FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details 3) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		8 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016
Successor
Transfers
Transfers into Level 3		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 71,300,000
Securities transferred from level 3 to level 2		47,500,000	20,000,000	61,900,000	197,700,000
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		1,603,587,000	2,121,545,000	2,275,504,000	1,826,883,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		24,693,000	232,000	84,988,000	36,427,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		32,681,000	5,983,000	21,767,000	64,561,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(71,000)	(77,167,000)	(83,438,000)	(54,806,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(3,354,000)	(12,985,000)	(50,123,000)	(31,742,000)
Purchases		53,934,000	64,183,000	176,112,000	100,019,000
Sales		(35,379,000)	(107,218,000)	(379,646,000)	(181,976,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(47,480,000)	(20,037,000)	(61,890,000)	(126,318,000)
Other		(5,043,000)	(1,605,000)	(10,343,000)	(9,480,000)
Ending Balance	2,275,504,000	1,623,568,000	1,972,931,000	1,972,931,000	1,623,568,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		24,283,000	(76,790,000)	(6,513,000)	(22,202,000)
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance		1,060,904,000	522,943,000	840,409,000	678,068,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		90,166,000	17,329,000	376,140,000	105,751,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(58,088,000)	(201,097,000)	(247,086,000)	(461,297,000)
Issuances		279,000	93,000	179,000	529,000
Settlements		2,226,000	3,246,000	7,976,000	7,264,000
Other		1,249,000
Ending Balance	840,409,000	1,028,128,000	703,558,000	703,558,000	1,028,128,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		32,813,000	(180,595,000)	133,770,000	(353,715,000)
Level 3 | Successor | Annuity account
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance		88,820,000	95,178,000	98,279,000	92,512,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(735,000)	(3,173,000)	(4,716,000)	(1,831,000)
Issuances		279,000	93,000	179,000	529,000
Settlements		2,226,000	3,246,000	7,976,000	7,264,000
Other		1,249,000
Ending Balance	98,279,000	88,857,000	95,198,000	95,198,000	88,857,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other liabilities
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance		972,084,000	427,765,000	742,130,000	585,556,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		90,166,000	17,329,000	376,140,000	105,751,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(57,353,000)	(197,924,000)	(242,370,000)	(459,466,000)
Ending Balance	742,130,000	939,271,000	608,360,000	608,360,000	939,271,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		32,813,000	(180,595,000)	133,770,000	(353,715,000)
Level 3 | Successor | Total investments
Assets:
Beginning Balance		1,603,587,000	2,121,545,000	2,275,504,000	1,826,883,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		24,693,000	232,000	84,988,000	36,427,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		32,681,000	5,983,000	21,767,000	64,561,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(71,000)	(77,167,000)	(83,438,000)	(54,806,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(3,354,000)	(12,985,000)	(50,123,000)	(31,742,000)
Purchases		53,934,000	64,183,000	176,112,000	100,019,000
Sales		(35,379,000)	(107,218,000)	(379,646,000)	(181,976,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(47,480,000)	(20,037,000)	(61,890,000)	(126,318,000)
Other		(5,043,000)	(1,605,000)	(10,343,000)	(9,480,000)
Ending Balance	2,275,504,000	1,623,568,000	1,972,931,000	1,972,931,000	1,623,568,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		24,283,000	(76,790,000)	(6,513,000)	(22,202,000)
Level 3 | Successor | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		1,484,838,000	1,882,229,000	2,109,186,000	1,660,290,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		3,641,000	232,000	8,646,000	13,807,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		32,681,000	5,939,000	21,723,000	64,561,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(71,000)	(2,774,000)	(9,025,000)	(5,407,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(3,354,000)	(12,985,000)	(50,123,000)	(31,742,000)
Purchases		53,934,000	64,183,000	176,112,000	99,997,000
Sales		(35,379,000)	(107,218,000)	(379,415,000)	(181,976,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(47,480,000)	(20,037,000)	(61,890,000)	(126,282,000)
Other		(5,043,000)	(1,605,000)	(7,250,000)	(9,481,000)
Ending Balance	2,109,186,000	1,483,767,000	1,807,964,000	1,807,964,000	1,483,767,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		3,231,000	(2,397,000)	(8,442,000)	4,577,000
Level 3 | Successor | Fixed maturities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		1,316,287,000	1,702,319,000	1,914,583,000	1,489,153,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings			76,000	4,367,000	7,784,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		32,681,000	5,939,000	21,723,000	64,561,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings			(164,000)	(943,000)	(4,135,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(3,354,000)	(12,985,000)	(50,123,000)	(31,742,000)
