DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		8 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) position item	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) position item	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 item
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		$ 41,895		$ 47,513
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		9,197,058		9,197,058
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		350,807		350,807
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		8,678,409		8,678,409
Fair Value, Other liabilities		$ 544,390		$ 544,390
PLC
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Number of portfolio maintenance agreements | item		2		2
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		$ 41,895		$ 47,513
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		64,632		(73,560)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(86)		3,558
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		194		2,073
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate futures
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		946,551		946,551
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		2,547		2,547
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		7,727		7,727
Fair Value, Other liabilities		140		140
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate futures | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		12,140		(2,091)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		297,690		297,690
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		9,806		9,806
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		81,421		81,421
Fair Value, Other liabilities		1,835		1,835
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		40,951		3,215
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		709		1,016
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		17		39
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Currency futures
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		239,526		239,526
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		2,608		2,608
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		37,137		37,137
Fair Value, Other liabilities		93		93
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Currency futures | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		4,000		1,428
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Volatility futures | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(24)		6
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		2,833,844		2,833,844
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		192,335		192,335
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		1,242,384		1,242,384
Fair Value, Other liabilities		8,863		8,863
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		33,519		8,195
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(12,099)		(6,499)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(1,110)		(1,048)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaptions
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		225,000		225,000
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		4,619		4,619
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaptions | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		$ (3,618)		$ (12,399)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaps
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Positions held | position		0		0
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		$ 1,325,000		$ 1,325,000
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		82,642		82,642
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		575,000		575,000
Fair Value, Other liabilities		13,809		13,809
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaps | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		101,808		(74,150)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - GMWB
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		1,688,779		1,688,779
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		49,048		49,048
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		1,715,488		1,715,488
Fair Value, Other liabilities		63,540		63,540
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - GMWB | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(71,296)		10,543
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Funds withheld derivative
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		1,520,607		1,520,607
Fair Value, Other liabilities		135,605		135,605
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Funds withheld derivative | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(52,872)		(8,301)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		962,123		962,123
Fair Value, Other liabilities		76,709		76,709
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - FIA | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		11,328		9,035
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		44,581		44,581
Fair Value, Other liabilities		21,711		21,711
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - IUL | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		1,287		3,082
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - Modco reinsurance treaties
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(9,817)		131,505
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		64,984		64,984
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		859		859
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		2,490,850		2,490,850
Fair Value, Other liabilities		221,849		221,849
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Derivatives with PLC
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(12,978)		(16,096)
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		1,574,348		1,574,348
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		5,843		5,843
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Other derivatives
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(50)		33
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		1,336		1,336
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		500		500
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		1,091		1,091
Fair Value, Other liabilities		$ 236		$ 236
Cash flow hedges. | Interest rate swaps
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Positions held | position		0		0
Predecessor
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Number of portfolio maintenance agreements | item							2
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	$ 22,031		$ 41,769		$ (34,425)
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						$ 7,174,182
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						270,701
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						7,661,143
Fair Value, Other liabilities						629,535
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	22,031		41,769		(34,425)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	75,861		22,005		60,169
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(1,032)		(1,250)		(2,888)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(598)		339		54
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate futures
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						27,977
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						938
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate futures | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	1,413		1,979		12,777
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						26,483
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						427
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						385,256
Fair Value, Other liabilities						15,069
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	9,221		861		(9,049)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(184)		117		1,067
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	3		16		16
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Currency futures
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						197,648
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						2,384
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Currency futures | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	7,778		10,185		6,020
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Volatility futures | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross			(4)		4
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Variance swaps | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross			1,570		(1,103)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						1,921,167
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						163,212
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						699,295
Fair Value, Other liabilities						47,077
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	3,047		2,050		(31,240)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(2,617)		1,099		5,077
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(115)		(24)		(24)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaptions
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						625,000
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						8,012
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaptions | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	9,268		(2,812)		(17,213)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaps
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						1,550,000
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						50,743
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						275,000
Fair Value, Other liabilities						3,599
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaps | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	122,710		22,011		124,548
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - GMWB
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						1,302,895
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						37,497
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						1,702,899
Fair Value, Other liabilities						63,460
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - GMWB | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(68,503)		(11,407)		(51,869)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Funds withheld derivative
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						1,233,424
Fair Value, Other liabilities						57,305
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Funds withheld derivative | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(9,073)		(2,432)		27,298
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						749,933
Fair Value, Other liabilities						124,465
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - FIA | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	1,769		(2,462)		(9,036)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						12,019
Fair Value, Other liabilities						6,691
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - IUL | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(486)		347		62
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - Modco reinsurance treaties
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(68,026)		20,426		(91,945)
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						25,760
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						1,051
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						2,562,848
Fair Value, Other liabilities						311,727
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Derivatives with PLC
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	15,863		398		536
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						1,497,010
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						6,077
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Other derivatives
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	$ (37)		$ (149)		$ (351)
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						242
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						360
Predecessor | Cash flow hedges. | Inflation
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						40,469
Fair Value, Other liabilities						$ 142