FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 item
Determination of fair values
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
Minimum percentage of the Company's fixed maturity securities priced by third party pricing services	90.00%
Number of independent non-binding broker quotes obtained per security	1
Percentage of derivatives excluding embedded derivatives that were priced using exchange prices or independent broker quotations	81.60%
Statutory policy liabilities (net of policy loans)	$ 2,500,000,000
Fair value of the trading securities	2,800,000,000
Other long-term investments	353,441,000
Fair value, derivative liability	595,997,000
Annuity account balances
Fixed indexed annuities, discount rate for one month (as a percent)	0.31%
Fixed indexed annuities, discount rate for five years (as a percent)	2.15%
Fixed indexed annuities, discount rate for thirty years (as a percent)	3.38%
Interest support, YRT premium support and portfolio maintenance agreement
Determination of fair values
Other long-term investments	22,500,000
Golden Gate II
Determination of fair values
Amount of collateralized support agreement obligations by PLC	1,900,000
Golden Gate II | Interest Support Agreement
Determination of fair values
Other long-term investments	20,000,000
Payments triggered under agreement	0
Golden Gate II | YRT premium support agreement
Determination of fair values
Other long-term investments	2,300,000
Payments triggered under agreement	0
Golden Gate V and West Coast Life | Portfolio maintenance agreements
Determination of fair values
Other long-term investments	200,000
Payments triggered under agreement	0
Asset-Backed Securities | Level 2
Determination of fair values
Fair Value	3,500,000,000
Asset-Backed Securities | Level 3
Determination of fair values
Fair Value	770,600,000
Asset-Backed Securities | Level 3 | Available-for-sale securities.
Determination of fair values
Fair Value	600,100,000
Asset-Backed Securities | Level 3 | Trading Securities.
Determination of fair values
Fair Value	170,500,000
Percentage of underlying collateral of student-loan backed auction rate securities guaranteed by the Federal Family Education Loan Program ("FFELP"), minimum	97.00%
Corporate Bonds, U.S. Government-Related Securities, States, Municipals, and Political Subdivisions, and Other Government Related Securities | Level 2
Determination of fair values
Fair Value	30,600,000,000
Corporate Bonds, U.S. Government-Related Securities, States, Municipals, and Political Subdivisions, and Other Government Related Securities | Level 3
Determination of fair values
Fair Value	1,300,000,000
Equity securities
Determination of fair values
Fair value of the trading securities	4,000,000
Equity securities | Level 2 and Level 3
Determination of fair values
Fair Value	78,500,000
Federal Home Loan Bank stock	66,000,000
Embedded derivative - GMWB
Annuity account balances
Discount rate curve, base rate	LIBOR
Embedded derivative - GMWB | Level 3 | Minimum
Determination of fair values
Mortality (as a percent)	44.50%
Embedded derivative - GMWB | Level 3 | Maximum
Determination of fair values
Mortality (as a percent)	100.00%
Embedded derivative - FIA
Annuity account balances
Discount rate curve, base rate	LIBOR
Embedded derivative - FIA | Level 3 | Minimum
Determination of fair values
Mortality (as a percent)	49.00%
Embedded derivative - FIA | Level 3 | Maximum
Determination of fair values
Mortality (as a percent)	80.00%
Embedded derivative - IUL
Annuity account balances
Discount rate curve, base rate	LIBOR
Embedded derivative - IUL | Level 3 | Minimum
Determination of fair values
Mortality (as a percent)	37.00%
Embedded derivative - IUL | Level 3 | Maximum
Determination of fair values
Mortality (as a percent)	74.00%
Funds withheld derivative | Level 2
Determination of fair values
Fair value, derivative liability	$ 71,500,000