FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets:
Mortgage loans on real estate	$ 4,950,201	$ 5,353,481
Policy loans	865,391	879,819
Liabilities:
Stable value product account balances	2,510,559	2,769,510
Annuity account balances	10,658,463	10,946,848
Debt:
Non-recourse funding obligations	586,000	407,800
Golden gate V
Debt:
Non-recourse funding obligations	300,000
Carrying Amounts
Assets:
Mortgage loans on real estate	4,950,201	5,353,481
Policy loans	865,391	879,819
Liabilities:
Stable value product account balances	2,510,559	2,769,510
Annuity account balances	10,658,463	10,946,848
Mortgage loan backed certificates		19,755
Debt:
Bank borrowings	50,000	170,000
Senior and Medium-Term Notes	1,350,000	1,350,000
Subordinated debt securities	540,593	524,743
Non-recourse funding obligations	586,000	407,800
Carrying Amounts \| Fixed maturities
Assets:
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity	300,000
Carrying Amounts \| Golden gate V
Debt:
Non-recourse funding obligations	300,000
Fair Values
Assets:
Mortgage loans on real estate	5,725,382	6,251,902
Policy loans	865,391	879,819
Liabilities:
Stable value product account balances	2,534,094	2,855,614
Annuity account balances	10,525,702	10,767,892
Mortgage loan backed certificates		19,893
Debt:
Bank borrowings	50,000	170,000
Senior and Medium-Term Notes	1,584,438	1,494,346
Subordinated debt securities	556,524	525,483
Non-recourse funding obligations	481,056	217,529
Fair Values \| Fixed maturities
Assets:
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity	319,163
Fair Values \| Golden gate V
Debt:
Non-recourse funding obligations	$ 297,600

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Total of the portions of long-term debt, which may include notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans, and commercial paper, which are scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any.

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Non-recourse funding obligations issued by special purpose entities owned by the reporting entity. The funding obligations are direct financial obligations of the special purpose entity and are not guaranteed by the reporting entity.

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Represents the current and noncurrent portions, in the aggregate, of senior notes and medium-term notes.

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Represents the current and noncurrent portions of subordinated debt securities (with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Subordinated debt places a lender in a lien position behind debt having a higher priority of repayment in liquidation of the entity's assets.

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For an unclassified balance sheet, this item represents investments in debt securities which are categorized as held-to-maturity. The held-to-maturity category is for those securities that the entity has the positive intent and ability to hold until maturity.

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Gross amount of loans made to policy and contract holders using their life insurance contracts' cash value or separate accounts as collateral.

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of loans from a bank with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle if longer.

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The balance represents the amount of loans that are secured by real estate mortgages, offset by the reserve to cover probable credit losses on the loan portfolio.

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