FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details 3) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		5 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016
Successor
Transfers
Transfers into Level 3		$ 27,200,000	$ 0	$ 0	$ 71,300,000
Securities transferred from level 3 to level 2		44,000,000	21,800,000	41,900,000	150,200,000
Transfers from Level 2 to Level 1		0	0	90,400,000	12,200,000
Transfers from Level 1		0	0	0	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		1,664,355,000	2,266,236,000	2,275,504,000	1,826,883,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		4,339,000	51,087,000	84,756,000	11,734,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		16,958,000	4,166,000	15,784,000	31,880,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(19,273,000)	(6,185,000)	(6,271,000)	(54,735,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(9,044,000)	(33,570,000)	(37,138,000)	(28,388,000)
Purchases		30,085,000	89,929,000	111,929,000	46,085,000
Sales		(65,360,000)	(225,095,000)	(272,428,000)	(146,597,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(16,773,000)	(21,803,000)	(41,853,000)	(78,838,000)
Other		(1,700,000)	(3,220,000)	(8,738,000)	(4,437,000)
Ending Balance	2,275,504,000	1,603,587,000	2,121,545,000	2,121,545,000	1,603,587,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		(15,858,000)	42,022,000	69,313,000	(46,485,000)
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance		891,904,000	724,623,000	840,409,000	678,068,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		15,217,000	224,194,000	358,811,000	15,585,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(186,050,000)	(25,355,000)	(45,990,000)	(403,209,000)
Issuances		63,000	72,000	86,000	250,000
Settlements		1,896,000	2,913,000	4,731,000	5,038,000
Ending Balance	840,409,000	1,060,904,000	522,943,000	522,943,000	1,060,904,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		(170,303,000)	199,750,000	314,365,000	(386,528,000)
Level 3 | Successor | Annuity account
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance		90,123,000	97,108,000	98,279,000	92,512,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(530,000)	(911,000)	(1,544,000)	(1,096,000)
Issuances		63,000	72,000	86,000	250,000
Settlements		1,896,000	2,913,000	4,731,000	5,038,000
Ending Balance	98,279,000	88,820,000	95,178,000	95,178,000	88,820,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other liabilities
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance		801,781,000	627,515,000	742,130,000	585,556,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		15,217,000	224,194,000	358,811,000	15,585,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(185,520,000)	(24,444,000)	(44,446,000)	(402,113,000)
Ending Balance	742,130,000	972,084,000	427,765,000	427,765,000	972,084,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		(170,303,000)	199,750,000	314,365,000	(386,528,000)
Level 3 | Successor | Total investments
Assets:
Beginning Balance		1,664,355,000	2,266,236,000	2,275,504,000	1,826,883,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		4,339,000	51,087,000	84,756,000	11,734,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		16,958,000	4,166,000	15,784,000	31,880,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(19,273,000)	(6,185,000)	(6,271,000)	(54,735,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(9,044,000)	(33,570,000)	(37,138,000)	(28,388,000)
Purchases		30,085,000	89,929,000	111,929,000	46,085,000
Sales		(65,360,000)	(225,095,000)	(272,428,000)	(146,597,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(16,773,000)	(21,803,000)	(41,853,000)	(78,838,000)
Other		(1,700,000)	(3,220,000)	(8,738,000)	(4,437,000)
Ending Balance	2,275,504,000	1,603,587,000	2,121,545,000	2,121,545,000	1,603,587,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		(15,858,000)	42,022,000	69,313,000	(46,485,000)
Level 3 | Successor | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		1,527,931,000	2,073,391,000	2,109,186,000	1,660,290,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		2,771,000	4,385,000	8,414,000	10,166,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		16,958,000	4,166,000	15,784,000	31,880,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(8,000)	(6,185,000)	(6,251,000)	(5,336,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(9,044,000)	(33,570,000)	(37,138,000)	(28,388,000)
Purchases		30,063,000	89,929,000	111,929,000	46,063,000
Sales		(65,360,000)	(224,864,000)	(272,197,000)	(146,597,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(16,773,000)	(21,803,000)	(41,853,000)	(78,802,000)
Other		(1,700,000)	(3,220,000)	(5,645,000)	(4,438,000)
Ending Balance	2,109,186,000	1,484,838,000	1,882,229,000	1,882,229,000	1,484,838,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		1,839,000	(4,680,000)	(7,009,000)	1,346,000
Level 3 | Successor | Fixed maturities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		1,371,571,000	1,883,277,000	1,914,583,000	1,489,153,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		925,000	3,656,000	4,291,000	7,784,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		16,958,000	4,166,000	15,784,000	31,880,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings			(779,000)	(779,000)	(4,135,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(9,044,000)	(33,570,000)	(37,138,000)	(28,388,000)
