FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	$ 33,737,408
Total fixed maturity securities	35,601,843
Equity securities	684,696
Other long-term investments	350,807
Short-term investments	233,337
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	12,646,751
Variable universal life	792,800
Liabilities:
Other liabilities	544,390
Fixed maturities:
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	32,891,202
Trading securities	2,700,000
Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,615,822
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,276,615
Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	793,014
U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,617,472
States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,613,485
Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	18,884
Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	25,893,798
Preferred stocks
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	62,112
Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	585,751
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	35,601,843
Equity securities	684,696
Other long-term investments	350,807
Short-term investments	233,337
Total investments	36,870,683
Cash	517,900
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	12,646,751
Variable universal life	792,800
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	50,828,134
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	95,198
Other liabilities	544,390
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	639,588
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fixed maturities:
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	32,891,202
Trading securities	2,710,641
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,615,822
Trading securities	288,280
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,276,615
Trading securities	148,640
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	793,014
Trading securities	277,090
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,617,472
Trading securities	241,305
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,613,485
Trading securities	310,973
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	18,884
Trading securities	59,527
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	25,893,798
Trading securities	1,377,901
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Preferred stocks
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	62,112
Trading securities	6,925
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	1,407,916
Equity securities	606,400
Other long-term investments	122,120
Short-term investments	228,621
Total investments	2,365,057
Cash	517,900
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	12,646,751
Variable universal life	792,800
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	16,322,508
Liabilities:
Other liabilities	22,085
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	22,085
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Fixed maturities:
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,164,566
Trading securities	243,350
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,102,371
Trading securities	236,425
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	83
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Preferred stocks
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	62,112
Trading securities	6,925
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	32,385,963
Equity securities	11,792
Other long-term investments	172,937
Short-term investments	4,716
Total investments	32,575,408
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	32,575,408
Liabilities:
Other liabilities	138,496
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	138,496
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Fixed maturities:
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	30,092,144
Trading securities	2,293,819
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,615,819
Trading securities	288,280
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,276,615
Trading securities	148,640
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	207,263
Trading securities	121,937
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	515,101
Trading securities	4,880
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,613,485
Trading securities	310,973
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	18,884
Trading securities	59,527
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	24,844,977
Trading securities	1,359,582
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	1,807,964
Equity securities	66,504
Other long-term investments	55,750
Total investments	1,930,218
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	1,930,218
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	95,198
Other liabilities	383,809
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	479,007
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Fixed maturities:
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,634,492
Trading securities	173,472
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	3
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	585,751
Trading securities	155,153
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,048,738
Trading securities	$ 18,319
Predecessor
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		$ 34,824,298
Total fixed maturity securities		36,756,240
Equity securities		756,790
Other long-term investments		270,701
Short-term investments		246,717
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity		13,157,429
Variable universal life		834,940
Liabilities:
Other liabilities		629,535
Predecessor | Fixed maturities:
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		33,937,420
Trading securities		2,800,000
Predecessor | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,418,258
Predecessor | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,177,252
Predecessor | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		839,376
Predecessor | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,428,895
Predecessor | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,687,689
Predecessor | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		20,172
Predecessor | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		27,365,778
Predecessor | Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		563,752
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities		36,756,240
Equity securities		756,790
Other long-term investments		270,701
Short-term investments		246,717
Total investments		38,030,448
Cash		268,286
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity		13,157,429
Variable universal life		834,940
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		52,291,103
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances		97,825
Other liabilities		629,535
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis		727,360
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fixed maturities:
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		33,937,420
Trading securities		2,818,820
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,418,258
Trading securities		288,114
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,177,252
Trading securities		151,111
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		839,376
Trading securities		274,579
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,428,895
Trading securities		250,461
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,687,689
Trading securities		325,446
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		20,172
Trading securities		57,032
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		27,365,778
Trading securities		1,472,077
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities		1,410,883
Equity securities		590,832
Other long-term investments		119,997
Short-term investments		243,436
Total investments		2,365,148
Cash		268,286
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity		13,157,429
Variable universal life		834,940
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		16,625,803
Liabilities:
Other liabilities		62,146
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis		62,146
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Fixed maturities:
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,165,320
Trading securities		245,563
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,165,188
Trading securities		245,563
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		132
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities		33,257,830
Equity securities		99,267
Other long-term investments		106,079
Short-term investments		3,281
Total investments		33,466,457
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		33,466,457
Liabilities:
Other liabilities		61,046
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis		61,046
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Fixed maturities:
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		30,878,778
Trading securities		2,379,052
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,418,255
Trading securities		288,114
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,177,252
Trading securities		151,111
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		275,415
Trading securities		105,118
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		263,707
Trading securities		4,898
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,684,014
Trading securities		325,446
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		20,172
Trading securities		57,032
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		26,039,963
Trading securities		1,447,333
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities		2,087,527
Equity securities		66,691
Other long-term investments		44,625
Total investments		2,198,843
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		2,198,843
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances		97,825
Other liabilities		506,343
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis		604,168
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Fixed maturities:
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,893,322
Trading securities		194,205
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		3
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		563,961
Trading securities		169,461
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		3,675
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,325,683
Trading securities		$ 24,744