INVESTMENT OPERATIONS - Schedule of Amortized Cost and Fair Value of the Company's Investments Classified as Available-for-Sale (Details) - Successor - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Investment [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 37,376,213	$ 36,612,808
Gross Unrealized Gains	539,824	53,197
Gross Unrealized Losses	(1,129,516)	(2,929,180)
Fair Value	36,786,521	33,736,825
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	(4,561)	(605)
Residential mortgage-backed securities
Investment [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	1,891,316	1,773,099
Gross Unrealized Gains	49,750	9,286
Gross Unrealized Losses	(9,253)	(17,112)
Fair Value	1,931,813	1,765,273
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	(1)	0
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Investment [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	1,552,028	1,327,288
Gross Unrealized Gains	29,870	428
Gross Unrealized Losses	(3,726)	(41,852)
Fair Value	1,578,172	1,285,864
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	0	0
Other asset-backed securities
Investment [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	1,151,430	813,056
Gross Unrealized Gains	5,267	2,758
Gross Unrealized Losses	(36,055)	(18,763)
Fair Value	1,120,642	797,051
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	0	0
U.S. government-related securities
Investment [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	1,350,769	1,566,260
Gross Unrealized Gains	21,232	449
Gross Unrealized Losses	(205)	(34,532)
Fair Value	1,371,796	1,532,177
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	0	0
Other government-related securities
Investment [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	18,348	18,483
Gross Unrealized Gains	332	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	(743)
Fair Value	18,680	17,740
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	0	0
States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Investment [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	1,727,664	1,729,732
Gross Unrealized Gains	31,429	682
Gross Unrealized Losses	(21,594)	(126,814)
Fair Value	1,737,499	1,603,600
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	0	0
Corporate securities
Investment [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	28,740,691	28,433,530
Gross Unrealized Gains	373,820	26,147
Gross Unrealized Losses	(1,051,924)	(2,681,020)
Fair Value	28,062,587	25,778,657
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	(4,560)	(605)
Preferred Stock
Investment [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	64,362	64,362
Gross Unrealized Gains	1,732	192
Gross Unrealized Losses	(1,667)	(1,867)
Fair Value	64,427	62,687
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	0	0
Fixed maturities
Investment [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	36,496,608	35,725,810
Gross Unrealized Gains	513,432	39,942
Gross Unrealized Losses	(1,124,424)	(2,922,703)
Fair Value	35,885,616	32,843,049
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	(4,561)	(605)
Equity securities
Investment [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	673,448	684,888
Gross Unrealized Gains	26,392	13,255
Gross Unrealized Losses	(5,092)	(6,477)
Fair Value	694,748	691,666
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	0	0
Short-term investments
Investment [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	206,157	202,110
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Fair Value	206,157	202,110
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	$ 0	$ 0

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Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

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Amount before tax of unrealized gain in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investments in debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale.

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Amount before tax of unrealized loss in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investments in debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale.

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This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

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Amount before tax of other than temporary impairment (OTTI) on investment in available-for-sale debt security, recognized in other comprehensive loss.

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