FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (DETAILS 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Fixed Maturities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 64,406	$ 70,763
Total net realized and unrealized gains included in net income	0	0
Total net realized and unrealized losses included in net income	0	(3,384)
Change in net unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income	5,412	8,660
Change in net unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income	(997)	(370)
Purchases	0	27,704
Sales	0	(2,433)
Settlements / distributions	(2,139)	(2,895)
Transfers into Level 3	1,891	781
Transfers out of Level 3	(17,695)	(34,420)
Balance at end of period	50,878	64,406
Level 3 gains / (losses) included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains / losses relating to those assets and liabilities held at the reporting date	0	(1,550)
Alternative Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	519,296	520,188
Total net realized and unrealized gains included in net income	74,497	60,969
Total net realized and unrealized losses included in net income	(43,498)	0
Change in net unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income	0	0
Change in net unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income	0	0
Purchases	195,000	65,000
Sales	(25,268)	(99,822)
Settlements / distributions	(45,720)	(27,039)
Transfers into Level 3	0	0
Transfers out of Level 3	(261,503)	0
Balance at end of period	412,804	519,296
Level 3 gains / (losses) included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains / losses relating to those assets and liabilities held at the reporting date	31,855	60,969
Total Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	583,702	590,951
Total net realized and unrealized gains included in net income	74,497	60,969
Total net realized and unrealized losses included in net income	(43,498)	(3,384)
Change in net unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income	5,412	8,660
Change in net unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income	(997)	(370)
Purchases	195,000	92,704
Sales	(25,268)	(102,255)
Settlements / distributions	(47,859)	(29,934)
Transfers into Level 3	1,891	781
Transfers out of Level 3	(279,198)	(34,420)
Balance at end of period	463,682	583,702
Level 3 gains / (losses) included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains / losses relating to those assets and liabilities held at the reporting date	31,855	59,419
Corporate Debt [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	1,550	18,130
Total net realized and unrealized gains included in net income	0	0
Total net realized and unrealized losses included in net income	0	(1,550)
Change in net unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income	0	2,201
Change in net unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income	0	(34)
Purchases	0	0
Sales	0	(12)
Settlements / distributions	0	0
Transfers into Level 3	0	0
Transfers out of Level 3	0	(17,185)
Balance at end of period	1,550	1,550
Level 3 gains / (losses) included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains / losses relating to those assets and liabilities held at the reporting date	0	(1,550)
CMBS [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	0	2,409
Total net realized and unrealized gains included in net income	0	0
Total net realized and unrealized losses included in net income	0	(119)
Change in net unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income	0	1,273
Change in net unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income	0	(238)
Purchases	0	3,474
Sales	0	(206)
Settlements / distributions	0	(694)
Transfers into Level 3	0	0
Transfers out of Level 3	0	(5,899)
Balance at end of period	0	0
Level 3 gains / (losses) included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains / losses relating to those assets and liabilities held at the reporting date	0	0
Non-Agency RMBS [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	19,678	6,639
Total net realized and unrealized gains included in net income	0	0
Total net realized and unrealized losses included in net income	0	(581)
Change in net unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income	123	1,825
Change in net unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income	(60)	(27)
Purchases	0	20,230
Sales	0	(211)
Settlements / distributions	(2,046)	(1,832)
Transfers into Level 3	0	781
Transfers out of Level 3	(17,695)	(7,146)
Balance at end of period	0	19,678
Level 3 gains / (losses) included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains / losses relating to those assets and liabilities held at the reporting date	0	0
ABS [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	43,178	43,585
Total net realized and unrealized gains included in net income	0	0
Total net realized and unrealized losses included in net income	0	(1,134)
Change in net unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income	5,289	3,361
Change in net unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income	(937)	(71)
Purchases	0	4,000
Sales	0	(2,004)
Settlements / distributions	(93)	(369)
Transfers into Level 3	1,891	0
Transfers out of Level 3	0	(4,190)
Balance at end of period	49,328	43,178
Level 3 gains / (losses) included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains / losses relating to those assets and liabilities held at the reporting date	$ 0	$ 0