Purchases		53,934,000	62,183,000	174,112,000	89,089,000
Sales		(26,013,000)	(101,161,000)	(359,898,000)	(166,327,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(36,237,000)	(20,037,000)	(61,890,000)	(106,732,000)
Other		(5,063,000)	(1,678,000)	(7,439,000)	(9,416,000)
Ending Balance	1,914,583,000	1,332,235,000	1,634,492,000	1,634,492,000	1,332,235,000
Level 3 | Successor | Fixed maturities | Trading securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		168,551,000	179,910,000	194,603,000	171,137,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		3,641,000	156,000	4,279,000	6,023,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(71,000)	(2,610,000)	(8,082,000)	(1,272,000)
Purchases			2,000,000	2,000,000	10,908,000
Sales		(9,366,000)	(6,057,000)	(19,517,000)	(15,649,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(11,243,000)			(19,550,000)
Other		20,000	73,000	189,000	(65,000)
Ending Balance	194,603,000	151,532,000	173,472,000	173,472,000	151,532,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		3,231,000	(2,397,000)	(8,442,000)	4,577,000
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 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		0			0
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		7,000			7,000
Purchases		25,607,000			25,607,000
Other		(7,000)			(7,000)
Ending Balance		25,607,000			25,607,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other asset-backed securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		533,141,000	590,885,000	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		23,350,000		165,000	24,119,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings				(92,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(19,000)	(4,185,000)	(17,076,000)	(21,426,000)
Purchases					9,597,000
Sales		(12,000)		(127,000)	(58,461,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3					7,457,000
Other		(3,231,000)	(949,000)	(765,000)	(1,947,000)
Ending Balance	603,646,000	553,229,000	585,751,000	585,751,000	553,229,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other asset-backed securities | Trading securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		151,964,000	160,594,000	169,473,000	152,912,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		3,260,000	83,000	4,032,000	5,310,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings		(71,000)	(1,640,000)	(6,813,000)	(1,013,000)
Purchases			2,000,000	2,000,000
Sales		(9,366,000)	(6,001,000)	(13,877,000)	(11,578,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3					172,000
Other		46,000	117,000	338,000	30,000
Ending Balance	169,473,000	145,833,000	155,153,000	155,153,000	145,833,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		3,189,000	(1,500,000)	(6,896,000)	4,294,000
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		783,143,000	1,111,431,000	1,307,259,000	902,119,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings			76,000	4,367,000	925,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income		9,324,000	5,939,000	21,558,000	40,435,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings			(164,000)	(851,000)	(4,135,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(3,335,000)	(8,800,000)	(33,047,000)	(10,316,000)
Purchases		28,327,000	62,183,000	174,112,000	53,885,000
Sales		(26,001,000)	(101,161,000)	(356,096,000)	(107,866,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(36,237,000)	(20,037,000)	(61,890,000)	(114,189,000)
Other		(1,825,000)	(729,000)	(6,674,000)	(7,462,000)
Ending Balance	1,307,259,000	753,396,000	1,048,738,000	1,048,738,000	753,396,000
Level 3 | Successor | Corporate securities | Trading securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		16,587,000	19,316,000	25,130,000	18,225,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		381,000	73,000	247,000	713,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings			(970,000)	(1,269,000)	(259,000)
Purchases					10,908,000
Sales			(56,000)	(5,640,000)	(4,071,000)
Transfers in/or out of Level 3		(11,243,000)			(19,722,000)
Other		(26,000)	(44,000)	(149,000)	(95,000)
Ending Balance	25,130,000	5,699,000	18,319,000	18,319,000	5,699,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		42,000	(897,000)	(1,546,000)	283,000
Level 3 | Successor | Equity securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		69,750,000	69,720,000	73,044,000	69,763,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income			44,000	44,000
Purchases					22,000
Sales				(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	69,764,000	69,764,000	69,750,000
Level 3 | Successor | Other long-term investments.
Assets:
Beginning Balance		48,999,000	169,596,000	93,274,000	96,830,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings		21,052,000		76,342,000	22,620,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings			(74,393,000)	(74,413,000)	(49,399,000)
Ending Balance	93,274,000	70,051,000	95,203,000	95,203,000	70,051,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date		$ 21,052,000	$ (74,393,000)	1,929,000	$ (26,779,000)
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)