ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	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
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Benefits and settlement expenses, net of reinsurance ceded		$ (713,697)	$ (694,606)	$ (1,180,905)	$ (1,428,242)
Realized investment gains (losses): All other investments		88,783	(102,337)	(137,393)	170,511
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings		(967)	(5,734)	(5,734)	(3,584)
Income before income tax		168,661	96,910	189,737	340,503
Tax benefit (expense)		(56,541)	(33,070)	(63,036)	(113,035)
Net income		112,120	63,840	126,701	227,468
Successor | Gains and losses on derivative instruments | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Benefits and settlement expenses, net of reinsurance ceded			(41)	(131)
Income before income tax			(41)	(131)
Tax benefit (expense)			14	45
Net income			(27)	(86)
Successor | Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Realized investment gains (losses): All other investments		16,932	3,360	3,733	22,487
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings		(967)	(5,734)	(5,734)	(3,584)
Income before income tax		15,965	(2,374)	(2,001)	18,903
Tax benefit (expense)		(5,588)	831	700	(6,616)
Net income		$ 10,377	$ (1,543)	$ (1,301)	$ 12,287
Predecessor
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Benefits and settlement expenses, net of reinsurance ceded	$ (267,287)
Realized investment gains (losses): All other investments	81,153
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	(481)
Income before income tax	1,182
Tax benefit (expense)	327
Net income	1,509
Predecessor | Gains and losses on derivative instruments | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Benefits and settlement expenses, net of reinsurance ceded	(36)
Income before income tax	(36)
Tax benefit (expense)	13
Net income	(23)
Predecessor | Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Realized investment gains (losses): All other investments	6,891
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	(481)
Income before income tax	6,410
Tax benefit (expense)	(2,244)
Net income	4,166
Predecessor | Minimum Pension Liability Adjustment
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Total before tax	(772)
Tax (expense) or benefit	270
Net of tax	(502)
Predecessor | Amortization of net actuarial gain/(loss) | Other Operating Expenses
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Total before tax	(808)
Predecessor | Amortization of prior service credit/(cost) | Other Operating Expenses
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Total before tax	31
Predecessor | Amortization of transition asset/(obligation) | Other Operating Expenses
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Total before tax	$ 5