OPERATING SEGMENTS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended																		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 Life Marketing	Dec. 31, 2012 Life Marketing	Dec. 31, 2011 Life Marketing	Dec. 31, 2013 Acquisitions	Dec. 31, 2012 Acquisitions	Dec. 31, 2011 Acquisitions	Dec. 31, 2013 Annuities	Dec. 31, 2012 Annuities	Dec. 31, 2011 Annuities	Dec. 31, 2013 Stable Value Products	Dec. 31, 2012 Stable Value Products	Dec. 31, 2011 Stable Value Products	Dec. 31, 2013 Asset Protection	Dec. 31, 2012 Asset Protection	Dec. 31, 2011 Asset Protection	Mar. 31, 2011 Corporate and Other	Dec. 31, 2013 Corporate and Other	Dec. 31, 2012 Corporate and Other	Dec. 31, 2011 Corporate and Other	Dec. 31, 2013 Operating	Dec. 31, 2012 Operating	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating	Dec. 31, 2013 Operating Life Marketing	Dec. 31, 2012 Operating Life Marketing	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating Life Marketing	Dec. 31, 2013 Operating Acquisitions	Dec. 31, 2012 Operating Acquisitions	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating Acquisitions	Dec. 31, 2013 Operating Annuities	Dec. 31, 2012 Operating Annuities	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating Annuities	Dec. 31, 2013 Operating Stable Value Products	Dec. 31, 2012 Operating Stable Value Products	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating Stable Value Products	Dec. 31, 2013 Operating Asset Protection	Dec. 31, 2012 Operating Asset Protection	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating Asset Protection	Dec. 31, 2013 Operating Corporate and Other	Dec. 31, 2012 Operating Corporate and Other	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating Corporate and Other	Dec. 31, 2013 Adjustments	Dec. 31, 2012 Adjustments
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Pre-tax earnings relating to settlement of a dispute																											$ 8,500,000
Revenues	1,022,452,000	880,594,000	816,041,000	885,583,000	823,070,000	864,196,000	867,039,000	901,755,000	3,604,670,000	3,456,060,000	3,408,585,000	1,324,409,000	1,233,654,000	1,193,927,000	1,186,579,000	1,064,295,000	982,821,000	569,004,000	610,489,000	633,185,000	122,974,000	123,274,000	170,455,000	296,782,000	294,146,000	282,587,000		104,922,000	130,202,000	145,610,000
Segment Operating Income (Loss)																															453,182,000	462,165,000	413,533,000	106,812,000	102,114,000	96,110,000	154,003,000	171,060,000	157,393,000	166,278,000	117,778,000	79,373,000	80,561,000	60,329,000	56,780,000	20,148,000	9,765,000	16,892,000	(74,620,000)	1,119,000	6,985,000
Realized investment (losses) gains - investments									(140,236,000)	188,729,000	194,866,000
Realized investment (losses) gains - derivatives									109,553,000	(191,315,000)	(133,124,000)
Income tax expense	(31,931,000)	(37,107,000)	(25,923,000)	(35,936,000)	(34,615,000)	(35,778,000)	(35,438,000)	(45,212,000)	(130,897,000)	(151,043,000)	(151,519,000)
Net income	88,472,000	76,248,000	53,004,000	73,878,000	60,142,000	70,911,000	81,627,000	95,856,000	291,602,000	308,536,000	323,756,000
Realized gain (losses) on investments
Investment gains (losses)									(143,984,000)	174,692,000	200,432,000
Less: amortization related to DAC/VOBA and benefits settlement expenses									(3,748,000)	(14,037,000)	5,566,000
Realized investment gains (losses) in investments									(140,236,000)	188,729,000	194,866,000
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross									82,161,000	(227,816,000)	(155,005,000)
Less: VA GMWB economic cost									(27,392,000)	(36,501,000)	(21,881,000)
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives									109,553,000	(191,315,000)	(133,124,000)
Net investment income	515,340,000	434,772,000	447,064,000	439,012,000	460,784,000	446,374,000	438,648,000	443,532,000	1,836,188,000	1,789,338,000	1,753,444,000	521,219,000	486,374,000	446,014,000	617,298,000	550,334,000	529,261,000	468,329,000	504,342,000	507,229,000	123,798,000	128,239,000	145,150,000	19,046,000	19,698,000	21,650,000		86,498,000	100,351,000	104,140,000
Amortization of DAC and VOBA									154,660,000	192,183,000	249,520,000	25,774,000	45,079,000	87,461,000	72,762,000	77,251,000	75,041,000	31,498,000	45,319,000	57,201,000	398,000	947,000	4,556,000	23,603,000	22,569,000	22,607,000		625,000	1,018,000	2,654,000
Other-than-temporary impairments									22,447,000	58,144,000	47,321,000
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	64,725,262,000				53,848,454,000				64,725,262,000	53,848,454,000																								13,135,914,000	12,171,384,000		20,201,081,000	11,312,550,000		20,029,310,000	17,649,488,000		2,558,551,000	2,509,160,000		777,388,000	740,153,000		8,006,256,000	9,446,057,000		16,762,000	19,662,000
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	3,490,605,000				3,225,356,000				3,490,605,000	3,225,356,000	3,223,220,000	2,071,470,000	2,001,708,000	1,912,916,000	813,239,000	679,746,000	824,277,000	554,974,000	491,184,000	435,462,000	1,001,000	1,399,000	2,347,000	49,275,000	50,253,000	46,606,000		646,000	1,066,000	1,612,000				2,071,470,000	2,001,708,000		813,239,000	679,746,000		554,974,000	491,184,000		1,001,000	1,399,000		49,275,000	50,253,000		646,000	1,066,000
Goodwill	80,675,000				83,773,000				80,675,000	83,773,000	86,871,000				32,517,000	35,615,000	38,713,000							48,158,000	48,158,000	48,158,000											32,517,000	35,615,000								48,158,000	48,158,000
Total assets	$ 68,296,542,000				$ 57,157,583,000				$ 68,296,542,000	$ 57,157,583,000																								$ 15,207,384,000	$ 14,173,092,000		$ 21,046,837,000	$ 12,027,911,000		$ 20,584,284,000	$ 18,140,672,000		$ 2,559,552,000	$ 2,510,559,000		$ 874,821,000	$ 838,564,000		$ 8,006,902,000	$ 9,447,123,000		$ 16,762,000	$ 19,662,000