DEBT AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS - Debt and Subordinated Debt Securities Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)			1 Months Ended	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 03, 2015	Feb. 02, 2015	Dec. 31, 2007	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2016	Oct. 09, 2009
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Debt maturities due in 2018					$ 156,700,000
Debt maturities due in 2019					454,700,000
Debt maturities due thereafter					381,900,000
Golden Gate
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Aggregate principal amount of debt repurchased by Golden Gate from third parties									$ 800,000,000
Successor
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Outstanding letters of credit (LOC)					0
Total debt				$ 1,588,806,000	1,163,285,000
Predecessor
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Stated interest rate (as a percent)						8.00%
Revolving Line Of Credit | Successor
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Total debt				485,000,000	$ 170,000,000
6.40% Senior Notes (2007), due 2018
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Stated interest rate (as a percent)			6.40%
Amount of debt issued			$ 150,000,000.0
Net proceeds from issuance of debt			$ 148,700,000
6.40% Senior Notes (2007), due 2018 | Successor
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Stated interest rate (as a percent)					6.40%
Total debt				162,671,000	$ 156,663,000
7.375% Senior Notes (2009), due 2019
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Stated interest rate (as a percent)									7.375%
Amount of debt issued									$ 400,000,000
7.375% Senior Notes (2009), due 2019 | Successor
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Stated interest rate (as a percent)					7.375%
Total debt				473,127,000	$ 454,688,000
8.00% Senior Notes (2009), due 2024, callable 2014
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Stated interest rate (as a percent)						8.00%			8.00%
Amount of debt issued									$ 100,000,000
8.00% Senior Notes (2009), due 2024, callable 2014 | Predecessor
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Amount of debt issued									$ 100,000,000
Write off of deferred issue costs						$ 2,400,000
8.45% Senior Notes (2009), due 2039
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Stated interest rate (as a percent)									8.45%
Total debt									$ 300,000,000
8.45% Senior Notes (2009), due 2039 | Successor
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Stated interest rate (as a percent)					8.45%
Total debt				468,008,000	$ 381,934,000
Senior notes | Successor | Golden Gate
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Outstanding amount of debt					646,900,000
Senior notes | Predecessor
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Repayment of debt						150,000,000
Letter of Credit | Successor | PLICO
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Outstanding letters of credit (LOC)				$ 55,000,000				$ 30,000,000
Letter of Credit | Predecessor | PLICO
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Outstanding letters of credit (LOC)						$ 55,000,000
6.125% Subordinated Debentures (2004), due 2034, callable 2009 | Successor
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Redemption of subordinated debt					82,700,000
Par value of extinguished debt					$ 53,100,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)				6.125%	8.45%
Pre-tax gain on extinguishment					$ 9,800,000
Repayment of debt				$ 103,100,000
7.50% Subordinated Debentures (2001), due 2031, callable 2006
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Repayment of debt							$ 103,100,000
7.25% Subordinated Debentures (2002), due 2032, callable 2007
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Repayment of debt							118,600,000
Capital Securities 7.25% Due 2066
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Repayment of debt							$ 7,500,000
6.00% Subordinated Debentures (2012), due 2042, callable 2017
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Stated interest rate (as a percent)							6.00%
Amount of debt issued							$ 150,000,000.0
6.00% Subordinated Debentures (2012), due 2042, callable 2017 | Successor
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Stated interest rate (as a percent)					6.00%
Credit Facility | Federal Funds Rate
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Interest rate added to the base rate (as a percent)		0.50%
Credit Facility | Successor | LIBOR One-Month Rate
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Interest rate added to the base rate (as a percent)					1.00%
2015 Credit Facility
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 1,000,000,000.0
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity to be granted upon entity's request		$ 1,250,000,000.00
Base of floating rate interest rate payments		LIBOR
Facility fee percentage	0.125%	0.15%
2015 Credit Facility | Prime Rate
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Base of floating rate interest rate payments		prime rate
2015 Credit Facility | Federal Funds Rate
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Base of floating rate interest rate payments		Federal Funds rate
Interest rate added to the base rate (as a percent)		0.50%
2015 Credit Facility | LIBOR One-Month Rate
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Base of floating rate interest rate payments		one-month LIBOR
Interest rate added to the base rate (as a percent)		1.00%
2015 Credit Facility | Successor
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Interest rate added to the base rate (as a percent)					1.00%
Capital securities due 2066
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Write off of deferred issue costs							4,000,000
Repayment of debt							$ 125,000,000