FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details 3) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016
Successor
Transfers
Transfers into Level 3		$ 0	$ 44,100,000
Securities transferred from level 3 to level 2		20,100,000	106,200,000
Transfers from Level 2 to Level 1		90,400,000	12,200,000
Transfers from Level 1			100,000
Predecessor
Transfers
Transfers into Level 3	$ 43,200,000
Securities transferred from level 3 to level 2	0
Transfers from Level 2 to Level 1	0
Transfers from Level 1	0
Level 3 | Successor
Assets:
Beginning Balance		2,275,504,000	1,826,883,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		33,669,000	7,395,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		11,618,000	14,922,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(86,000)	(35,462,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(3,568,000)	(19,344,000)
Purchases		22,000,000	16,000,000
Sales		(47,333,000)	(81,237,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(20,050,000)	(62,065,000)
Other		(5,518,000)	(2,737,000)
Ending Balance	2,275,504,000	2,266,236,000	1,664,355,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		27,291,000	(30,627,000)
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance		840,409,000	678,068,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		134,617,000	368,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(20,634,000)	(217,159,000)
Issuances		14,000	187,000
Settlements		1,817,000	3,142,000
Ending Balance	840,409,000	724,623,000	891,904,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		114,615,000	(216,225,000)
Level 3 | Successor | Annuity account
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance		98,279,000	92,512,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(632,000)	(566,000)
Issuances		14,000	187,000
Settlements		1,817,000	3,142,000
Ending Balance	98,279,000	97,108,000	90,123,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other liabilities
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance		742,130,000	585,556,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		134,617,000	368,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(20,002,000)	(216,593,000)
Ending Balance	742,130,000	627,515,000	801,781,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		114,615,000	(216,225,000)
Level 3 | Successor | Total investments
Assets:
Beginning Balance		2,275,504,000	1,826,883,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		33,669,000	7,395,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		11,618,000	14,922,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(86,000)	(35,462,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(3,568,000)	(19,344,000)
Purchases		22,000,000	16,000,000
Sales		(47,333,000)	(81,237,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(20,050,000)	(62,065,000)
Other		(5,518,000)	(2,737,000)
Ending Balance	2,275,504,000	2,266,236,000	1,664,355,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		27,291,000	(30,627,000)
Level 3 | Successor | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		2,109,186,000	1,660,290,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		4,029,000	7,395,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		11,618,000	14,922,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(66,000)	(5,328,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(3,568,000)	(19,344,000)
Purchases		22,000,000	16,000,000
Sales		(47,333,000)	(81,237,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(20,050,000)	(62,029,000)
Other		(2,425,000)	(2,738,000)
Ending Balance	2,109,186,000	2,073,391,000	1,527,931,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		(2,329,000)	(493,000)
Level 3 | Successor | Fixed maturities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		1,914,583,000	1,489,153,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		635,000	6,859,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		11,618,000	14,922,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		0	(4,135,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(3,568,000)	(19,344,000)
Purchases		22,000,000	16,000,000
Sales		(39,502,000)	(75,562,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(20,050,000)	(53,722,000)
Other		(2,439,000)	(2,600,000)
Ending Balance	1,914,583,000	1,883,277,000	1,371,571,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		0	0
Level 3 | Successor | Fixed maturities | Trading securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		194,603,000	171,137,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		3,394,000	536,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(66,000)	(1,193,000)
Purchases			0
Sales		(7,831,000)	(5,675,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3			(8,307,000)
Other		14,000	(138,000)
Ending Balance	194,603,000	190,114,000	156,360,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		(2,329,000)	(493,000)
Level 3 | Successor | Residential mortgage-backed securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		3,000	3,000
Other		0
Ending Balance	3,000	3,000	3,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other asset-backed securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		603,646,000	587,031,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings			6,859,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(3,568,000)	(13,057,000)
Sales		(40,000)	(50,820,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3			7,457,000
Other		94,000	361,000
Ending Balance	603,646,000	600,132,000	537,831,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other asset-backed securities | Trading securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		169,473,000	152,912,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		3,360,000	228,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings			(934,000)
Sales		(2,408,000)	(1,603,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3			172,000
Other		75,000	(92,000)
Ending Balance	169,473,000	170,500,000	150,683,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		(1,242,000)	(709,000)
Level 3 | Successor | States, municipals, and political subdivisions | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		3,675,000
Sales		(3,675,000)
Ending Balance	3,675,000
Level 3 | Successor | Corporate securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		1,307,259,000	902,119,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		635,000	0
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		11,618,000	14,922,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		0	(4,135,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		0	(6,287,000)
Purchases		22,000,000	16,000,000
Sales		(35,787,000)	(24,742,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(20,050,000)	(61,179,000)
Other		(2,533,000)	(2,961,000)
Ending Balance	1,307,259,000	1,283,142,000	833,737,000
Level 3 | Successor | Corporate securities | Trading securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		25,130,000	18,225,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		34,000	308,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(66,000)	(259,000)
Sales		(5,423,000)	(4,072,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3			(8,479,000)
Other		(61,000)	(46,000)
Ending Balance	25,130,000	19,614,000	5,677,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		(1,087,000)	216,000
Level 3 | Successor | Equity securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		73,044,000	69,763,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		0
Sales		0
Transfers in/or out of Level 3			(36,000)
Other		(3,093,000)	1,000
Ending Balance	73,044,000	69,951,000	69,728,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other long-term investments.
