investment (losses) gains - investments										(185,202)
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross										58,436
Less: VA GMWB economic cost										(29,227)
Realized investment (losses) gains - derivatives										87,663
Net investment income		$ 272,211	438,894	$ 413,544	$ 408,147					1,532,796
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired										95,064
Other-than-temporary impairments										26,993
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets			65,091,991							65,091,991
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired			1,562,373							1,562,373
Other intangibles, net of accumulated depreciation (2015 Successor - $37,869)			645,131							645,131
Goodwill	735,700		732,443							732,443
Total assets			68,031,938							68,031,938
Successor | Life Marketing
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues										1,316,832
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Net investment income										446,518
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired										107,811
Operating Segment Assets
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired			1,119,515							1,119,515
Successor | Acquisitions
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues										1,333,430
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Net investment income										639,422
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired										2,035
Operating Segment Assets
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired			(178,662)							(178,662)
Successor | Annuities
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues										396,651
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Net investment income										296,839
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired										(41,071)
Operating Segment Assets
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired			578,742							578,742
Successor | Stable Value Products
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues										79,670
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Net investment income										78,459
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired										43
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets			2,006,263							2,006,263
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired			2,357							2,357
Other intangibles, net of accumulated depreciation (2015 Successor - $37,869)			9,389							9,389
Goodwill			113,813							113,813
Total assets			2,131,822							2,131,822
Successor | Asset Protection
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues										294,657
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Net investment income										14,042
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired										26,219
Operating Segment Assets
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired			40,421							40,421
Successor | Corporate and Other
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues										65,802
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Net investment income										57,516
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired										27
Successor | Operating
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Segment Operating Income (Loss)										351,727
Successor | Operating | Life Marketing
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Segment Operating Income (Loss)										54,864
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets			13,258,639							13,258,639
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired			1,119,515							1,119,515
Other intangibles, net of accumulated depreciation (2015 Successor - $37,869)			319,623							319,623
Goodwill			200,274							200,274
Total assets			14,898,051							14,898,051
Successor | Operating | Acquisitions
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Segment Operating Income (Loss)										194,654
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets			19,879,988							19,879,988
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired			(178,662)							(178,662)
Other intangibles, net of accumulated depreciation (2015 Successor - $37,869)			39,658							39,658
Goodwill			14,524							14,524
Total assets			19,755,508							19,755,508
Successor | Operating | Annuities
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Segment Operating Income (Loss)										146,828
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets			19,715,901							19,715,901
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired			578,742							578,742
Other intangibles, net of accumulated depreciation (2015 Successor - $37,869)			196,780							196,780
Goodwill			336,677							336,677
Total assets			20,828,100							20,828,100
Successor | Operating | Stable Value Products
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Segment Operating Income (Loss)										56,581
Successor | Operating | Asset Protection
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Segment Operating Income (Loss)										17,632
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets			766,294							766,294
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired			40,421							40,421
Other intangibles, net of accumulated depreciation (2015 Successor - $37,869)			79,681							79,681
Goodwill			67,155							67,155
Total assets			953,551							953,551
Successor | Operating | Corporate and Other
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Segment Operating Income (Loss)										(118,832)
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets			9,464,906							9,464,906
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired			0							0
Other intangibles, net of accumulated depreciation (2015 Successor - $37,869)			0							0
Goodwill			0							0
Total assets			9,464,906							9,464,906
Successor | Adjustments
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets			0							0
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired			0							0
Other intangibles, net of accumulated depreciation (2015 Successor - $37,869)			0							0
Goodwill			0							0
Total assets			$ 0							$ 0
Predecessor
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	459,646					$ 1,118,912	$ 1,116,760	$ 1,139,186	$ 1,089,349		$ 4,464,207	$ 3,604,670
Realized investment (losses) gains - investments	89,414										151,035	(140,236)
Realized investment (losses) gains - derivatives	24,433										12,263	109,553
