FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) - Successor - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	$ 37,042,090	$ 33,847,196
Total fixed maturity securities	38,852,025	35,573,250
Equity securities	739,709	739,263
Other long-term investments	626,618	352,016
Short-term investments	286,201	268,718
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	12,891,214	12,829,188
Variable universal life	831,818	827,610
Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	36,062,434	32,909,201
Trading securities	2,800,000	2,700,000
Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,941,684	1,765,273
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,596,760	1,286,887
Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,120,642	797,051
States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,737,499	1,603,600
Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	18,680	17,740
Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	28,210,946	25,843,786
Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Total investments	524,166	587,031
Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Total investments	758,312	875,810
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	38,852,025	35,573,250
Equity securities	739,709	739,263
Other long-term investments	626,618	352,016
Short-term investments	286,201	268,718
Total investments	40,504,553	36,933,247
Cash	428,519	396,072
Other assets	19,171	19,099
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	12,891,214	12,829,188
Variable universal life	831,818	827,610
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	54,675,275	51,005,216
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	88,820	92,512
Other liabilities	1,045,116	629,555
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	1,133,936	722,067
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	36,062,434	32,909,201
Trading securities	2,789,591	2,664,049
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,941,684	1,765,273
Trading securities	271,994	286,658
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,596,760	1,286,887
Trading securities	157,176	146,743
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,120,642	797,051
Trading securities	275,040	275,423
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,371,796	1,532,177
Trading securities	46,507	238,347
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,737,499	1,603,600
Trading securities	362,504	313,354
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	18,680	17,740
Trading securities	60,261	58,827
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	28,210,946	25,843,786
Trading securities	1,612,530	1,340,501
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	64,427	62,687
Trading securities	3,579	4,196
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	1,198,729	1,333,895
Equity securities	669,924	656,437
Other long-term investments	311,141	113,699
Short-term investments	279,453	261,947
Total investments	2,459,247	2,365,978
Cash	428,519	396,072
Other assets	19,171	19,099
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	12,891,214	12,829,188
Variable universal life	831,818	827,610
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	16,629,969	16,437,947
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	0	0
Other liabilities	59,711	40,067
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	59,711	40,067
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,153,658	1,097,509
Trading securities	45,071	236,386
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,108,503	1,054,353
Trading securities	41,639	233,592
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	0	83
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	45,155	43,073
Trading securities	3,432	2,794
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	36,168,458	32,579,065
Equity securities	35	13,063
Other long-term investments	266,478	141,487
Short-term investments	6,748	6,771
Total investments	36,441,719	32,740,386
Cash	0	0
Other assets	0	0
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	0	0
Variable universal life	0	0
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	36,441,719	32,740,386
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	0	0
Other liabilities	13,321	3,932
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	13,321	3,932
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	33,592,489	30,322,539
Trading securities	2,575,969	2,256,526
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,941,681	1,765,270
Trading securities	271,994	286,658
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,596,760	1,286,887
Trading securities	157,176	146,743
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	587,501	210,020
Trading securities	123,076	122,511
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	263,293	477,824
Trading securities	4,868	4,755
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,737,499	1,603,600
Trading securities	362,504	313,354
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	18,680	17,740
Trading securities	60,261	58,827
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	27,427,803	24,941,584
Trading securities	1,595,943	1,322,276
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	19,272	19,614
Trading securities	147	1,402
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	1,484,838	1,660,290
Equity securities	69,750	69,763
Other long-term investments	48,999	96,830
Short-term investments	0	0
Total investments	1,603,587	1,826,883
Cash	0	0
Other assets	0	0
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	0	0
Variable universal life	0	0
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	1,603,587	1,826,883
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	88,820	92,512
Other liabilities	972,084	585,556
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	1,060,904	678,068
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,316,287	1,489,153
Trading securities	168,551	171,137
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	3	3
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	533,141	587,031
Trading securities	151,964	152,912
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	783,143	902,119
Trading securities	16,587	18,225
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Trading securities	$ 0	$ 0