INCOME TAXES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Effective income tax rate related to continuing operations
Statutory federal income tax rate applied to pre-tax income (as a percent)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes (as a percent)	0.40%	0.40%	0.40%
Investment income not subject to tax (as a percent)	(4.40%)	(3.10%)	(2.20%)
Uncertain tax positions (as a percent)	0.10%	0.20%	(0.10%)
Other (as a percent)	(0.10%)	0.40%	(1.20%)
Effective income tax rate (as a percent)	31.00%	32.90%	31.90%
Current income tax expense:
Federal	$ (18,076,000)	$ 78,510,000	$ (4,609,000)
State	(222,000)	2,496,000	33,000
Total current	(18,298,000)	81,006,000	(4,576,000)
Deferred income tax expense:
Federal	149,288,000	66,375,000	153,412,000
State	(93,000)	3,662,000	2,683,000
Total deferred	149,195,000	70,037,000	156,095,000
Deferred income tax assets:
Premium receivables and policy liabilities	185,073,000	51,276,000
Intercompany losses	85,134,000	45,079,000
Deferred compensation	105,744,000	3,750,000
Other	22,854,000	26,604,000
Valuation allowance	(1,200,000)	(2,552,000)
Deferred income tax assets	397,605,000	124,157,000
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	983,254,000	911,858,000
Invested assets (other than realized gains)	184,935,000	20,936,000
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments	290,062,000	975,076,000
Deferred income tax liabilities	1,458,251,000	1,907,870,000
Net deferred income tax (liability) asset	(1,060,646,000)	(1,783,713,000)
State operating loss carryforwards, valuation allowance	1,200,000	2,600,000
Favorable change in valuation allowance, before federal income taxes	1,400,000
Amount of valuation allowance established for deferred tax assets relating to impairments on fixed maturities, capital loss carryforwards, and unrealized losses on investments	0	0
Amount of operating loss carryforwards, which will expire if not used in the consolidated income tax return by 2028	$ 171,300,000