SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 item	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Valuation of investment securities
Number of primary sources of information used for determining fair value	1
Total number of primary sources of information available for determining fair value	3
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments recorded	$ 10,941,000	$ 67,130,000	$ 62,210,000
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments recorded in earnings	22,447,000	58,144,000	47,321,000
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments recorded in other comprehensive income (loss)	(11,506,000)	8,986,000	14,889,000
Cash
Negative balances due to outstanding checks and drafts	42,100,000	96,600,000
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
Interest rate assumptions to compute liabilities for future policy benefits, low end of the range (as a percent)	1.00%
Interest rate assumptions to compute liabilities for future policy benefits, high end of the range (as a percent)	7.13%
Value of business acquired
Maximum percentage of accrued interest credited to account balances in case of interest sensitive products	8.75%
Fixed maturities
Valuation of investment securities
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments recorded	7,600,000	67,100,000	62,200,000
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments recorded in earnings		58,100,000	47,300,000
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments recorded in other comprehensive income (loss)		9,000,000	14,900,000
Equity securities
Valuation of investment securities
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments recorded	$ 3,300,000	$ 0	$ 0