CERTAIN NONTRADITIONAL LONG-DURATION CONTRACTS (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Activity in the Company's deferred sales inducement asset
Deferred asset, beginning of period	$ 143,949	$ 125,527	$ 112,147
Amounts deferred	15,274	23,362	29,472
Amortization	(12,572)	(4,940)	(16,092)
Deferred asset, end of period	146,651	143,949	125,527
Annuity account balances
Certain Nontraditional Long-duration Contracts
Account balances of variable annuities with guarantees invested in variable annuity separate accounts	12,590,291	9,552,777
Equity mutual funds | Annuity account balances
Certain Nontraditional Long-duration Contracts
Account balances of variable annuities with guarantees invested in variable annuity separate accounts	7,984,198	6,171,196
Fixed income mutual funds | Annuity account balances
Certain Nontraditional Long-duration Contracts
Account balances of variable annuities with guarantees invested in variable annuity separate accounts	$ 4,606,093	$ 3,381,581