FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details 4) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		5 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016
Successor
Transfers
Securities transferred into Level 3		$ 27,200,000	$ 0	$ 0	$ 71,300,000
Securities transferred into Level 2 from Level 3		44,000,000	21,800,000	41,900,000	150,100,000
Securities transferred from Level 2 to Level 1		0	0	90,400,000	12,200,000
Securities transferred out of Level 1		0	0	0	100,000
Predecessor
Transfers
Securities transferred into Level 3	$ 43,200,000
Securities transferred into Level 2 from Level 3	0
Securities transferred from Level 2 to Level 1	0
Securities transferred out of Level 1	0
Level 3 | Successor
Assets:
Beginning Balance		1,651,483,000	2,219,304,000	2,240,077,000	1,795,178,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		19,046,000	29,367,000	48,446,000	30,658,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		16,958,000	4,166,000	15,784,000	31,880,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(10,411,000)	(9,870,000)	(9,964,000)	(32,721,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(9,044,000)	(33,570,000)	(37,138,000)	(28,388,000)
Purchases		30,085,000	89,929,000	111,929,000	47,514,000
Sales		(65,360,000)	(225,095,000)	(272,428,000)	(146,597,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3		(16,773,000)	(21,803,000)	(41,853,000)	(78,802,000)
Other		(1,700,000)	(3,220,000)	(5,645,000)	(4,438,000)
Ending Balance	2,240,077,000	1,614,284,000	2,049,208,000	2,049,208,000	1,614,284,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		7,711,000	16,617,000	29,310,000	(5,547,000)
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance		586,361,000	574,837,000	628,397,000	468,360,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		15,217,000	147,963,000	212,854,000	15,585,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(100,555,000)	(14,090,000)	(27,225,000)	(221,879,000)
Issuances		63,000	72,000	86,000	250,000
Settlements		1,896,000	2,913,000	4,731,000	5,038,000
Ending Balance	628,397,000	669,866,000	438,123,000	438,123,000	669,866,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		(84,808,000)	134,784,000	187,173,000	(205,198,000)
Level 3 | Successor | Annuity account
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance		90,123,000	97,108,000	98,279,000	92,512,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(530,000)	(911,000)	(1,544,000)	(1,096,000)
Issuances		63,000	72,000	86,000	250,000
Settlements		1,896,000	2,913,000	4,731,000	5,038,000
Ending Balance	98,279,000	88,820,000	95,178,000	95,178,000	88,820,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other liabilities
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance		496,238,000	477,729,000	530,118,000	375,848,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		15,217,000	147,963,000	212,854,000	15,585,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(100,025,000)	(13,179,000)	(25,681,000)	(220,783,000)
Ending Balance	530,118,000	581,046,000	342,945,000	342,945,000	581,046,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		(84,808,000)	134,784,000	187,173,000	(205,198,000)
Level 3 | Successor | Total investments
Assets:
Beginning Balance		1,651,483,000	2,219,304,000	2,240,077,000	1,795,178,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		19,046,000	29,367,000	48,446,000	30,658,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		16,958,000	4,166,000	15,784,000	31,880,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(10,411,000)	(9,870,000)	(9,964,000)	(32,721,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(9,044,000)	(33,570,000)	(37,138,000)	(28,388,000)
Purchases		30,085,000	89,929,000	111,929,000	47,514,000
Sales		(65,360,000)	(225,095,000)	(272,428,000)	(146,597,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3		(16,773,000)	(21,803,000)	(41,853,000)	(78,802,000)
Other		(1,700,000)	(3,220,000)	(5,645,000)	(4,438,000)
Ending Balance	2,240,077,000	1,614,284,000	2,049,208,000	2,049,208,000	1,614,284,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		7,711,000	16,617,000	29,310,000	(5,547,000)
Level 3 | Successor | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		1,527,931,000	2,073,391,000	2,109,186,000	1,660,290,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		2,771,000	4,385,000	8,414,000	10,166,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		16,958,000	4,166,000	15,784,000	31,880,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(8,000)	(6,185,000)	(6,251,000)	(5,336,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(9,044,000)	(33,570,000)	(37,138,000)	(28,388,000)
Purchases		30,063,000	89,929,000	111,929,000	46,063,000
Sales		(65,360,000)	(224,864,000)	(272,197,000)	(146,597,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3		(16,773,000)	(21,803,000)	(41,853,000)	(78,802,000)
Other		(1,700,000)	(3,220,000)	(5,645,000)	(4,438,000)
Ending Balance	2,109,186,000	1,484,838,000	1,882,229,000	1,882,229,000	1,484,838,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		1,839,000	(4,680,000)	(7,009,000)	1,346,000
