OPERATING SEGMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		8 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Feb. 01, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues		$ 1,006,671		$ 2,510,585
Segment Operating Income (Loss)		97,507		226,948
Realized investment (losses) gains - investments		8,586		(150,063)
Realized investment (losses) gains - derivatives		50,028		68,205
Income tax benefit (expense)		(42,542)		(40,667)
Net income (loss)		113,579		104,423
Realized gain (losses) on investments
Investment gains (losses)		(4,755)		(147,892)
Less: amortization related to DAC/VOBA and benefits and settlement expenses		(13,341)		2,171
Realized investment gains (losses) - investments		8,586		(150,063)
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Derivative gains (losses)		41,895		47,513
Less: VA GMWB economic cost		(8,133)		(20,692)
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives		50,028		68,205
Other-than-temporary impairments		10,064		15,798
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		65,366,820		65,366,820
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired		1,469,723		1,469,723
Other intangibles		655,459		655,459
Goodwill		735,712		735,712		$ 735,700
Total assets		68,227,714		68,227,714
Operating | Life Marketing
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues		358,194		960,807
Segment Operating Income (Loss)		18,758		28,711
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		13,223,607		13,223,607
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired		1,078,408		1,078,408
Other intangibles		324,362		324,362
Goodwill		203,543		203,543
Total assets		14,829,920		14,829,920
Operating | Acquisitions
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues		352,141		974,915
Segment Operating Income (Loss)		59,016		132,962
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		20,014,577		20,014,577
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired		(182,038)		(182,038)
Other intangibles		40,297		40,297
Goodwill		14,524		14,524
Total assets		19,887,360		19,887,360
Operating | Annuities
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues		200,798		293,610
Segment Operating Income (Loss)		37,090		108,976
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		19,565,914		19,565,914
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired		531,735		531,735
Other intangibles		200,112		200,112
Goodwill		336,677		336,677
Total assets		20,634,438		20,634,438
Operating | Stable Value Products
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues		17,065		44,063
Segment Operating Income (Loss)		12,785		28,249
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		1,790,724		1,790,724
Other intangibles		9,556		9,556
Goodwill		113,813		113,813
Total assets		1,914,093		1,914,093
Operating | Asset Protection
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues		77,476		204,397
Segment Operating Income (Loss)		4,415		12,938
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		788,749		788,749
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired		41,618		41,618
Other intangibles		81,132		81,132
Goodwill		67,155		67,155
Total assets		978,654		978,654
Operating | Corporate and Other
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues		997		32,793
Segment Operating Income (Loss)		(34,557)		(84,888)
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		9,972,530		9,972,530
Total assets		9,972,530		9,972,530
Adjustments
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		10,719		10,719
Total assets		$ 10,719		$ 10,719
Predecessor
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	$ 459,646		$ 1,116,760		$ 3,345,295
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	19,000		147,641		411,230
Realized investment (losses) gains - investments	89,414		(11,903)		112,769
Realized investment (losses) gains - derivatives	24,433		48,382		(15,653)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(44,325)		(62,287)		(167,921)
Net income (loss)	88,522		121,833		340,425
Realized gain (losses) on investments
Investment gains (losses)	80,672		(2,470)		147,091
Less: amortization related to DAC/VOBA and benefits and settlement expenses	(8,742)		9,433		34,322
Realized investment gains (losses) - investments	89,414		(11,903)		112,769
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Derivative gains (losses)	22,031		41,769		(34,425)
Less: VA GMWB economic cost	(2,402)		(6,613)		(18,772)
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives	24,433		48,382		(15,653)
Other-than-temporary impairments	481		2,354		5,405
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							$ 66,759,495
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired							3,155,046
Goodwill							77,577
Total assets							69,992,118
Predecessor | Operating | Life Marketing
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	133,361		368,479		1,098,015
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	(2,271)		31,571		79,471
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							13,858,491
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired							1,973,156
Total assets							15,831,647
Predecessor | Operating | Acquisitions
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	139,761		408,522		1,273,714
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	20,134		72,929		198,807
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							19,858,284
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired							600,482
Goodwill							29,419
Total assets							20,488,185
Predecessor | Operating | Annuities
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	130,918		200,366		582,645
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	11,363		42,659		136,590
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							20,678,948
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired							539,965
Total assets							21,218,913
Predecessor | Operating | Stable Value Products
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	8,181		38,719		93,696
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	4,529		19,506		54,190
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							1,958,867
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired							621
Total assets							1,959,488
Predecessor | Operating | Asset Protection
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	24,566		77,277		227,244
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	1,907		6,962		18,535
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							832,887
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired							40,503
Goodwill							48,158
Total assets							921,548
Predecessor | Operating | Corporate and Other
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	22,859		23,397		69,981
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	$ (16,662)		$ (25,986)		$ (76,363)
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							9,557,226
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired							319
Total assets							9,557,545
Predecessor | Adjustments
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							14,792
Total assets							$ 14,792