ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		8 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016
Successor
Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Benefits and settlement expenses, net of reinsurance ceded		$ (732,339)	$ (674,815)	$ (1,853,631)	$ (2,158,007)
Realized investment gains (losses): All other investments		24,152	5,309	(132,094)	194,644
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings		(3,308)	(10,064)	(15,798)	(6,892)
Income before income tax		94,267	156,121	145,090	589,826
Tax (expense) or benefit		(20,965)	(42,542)	(40,667)	(185,114)
Net income		73,302	113,579	104,423	404,712
Successor | Gains and losses on derivative instruments | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Benefits and settlement expenses, net of reinsurance ceded				(131)
Income before income tax				(131)
Tax (expense) or benefit				45
Net income				(86)
Successor | Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Realized investment gains (losses): All other investments		1,665		2,470
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings		(3,308)		(15,798)
Income before income tax		(1,643)	(11,317)	(13,328)	17,241
Tax (expense) or benefit		575		4,664
Net income		$ (1,068)	$ (7,356)	$ (8,664)	$ 11,206
Predecessor
Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Benefits and settlement expenses, net of reinsurance ceded	$ (266,575)
Realized investment gains (losses): All other investments	81,153
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	(481)
Income before income tax	132,847
Tax (expense) or benefit	(44,325)
Net income	88,522
Predecessor | Gains and losses on derivative instruments | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Benefits and settlement expenses, net of reinsurance ceded	(36)
Income before income tax	(36)
Tax (expense) or benefit	13
Net income	(23)
Predecessor | Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Realized investment gains (losses): All other investments	6,891
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	(481)
Income before income tax	6,410
Tax (expense) or benefit	(2,244)
Net income	$ 4,166