Level 3 | Successor | Fixed maturities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		1,371,571,000	1,883,277,000	1,914,583,000	1,489,153,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		925,000	3,656,000	4,291,000	7,784,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		16,958,000	4,166,000	15,784,000	31,880,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings			(779,000)	(779,000)	(4,135,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(9,044,000)	(33,570,000)	(37,138,000)	(28,388,000)
Purchases		19,155,000	89,929,000	111,929,000	35,155,000
Sales		(64,752,000)	(219,235,000)	(258,737,000)	(140,314,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3		(16,773,000)	(21,803,000)	(41,853,000)	(70,495,000)
Other		(1,753,000)	(3,322,000)	(5,761,000)	(4,353,000)
Ending Balance	1,914,583,000	1,316,287,000	1,702,319,000	1,702,319,000	1,316,287,000
Level 3 | Successor | Fixed maturities | Trading Securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		156,360,000	190,114,000	194,603,000	171,137,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		1,846,000	729,000	4,123,000	2,382,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(8,000)	(5,406,000)	(5,472,000)	(1,201,000)
Purchases		10,908,000			10,908,000
Sales		(608,000)	(5,629,000)	(13,460,000)	(6,283,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3					(8,307,000)
Other		53,000	102,000	116,000	(85,000)
Ending Balance	194,603,000	168,551,000	179,910,000	179,910,000	168,551,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		1,839,000	(4,680,000)	(7,009,000)	1,346,000
Level 3 | Successor | Residential mortgage-backed securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		3,000	3,000	3,000	3,000
Ending Balance	3,000	3,000	3,000	3,000	3,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other asset-backed securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		537,831,000	600,132,000	603,646,000	587,031,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings					6,859,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		769,000	165,000	165,000	769,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings			(92,000)	(92,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(8,350,000)	(9,323,000)	(12,891,000)	(21,407,000)
Purchases		9,597,000			9,597,000
Sales		(7,629,000)	(87,000)	(127,000)	(58,449,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3					7,457,000
Other		923,000	90,000	184,000	1,284,000
Ending Balance	603,646,000	533,141,000	590,885,000	590,885,000	533,141,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other asset-backed securities | Trading Securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		150,683,000	170,500,000	169,473,000	152,912,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		1,822,000	589,000	3,949,000	2,050,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(8,000)	(5,173,000)	(5,173,000)	(942,000)
Sales		(609,000)	(5,468,000)	(7,876,000)	(2,212,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3					172,000
Other		76,000	146,000	221,000	(16,000)
Ending Balance	169,473,000	151,964,000	160,594,000	160,594,000	151,964,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		1,814,000	(4,587,000)	(5,829,000)	1,105,000
Level 3 | Successor | States, municipals, and political subdivisions | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance				3,675,000
Sales				(3,675,000)
Ending Balance	3,675,000
Level 3 | Successor | Corporate securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		833,737,000	1,283,142,000	1,307,259,000	902,119,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		925,000	3,656,000	4,291,000	925,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		16,189,000	4,001,000	15,619,000	31,111,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings			(687,000)	(687,000)	(4,135,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(694,000)	(24,247,000)	(24,247,000)	(6,981,000)
Purchases		9,558,000	89,929,000	111,929,000	25,558,000
Sales		(57,123,000)	(219,148,000)	(254,935,000)	(81,865,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3		(16,773,000)	(21,803,000)	(41,853,000)	(77,952,000)
Other		(2,676,000)	(3,412,000)	(5,945,000)	(5,637,000)
Ending Balance	1,307,259,000	783,143,000	1,111,431,000	1,111,431,000	783,143,000
Level 3 | Successor | Corporate securities | Trading Securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		5,677,000	19,614,000	25,130,000	18,225,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		24,000	140,000	174,000	332,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings			(233,000)	(299,000)	(259,000)
Purchases		10,908,000			10,908,000
Sales		1,000	(161,000)	(5,584,000)	(4,071,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3					(8,479,000)
Other		(23,000)	(44,000)	(105,000)	(69,000)
Ending Balance	25,130,000	16,587,000	19,316,000	19,316,000	16,587,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		25,000	(93,000)	(1,180,000)	241,000
Level 3 | Successor | Equity securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		66,504,000	66,691,000	66,691,000	66,504,000
Purchases		22,000			22,000
Sales			(231,000)	(231,000)
Ending Balance	66,691,000	66,526,000	66,460,000	66,460,000	66,526,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other long-term investments.
