The maximum interest rate applied during the stated period to monetary deposits made by or on behalf of policyholders for contracts that may contractually vary the amount and timing of premium payments without the approval of the insurer and in which premium payments are credited to the policyholder balance, against which amounts are assessed for contract services and to which amounts are credited as income. The policyholder balance provides a base upon which interest accrues to the policyholder and, when compared with the death benefit amount, fixes the insurer's net amount at risk. The insurer can often adjust the schedule of amounts assessed for contract services and the rate at which interest is credited to the policyholder balance.

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The minimum interest rate applied to deposits made by or on behalf of policyholders to contracts that may contractually vary the amount and timing of premium payments without the approval of the insurer and in which premium payments are credited to the policyholder balance, against which amounts are assessed for contract services and to which amounts are credited as income. The policyholder balance provides a base upon which interest accrues to the policyholder and, when compared with the death benefit amount, fixes the insurer's net amount at risk. The insurer can often adjust the schedule of amounts assessed for contract services and the rate at which interest is credited to the policyholder balance. during the stated period.

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- Definition

Amount of expected guaranteed benefits in excess of the projected account balances for minimum guaranteed benefit contracts, as of the balance sheet date.

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- Definition

Actuarially determined death rate of policyholders, which is included in determining the amount of the specified guaranteed benefit obligation as of the balance sheet date.

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 6) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 Minimum	Dec. 31, 2011 Maximum	Dec. 31, 2011 Annuity account balances Guaranteed minimum death benefits (GMDB)	Dec. 31, 2010 Annuity account balances Guaranteed minimum death benefits (GMDB)	Dec. 31, 2009 Annuity account balances Guaranteed minimum death benefits (GMDB)	Dec. 31, 2008 Annuity account balances Guaranteed minimum death benefits (GMDB)	Dec. 31, 2011 Annuity account balances Guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (GMWB)
Policyholder liabilities, revenues, and benefits expense
Interest rate credited to policy account balances for universal life, low end of range (as a percent)	2.00%
Interest rate credited to policy account balances for universal life, high end of range (as a percent)	9.00%
Interest rate credited to policy account balances for investment products (as a percent)		1.00%	10.00%
Mortality rate (as a percent)	61.00%			61.00%
Guaranteed benefit liability				$ 9,798,000	$ 6,412,000	$ 342,000	$ 1,205,000
Guaranteed benefit liability, net								$ 147,100,000