Assets:
Beginning Balance		93,274,000	96,830,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		29,640,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(20,000)	(30,134,000)
Ending Balance	93,274,000	122,894,000	66,696,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		29,620,000	$ (30,134,000)
Level 3 | Predecessor
Assets:
Beginning Balance	2,228,475,000	2,224,975,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	0
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	12,282,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(26,237,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(26,906,000)
Purchases	0
Sales	(7,586,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3	43,205,000
Other	(199,000)
Ending Balance	2,224,975,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	(24,296,000)
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance	852,677,000	1,106,513,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	61,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(254,309,000)
Issuances	7,000
Settlements	419,000
Ending Balance	1,106,513,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	(253,712,000)
Level 3 | Predecessor | Annuity account
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance	97,825,000	97,949,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(536,000)
Issuances	7,000
Settlements	419,000
Ending Balance	97,949,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Other liabilities
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance	754,852,000	1,008,564,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	61,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(253,773,000)
Ending Balance	1,008,564,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	(253,712,000)
Level 3 | Predecessor | Total investments
Assets:
Beginning Balance	2,228,475,000	2,224,975,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	0
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	12,282,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(26,237,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(26,906,000)
Purchases	0
Sales	(7,586,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3	43,205,000
Other	(199,000)
Ending Balance	2,224,975,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	(24,296,000)
Level 3 | Predecessor | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	2,087,527,000	2,109,186,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	1,188,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	12,282,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(335,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(26,896,000)
Purchases	0
Sales	(7,586,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3	43,205,000
Other	(199,000)
Ending Balance	2,109,186,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	853,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Fixed maturities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	1,893,322,000	1,914,583,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	12,282,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(26,896,000)
Sales	(7,094,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3	43,205,000
Other	(236,000)
Ending Balance	1,914,583,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Fixed maturities | Trading securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	194,205,000	194,603,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	1,188,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(335,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	0
Sales	(492,000)
Other	37,000
Ending Balance	194,603,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	853,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Residential mortgage-backed securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	3,000	3,000
Ending Balance	3,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Other asset-backed securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	563,961,000	603,646,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(3,867,000)
Sales	(32,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3	43,205,000
Other	379,000
Ending Balance	603,646,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Other asset-backed securities | Trading securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	169,461,000	169,473,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	586,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(139,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	0
Sales	(472,000)
Other	37,000
Ending Balance	169,473,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	447,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | States, municipals, and political subdivisions | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	3,675,000	3,675,000
Ending Balance	3,675,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Corporate securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	1,325,683,000	1,307,259,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	12,282,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(23,029,000)
Sales	(7,062,000)
Other	(615,000)
Ending Balance	1,307,259,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Corporate securities | Trading securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	24,744,000	25,130,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	602,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(196,000)
Sales	(20,000)
Ending Balance	25,130,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	406,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Equity securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	73,054,000	73,044,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(10,000)
Ending Balance	73,044,000
Level 3 | Predecessor | Other long-term investments.
Assets:
Beginning Balance	67,894,000	$ 42,745,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	753,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(25,902,000)
Ending Balance	42,745,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	$ (25,149,000)