FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) - Successor - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	$ 37,726,687	$ 33,847,196
Total fixed maturity securities	39,630,087	35,573,250
Equity securities	737,303	739,263
Other long-term investments	656,719	352,016
Short-term investments	180,698	268,718
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	13,164,747	12,829,188
Variable universal life	868,818	827,610
Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	36,841,646	32,909,201
Trading securities	2,800,000	2,700,000
Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,896,404	1,765,273
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,713,607	1,286,887
Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,201,916	797,051
States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,727,261	1,603,600
Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	18,532	17,740
Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	28,878,973	25,843,786
Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Total investments	544,230	587,031
Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Total investments	726,890	875,810
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	39,630,087	35,573,250
Equity securities	737,303	739,263
Other long-term investments	656,719	352,016
Short-term investments	180,698	268,718
Total investments	41,204,807	36,933,247
Cash	621,344	396,072
Other assets	21,393	19,099
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	13,164,747	12,829,188
Variable universal life	868,818	827,610
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	55,881,109	51,005,216
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	88,857	92,512
Other liabilities	1,069,011	629,555
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	1,157,868	722,067
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	36,841,646	32,909,201
Trading securities	2,788,441	2,664,049
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,896,404	1,765,273
Trading securities	264,142	286,658
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,713,607	1,286,887
Trading securities	157,152	146,743
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,201,916	797,051
Trading securities	263,213	275,423
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,311,179	1,532,177
Trading securities	36,878	238,347
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,727,261	1,603,600
Trading securities	340,983	313,354
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	18,532	17,740
Trading securities	60,774	58,827
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	28,878,973	25,843,786
Trading securities	1,661,511	1,340,501
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	93,774	62,687
Trading securities	3,788	4,196
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	1,180,569	1,333,895
Equity securities	667,517	656,437
Other long-term investments	316,007	113,699
Short-term investments	173,066	261,947
Total investments	2,337,159	2,365,978
Cash	621,344	396,072
Other assets	21,393	19,099
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	13,164,747	12,829,188
Variable universal life	868,818	827,610
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	17,013,461	16,437,947
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	0	0
Other liabilities	102,318	40,067
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	102,318	40,067
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,144,638	1,097,509
Trading securities	35,931	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	1,070,116	1,054,353
Trading securities	32,143	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	74,522	43,073
Trading securities	3,788	2,794
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	36,965,751	32,579,065
Equity securities	36	13,063
Other long-term investments	270,661	141,487
Short-term investments	7,632	6,771
Total investments	37,244,080	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	37,244,080	32,740,386
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	0	0
Other liabilities	27,422	3,932
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	27,422	3,932
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	34,364,773	30,322,539
Trading securities	2,600,978	2,256,526
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,896,401	1,765,270
Trading securities	264,142	286,658
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,688,000	1,286,887
Trading securities	157,152	146,743
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	648,687	210,020
Trading securities	117,380	122,511
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	241,063	477,824
Trading securities	4,735	4,755
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,727,261	1,603,600
Trading securities	340,983	313,354
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	18,532	17,740
Trading securities	60,774	58,827
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	28,125,577	24,941,584
Trading securities	1,655,812	1,322,276
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	19,252	19,614
Trading securities	0	1,402
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	1,483,767	1,660,290
Equity securities	69,750	69,763
Other long-term investments	70,051	96,830
Short-term investments	0	0
Total investments	1,623,568	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	1,623,568	1,826,883
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	88,857	92,512
Other liabilities	939,271	585,556
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	1,028,128	678,068
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,332,235	1,489,153
Trading securities	151,532	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	25,607	0
Trading securities	0	0
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	553,229	587,031
Trading securities	145,833	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	753,396	902,119
Trading securities	5,699	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