DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS AND VALUE OF BUSINESS ACQUIRED (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016
Successor
Balances and changes in DAC
Balance, beginning of period		$ 0	$ 291,497
Capitalization of commissions, sales, and issue expenses		306,237	330,302
Amortization		(24,699)	(49,179)
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses		9,959	4,065
Balance, end of period	$ 0	291,497	576,685
Balances and changes in VOBA
Balance, beginning of period		1,278,063	1,270,876
Acquisitions		0	285,092
Amortization		(70,367)	(101,119)
Change in unrealized gains and losses		69,226	(7,010)
Other		(6,046)	0
Balance, end of period	1,278,063	1,270,876	1,447,839
Expected amortization of VOBA for the next five years
2017			129,610
2018			123,455
2019			116,523
2020			102,166
2021			$ 90,317
Predecessor
Balances and changes in DAC
Balance, beginning of period	2,653,065	2,580,135
Capitalization of commissions, sales, and issue expenses	22,820
Amortization	1,080
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses	(96,830)
Balance, end of period	2,580,135
Balances and changes in VOBA
Balance, beginning of period	501,981	$ 416,669
Acquisitions	0
Amortization	(5,895)
Change in unrealized gains and losses	(79,417)
Other	0
Balance, end of period	$ 416,669