Assets:
Beginning Balance		57,048,000	79,222,000	64,200,000	68,384,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		16,275,000	24,982,000	40,032,000	20,492,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(10,403,000)	(3,685,000)	(3,713,000)	(27,385,000)
Purchases					1,429,000
Ending Balance	64,200,000	62,920,000	100,519,000	100,519,000	62,920,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		$ 5,872,000	$ 21,297,000	36,319,000	$ (6,893,000)
Level 3 | Predecessor
Assets:
Beginning Balance	2,198,843,000			2,221,953,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	17,805,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	12,282,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(15,501,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(26,896,000)
Sales	(7,586,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	43,205,000
Other	(199,000)
Ending Balance	2,221,953,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	2,304,000
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance	604,168,000			730,226,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	61,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(126,531,000)
Issuances	7,000
Settlements	419,000
Ending Balance	730,226,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	(125,934,000)
Level 3 | Predecessor | Annuity account
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance	97,825,000			97,949,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(536,000)
Issuances	7,000
Settlements	419,000
Ending Balance	97,949,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Other liabilities
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance	506,343,000			632,277,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	61,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(125,995,000)
Ending Balance	632,277,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	(125,934,000)
Level 3 | Predecessor | Total investments
Assets:
Beginning Balance	2,198,843,000			2,221,953,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	17,805,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	12,282,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(15,501,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(26,896,000)
Sales	(7,586,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	43,205,000
Other	(199,000)
Ending Balance	2,221,953,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	2,304,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	2,087,527,000			2,109,186,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	1,188,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	12,282,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(335,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(26,896,000)
Sales	(7,586,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	43,205,000
Other	(199,000)
Ending Balance	2,109,186,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	853,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Fixed maturities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	1,893,322,000			1,914,583,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	12,282,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(26,896,000)
Sales	(7,094,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	43,205,000
Other	(236,000)
Ending Balance	1,914,583,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Fixed maturities | Trading Securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	194,205,000			194,603,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	1,188,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(335,000)
Sales	(492,000)
Other	37,000
Ending Balance	194,603,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	853,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Residential mortgage-backed securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	3,000			3,000
Ending Balance	3,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Other asset-backed securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	563,961,000			603,646,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(3,867,000)
Sales	(32,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	43,205,000
Other	379,000
Ending Balance	603,646,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Other asset-backed securities | Trading Securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	169,461,000			169,473,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	586,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(139,000)
Sales	(472,000)
Other	37,000
Ending Balance	169,473,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	447,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | States, municipals, and political subdivisions | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	3,675,000			3,675,000
Ending Balance	3,675,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Corporate securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	1,325,683,000			1,307,259,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	12,282,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(23,029,000)
Sales	(7,062,000)
Other	(615,000)
Ending Balance	1,307,259,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Corporate securities | Trading Securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	24,744,000			25,130,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	602,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(196,000)
Sales	(20,000)
Ending Balance	25,130,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	406,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Equity securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	66,691,000			66,691,000
Ending Balance	66,691,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Other long-term investments.
Assets:
Beginning Balance	44,625,000			$ 46,076,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	16,617,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(15,166,000)
Ending Balance	46,076,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	$ 1,451,000