INVESTMENT OPERATIONS (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	$ 32,197,523	$ 31,541,863
Gross Unrealized Gains	2,928,746	1,730,661
Gross Unrealized Losses	(212,763)	(604,304)
Fair Value	34,913,506	32,668,220
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	7,841	928
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as held-to-maturity
Fair Value	453,741	335,676
Amortized Cost, Held-to-maturity
Total	415,000	365,000
Fair Value, Held-to-maturity
Fair Value	453,741	335,676
Fixed maturities
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	31,371,863	30,849,808
Gross Unrealized Gains	2,897,561	1,724,593
Gross Unrealized Losses	(196,268)	(567,972)
Fair Value	34,073,156	32,006,429
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	7,841	928
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as held-to-maturity
Amortized Cost	415,000	365,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	38,741
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	(29,324)
Fair Value	453,741	335,676
Trading securities	2,800,000	2,800,000
Amortized Cost, Available-for-sale
Due in one year or less	1,043,243
Due after one year through five years	4,532,064
Due after five years through ten years	8,876,101
Due after ten years	16,920,455
Total	31,371,863
Fair Value, Available-for-sale
Due in one year or less	1,057,235
Due after one year through five years	4,824,318
Due after five years through ten years	9,336,733
Due after ten years	18,854,870
Total	34,073,156
Amortized Cost, Held-to-maturity
Due after ten years	415,000
Total	415,000
Fair Value, Held-to-maturity
Due after ten years	453,741
Fair Value	453,741	335,676
Residential mortgage-backed securities
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	1,405,611	1,435,349
Gross Unrealized Gains	51,344	34,255
Gross Unrealized Losses	(14,116)	(24,536)
Fair Value	1,442,839	1,445,068
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	7,945	979
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	1,137,642	963,461
Gross Unrealized Gains	43,744	26,900
Gross Unrealized Losses	(5,863)	(19,705)
Fair Value	1,175,523	970,656
Other asset-backed securities
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	869,136	926,396
Gross Unrealized Gains	13,476	15,135
Gross Unrealized Losses	(34,273)	(69,548)
Fair Value	848,339	871,983
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	(105)	(51)
U.S. government-related securities
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	1,563,337	1,529,818
Gross Unrealized Gains	43,178	32,150
Gross Unrealized Losses	(22,305)	(54,078)
Fair Value	1,584,210	1,507,890
Other government-related securities
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	19,004	49,171
Gross Unrealized Gains	3,016	2,257
Gross Unrealized Losses		(1)
Fair Value	22,020	51,427
Total OTTI Recognized in OCI	1
States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	1,371,113	1,315,457
Gross Unrealized Gains	243,943	103,663
Gross Unrealized Losses	(2,349)	(8,291)
Fair Value	1,612,707	1,410,829
Corporate bonds
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	25,006,020	24,630,156
Gross Unrealized Gains	2,498,860	1,510,233
Gross Unrealized Losses	(117,362)	(391,813)
Fair Value	27,387,518	25,748,576
Other
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as held-to-maturity
Amortized Cost	415,000	365,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	38,741
Gross Unrealized Losses		(29,324)
Fair Value	453,741	335,676
Fair Value, Held-to-maturity
Fair Value	453,741	335,676
Equity securities
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	722,684	611,473
Gross Unrealized Gains	31,185	6,068
Gross Unrealized Losses	(16,495)	(36,332)
Fair Value	737,374	581,209
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as held-to-maturity
Trading securities	24,100	21,200
Short-term investments
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	102,976	80,582
Fair Value	102,976	80,582
Amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investments classified as held-to-maturity
Trading securities	$ 75,300	$ 52,400