Income tax expense	(44,325)					(78,917)	(62,287)	(56,572)	(49,062)		(246,838)	(130,897)
Net income	88,522					151,526	121,833	116,043	102,549		491,951	291,602
Realized gain (losses) on investments
Investment gains (losses)	80,672										198,027	(143,984)
Less: amortization related to DAC/VOBA and benefits and settlement expenses	(8,742)										46,992	(3,748)
Realized investment (losses) gains - investments	89,414										151,035	(140,236)
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	22,031										(13,492)	82,161
Less: VA GMWB economic cost	(2,402)										(25,755)	(27,392)
Realized investment (losses) gains - derivatives	24,433										12,263	109,553
Net investment income	164,605					525,539	$ 532,861	$ 525,576	$ 514,037		2,098,013	1,836,188
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired	4,817										308,320	154,660
Other-than-temporary impairments	481										7,275	22,400
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets						66,759,495					66,759,495
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired						3,155,046					3,155,046	3,476,622
Other intangibles, net of accumulated depreciation (2015 Successor - $37,869)						0					0
Goodwill						77,577					77,577	80,675
Total assets						69,992,118					69,992,118
Predecessor | Life Marketing
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	133,361										1,421,795	1,324,409
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Net investment income	47,622										553,006	521,219
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired	4,813										175,807	25,774
Operating Segment Assets
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired						1,973,156					1,973,156	2,071,470
Predecessor | Acquisitions
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	139,761										1,720,179	1,186,579
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Net investment income	71,088										874,653	617,298
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired	5,033										60,031	72,762
Operating Segment Assets
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired						600,482					600,482	799,255
Goodwill						29,419					29,419	32,517
Predecessor | Annuities
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	130,918										785,176	569,004
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Net investment income	37,189										465,849	468,329
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired	(6,999)										47,448	31,498
Operating Segment Assets
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired						539,965					539,965	554,974
Predecessor | Stable Value Products
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	8,181										127,708	122,974
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Net investment income	6,888										107,170	123,798
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired	25										380	398
Operating Segment Assets
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired						621					621	1,001
Predecessor | Asset Protection
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	24,566										305,396	296,782
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Net investment income	1,540										18,830	19,046
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired	1,858										24,169	23,603
Operating Segment Assets
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired						40,503					40,503	49,276
Goodwill						48,158					48,158	48,158
Predecessor | Corporate and Other
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	22,859										103,953	104,922
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Net investment income	278										78,505	86,498
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisitions Costs and Value of Businesses Acquired	87										485	625
Operating Segment Assets
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired						319					319	646
Predecessor | Operating
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	19,000										575,491	453,182
Predecessor | Operating | Life Marketing
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	(2,271)										116,875	106,812
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets						13,858,491					13,858,491
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired						1,973,156					1,973,156
Goodwill						0					0
Total assets						15,831,647					15,831,647
Predecessor | Operating | Acquisitions
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	20,134										254,021	154,003
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets						19,858,284					19,858,284
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired						600,482					600,482
Goodwill						29,419					29,419
Total assets						20,488,185					20,488,185
Predecessor | Operating | Annuities
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	11,363										204,015	166,278
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets						20,678,948					20,678,948
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired						539,965					539,965
Goodwill						0					0
Total assets						21,218,913					21,218,913
Predecessor | Operating | Stable Value Products
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	4,529										73,354	80,561
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets						1,958,867					1,958,867
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired						621					621
Goodwill						0					0
Total assets						1,959,488					1,959,488
Predecessor | Operating | Asset Protection
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	1,907										26,274	20,148
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets						832,887					832,887
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired						40,503					40,503
Goodwill						48,158					48,158
Total assets						921,548					921,548
Predecessor | Operating | Corporate and Other
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	$ (16,662)										(99,048)	$ (74,620)
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets						9,572,018					9,572,018
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired						319					319
Goodwill						0					0
Total assets						9,572,337					9,572,337
Predecessor | Adjustments
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets						0					0
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired						0					0
Goodwill						0					0
Total assets						$ 0					$ 0