ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	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
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Benefits and settlement expenses, net of reinsurance ceded		$ (733,051)	$ (676,181)	$ (1,857,086)	$ (2,161,293)
Realized investment gains (losses): All other investments		24,152	5,348	(132,045)	194,663
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings		(3,308)	(10,064)	(15,798)	(6,892)
Income before income tax		133,079	87,260	276,997	473,582
Tax benefit (expense)		(39,785)	(26,853)	(89,889)	(152,820)
Net income		93,294	60,407	187,108	320,762
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				(131)
Income before income tax				(131)
Tax benefit (expense)				45
Net income				(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		1,665	(1,253)	2,480	24,152
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings		(3,308)	(10,064)	(15,798)	(6,892)
Income before income tax		(1,643)	(11,317)	(13,318)	17,260
Tax benefit (expense)		575	3,961	4,661	(6,041)
Net income		(1,068)	$ (7,356)	$ (8,657)	11,219
Successor | Minimum Pension Liability Adjustment
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Total before tax		(29)			(29)
Tax (expense) or benefit		10			10
Net of tax		(19)			(19)
Successor | Amortization of net actuarial gain/(loss) | Other Operating Expenses
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Total before tax		(29)			(29)
Successor | Amortization of prior service credit/(cost) | Other Operating Expenses
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Total before tax		0			0
Successor | Amortization of transition asset/(obligation) | Other Operating Expenses
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Total before tax		$ 0			$ 0
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