Purchases		19,155,000	89,929,000	111,929,000	35,155,000
Sales		(64,752,000)	(219,235,000)	(258,737,000)	(140,314,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(16,773,000)	(21,803,000)	(41,853,000)	(70,495,000)
Other		(1,753,000)	(3,322,000)	(5,761,000)	(4,353,000)
Ending Balance	1,914,583,000	1,316,287,000	1,702,319,000	1,702,319,000	1,316,287,000
Level 3 | Successor | Fixed maturities | Trading securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		156,360,000	190,114,000	194,603,000	171,137,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		1,846,000	729,000	4,123,000	2,382,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(8,000)	(5,406,000)	(5,472,000)	(1,201,000)
Purchases		10,908,000			10,908,000
Sales		(608,000)	(5,629,000)	(13,460,000)	(6,283,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3					(8,307,000)
Other		53,000	102,000	116,000	(85,000)
Ending Balance	194,603,000	168,551,000	179,910,000	179,910,000	168,551,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		1,839,000	(4,680,000)	(7,009,000)	1,346,000
Level 3 | Successor | Residential mortgage-backed securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		3,000	3,000	3,000	3,000
Ending Balance	3,000	3,000	3,000	3,000	3,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other asset-backed securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		537,831,000	600,132,000	603,646,000	587,031,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings					6,859,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		769,000	165,000	165,000	769,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings			(92,000)	(92,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(8,350,000)	(9,323,000)	(12,891,000)	(21,407,000)
Purchases		9,597,000			9,597,000
Sales		(7,629,000)	(87,000)	(127,000)	(58,449,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3					7,457,000
Other		923,000	90,000	184,000	1,284,000
Ending Balance	603,646,000	533,141,000	590,885,000	590,885,000	533,141,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other asset-backed securities | Trading securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		150,683,000	170,500,000	169,473,000	152,912,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		1,822,000	589,000	3,949,000	2,050,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(8,000)	(5,173,000)	(5,173,000)	(942,000)
Sales		(609,000)	(5,468,000)	(7,876,000)	(2,212,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3					172,000
Other		76,000	146,000	221,000	(16,000)
Ending Balance	169,473,000	151,964,000	160,594,000	160,594,000	151,964,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		1,814,000	(4,587,000)	(5,829,000)	1,105,000
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		833,737,000	1,283,142,000	1,307,259,000	902,119,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		925,000	3,656,000	4,291,000	925,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		16,189,000	4,001,000	15,619,000	31,111,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings			(687,000)	(687,000)	(4,135,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(694,000)	(24,247,000)	(24,247,000)	(6,981,000)
Purchases		9,558,000	89,929,000	111,929,000	25,558,000
Sales		(57,123,000)	(219,148,000)	(254,935,000)	(81,865,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(16,773,000)	(21,803,000)	(41,853,000)	(77,952,000)
Other		(2,676,000)	(3,412,000)	(5,945,000)	(5,637,000)
Ending Balance	1,307,259,000	783,143,000	1,111,431,000	1,111,431,000	783,143,000
Level 3 | Successor | Corporate securities | Trading securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		5,677,000	19,614,000	25,130,000	18,225,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		24,000	140,000	174,000	332,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings			(233,000)	(299,000)	(259,000)
Purchases		10,908,000			10,908,000
Sales		1,000	(161,000)	(5,584,000)	(4,071,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3					(8,479,000)
Other		(23,000)	(44,000)	(105,000)	(69,000)
Ending Balance	25,130,000	16,587,000	19,316,000	19,316,000	16,587,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		25,000	(93,000)	(1,180,000)	241,000
Level 3 | Successor | Equity securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		69,728,000	69,951,000	73,044,000	69,763,000
Purchases		22,000			22,000
Sales			(231,000)	(231,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3					(36,000)
Other				(3,093,000)	1,000
Ending Balance	73,044,000	69,750,000	69,720,000	69,720,000	69,750,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other long-term investments.
Assets:
Beginning Balance		66,696,000	122,894,000	93,274,000	96,830,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		1,568,000	46,702,000	76,342,000	1,568,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(19,265,000)		(20,000)	(49,399,000)
Ending Balance	93,274,000	48,999,000	169,596,000	169,596,000	48,999,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		$ (17,697,000)	$ 46,702,000	76,322,000	$ (47,831,000)
Level 3 | Predecessor
Assets:
Beginning Balance	2,228,475,000			2,224,975,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	1,941,000
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)
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	1,941,000
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)