REINSURANCE - Life Insurance In-Force and Effect of Reinsurance on Premiums Written and Earned (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Successor
Life insurance in-force
Direct life insurance in-force		$ 727,705,256	$ 739,248,680	$ 727,705,256
Amounts assumed from other companies		39,546,742	116,265,430	39,546,742
Amounts ceded to other companies		(368,142,294)	(348,994,650)	(368,142,294)
Net life insurance in-force		$ 399,109,704	$ 506,519,460	$ 399,109,704
Percentage of amount assumed to net		9.90%	23.00%	9.90%
Effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned
Gross Amount		$ 2,674,614	$ 2,929,767
Ceded to Other Companies		(1,154,978)	(1,314,716)
Assumed from Other Companies		333,436	478,164
Net Amount		1,853,072	2,093,215
Reinsurance receivables		5,500,000	5,300,000	$ 5,500,000
Ceded benefits which are recoverable from reinsurers			87,900
Receivables related to insurance assumed			64,500
Successor | Life insurance
Effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned
Gross Amount		2,360,643	2,610,682
Ceded to Other Companies		(983,143)	(1,126,915)
Assumed from Other Companies		308,280	454,999
Net Amount		$ 1,685,780	$ 1,938,766
Percentage of Amount Assumed to Net		18.30%	23.50%
Annuity policy fees		$ 152,800	$ 160,400
Successor | Accident/health insurance
Effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned
Gross Amount		70,243	58,076
Ceded to Other Companies		(36,871)	(36,935)
Assumed from Other Companies		18,252	17,439
Net Amount		$ 51,624	$ 38,580
Percentage of Amount Assumed to Net		35.40%	45.20%
Successor | Property and liability insurance
Effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned
Gross Amount		$ 243,728	$ 261,009
Ceded to Other Companies		(134,964)	(150,866)
Assumed from Other Companies		6,904	5,726
Net Amount		$ 115,668	$ 115,869
Percentage of Amount Assumed to Net		6.00%	4.90%
Predecessor
Life insurance in-force
Direct life insurance in-force					$ 721,036,332
Amounts assumed from other companies					43,237,358
Amounts ceded to other companies					(388,890,060)
Net life insurance in-force					$ 375,383,630
Percentage of amount assumed to net					11.50%
Effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned
Gross Amount	$ 230,790			2,918,355	$ 2,918,355
Ceded to Other Companies	(89,956)			(1,373,597)	(1,373,597)
Assumed from Other Companies	31,076			379,413	379,413
Net Amount	171,910			1,924,171	1,924,171
Ceded benefits which are recoverable from reinsurers		$ 77,900		77,900
Receivables related to insurance assumed		$ 64,900		64,900
Predecessor | Life insurance
Effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned
Gross Amount	204,185			2,603,956	2,603,956
Ceded to Other Companies	(74,539)			(1,205,528)	(1,205,528)
Assumed from Other Companies	28,601			349,934	349,934
Net Amount	$ 158,247			$ 1,748,362	$ 1,748,362
Percentage of Amount Assumed to Net	18.10%			20.00%	20.00%
Annuity policy fees	$ 13,900				$ 167,100
Predecessor | Accident/health insurance
Effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned
Gross Amount	6,846			$ 81,037	81,037
Ceded to Other Companies	(4,621)			(42,741)	(42,741)
Assumed from Other Companies	1,809			20,804	20,804
Net Amount	$ 4,034			$ 59,100	$ 59,100
Percentage of Amount Assumed to Net	44.80%			35.20%	35.20%
Predecessor | Property and liability insurance
Effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned
Gross Amount	$ 19,759			$ 233,362	$ 233,362
Ceded to Other Companies	(10,796)			(125,328)	(125,328)
Assumed from Other Companies	666			8,675	8,675
Net Amount	$ 9,629			$ 116,709	$ 116,709
Percentage of Amount Assumed to Net	6.90%			7.40%	7.40%