FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) - Successor - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	$ 36,786,521	$ 33,736,825
Total fixed maturity securities	38,675,207	35,507,098
Equity securities	702,796	699,925
Fair Value, Other long-term investments	640,539	323,570
Short-term investments	244,363	263,837
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	12,891,214	12,829,188
Variable universal life	831,818	827,610
Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	35,885,616	32,843,049
Trading securities	2,800,000	2,700,000
Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,931,813	1,765,273
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,578,172	1,285,864
Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,120,642	797,051
States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,737,499	1,603,600
Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	18,680	17,740
Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	28,062,587	25,778,657
Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	524,166	587,031
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	38,675,207	35,507,098
Equity securities	702,796	699,925
Fair Value, Other long-term investments	640,539	323,570
Short-term investments	244,363	263,837
Total investments	40,262,905	36,794,430
Cash	295,143	212,358
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	12,891,214	12,829,188
Variable universal life	831,818	827,610
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	54,281,080	50,663,586
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	88,820	92,512
Fair Value, Other Liabilities	783,551	522,225
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	872,371	614,737
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	35,885,616	32,843,049
Trading securities	2,789,591	2,664,049
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,931,813	1,765,273
Trading securities	271,994	286,658
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,578,172	1,285,864
Trading securities	157,176	146,743
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,120,642	797,051
Trading securities	275,040	275,423
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,371,796	1,532,177
Trading securities	46,507	238,347
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,737,499	1,603,600
Trading securities	362,504	313,354
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	18,680	17,740
Trading securities	60,261	58,827
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	28,062,587	25,778,657
Trading securities	1,612,530	1,340,501
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Preferred Stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	64,427	62,687
Trading securities	3,579	4,196
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	1,198,729	1,333,895
Equity securities	636,270	620,358
Fair Value, Other long-term investments	311,141	113,699
Short-term investments	240,841	261,659
Total investments	2,386,981	2,329,611
Cash	295,143	212,358
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	12,891,214	12,829,188
Variable universal life	831,818	827,610
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	16,405,156	16,198,767
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	0	0
Fair Value, Other Liabilities	59,711	40,067
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	59,711	40,067
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,153,658	1,097,509
Trading securities	45,071	236,386
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,108,503	1,054,353
Trading securities	41,639	233,592
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	83
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Preferred Stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	45,155	43,073
Trading securities	3,432	2,794
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	35,991,640	32,512,913
Equity securities	0	13,063
Fair Value, Other long-term investments	266,478	141,487
Short-term investments	3,522	2,178
Total investments	36,261,640	32,669,641
Cash	0	0
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	0	0
Variable universal life	0	0
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	36,261,640	32,669,641
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	0	0
Fair Value, Other Liabilities	142,794	106,310
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	142,794	106,310
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	33,415,671	30,256,387
Trading securities	2,575,969	2,256,526
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,931,810	1,765,270
Trading securities	271,994	286,658
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,578,172	1,285,864
Trading securities	157,176	146,743
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	587,501	210,020
Trading securities	123,076	122,511
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	263,293	477,824
Trading securities	4,868	4,755
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,737,499	1,603,600
Trading securities	362,504	313,354
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	18,680	17,740
Trading securities	60,261	58,827
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	27,279,444	24,876,455
Trading securities	1,595,943	1,322,276
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Preferred Stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	19,272	19,614
Trading securities	147	1,402
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	1,484,838	1,660,290
Equity securities	66,526	66,504
Fair Value, Other long-term investments	62,920	68,384
Short-term investments	0	0
Total investments	1,614,284	1,795,178
Cash	0	0
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	0	0
Variable universal life	0	0
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	1,614,284	1,795,178
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	88,820	92,512
Fair Value, Other Liabilities	581,046	375,848
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	669,866	468,360
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,316,287	1,489,153
Trading securities	168,551	171,137
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	3	3
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	533,141	587,031
Trading securities	151,964	152,912
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	783,143	902,119
Trading securities	16,587	18,225
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Preferred Stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Trading securities	$ 0	$ 0