FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Assets:
Beginning Balance	$ 870,208,000	$ 880,395,000	$ 906,799,000	$ 1,832,326,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings		(8,248,000)		(162,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	3,753,000		5,583,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(2,590,000)		(3,506,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(4,380,000)		37,791,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	3,222,000		4,247,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(4,169,000)		(6,961,000)
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		67,647,000		(873,918,000)
Purchases	154,902,000		166,352,000
Sales	(115,037,000)		(144,838,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	54,760,000	(27,133,000)	36,692,000	(87,756,000)
Other	762,000		1,443,000
Ending Balance	965,811,000	908,281,000	965,811,000	908,281,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	1,835,000	(8,630,000)	2,985,000	(7,725,000)
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance	321,406,000	278,865,000	333,793,000	255,731,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings		(105,700,000)		(130,200,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	39,245,000		29,233,000
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		1,928,000		3,294,000
Sales	1,868,000		1,868,000
Issuances	135,000		314,000
Settlements	2,789,000		5,343,000
Ending Balance	356,129,000	382,637,000	356,129,000	382,637,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	(37,141,000)	(104,962,000)	(24,998,000)	(127,359,000)
Transfers
Securities transferred into Level 3	54,800,000		56,700,000
Securities transferred out of Level 3			20,000,000
Total investments
Assets:
Beginning Balance	870,208,000	880,395,000	906,799,000	1,832,326,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings		(8,248,000)		(162,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	3,753,000		5,583,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(2,590,000)		(3,506,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(4,380,000)		37,791,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	3,222,000		4,247,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(4,169,000)		(6,961,000)
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		67,647,000		(873,918,000)
Purchases	154,902,000		166,352,000
Sales	(115,037,000)		(144,838,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	54,760,000	(27,133,000)	36,692,000	(87,756,000)
Other	762,000		1,443,000
Ending Balance	965,811,000	908,281,000	965,811,000	908,281,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	1,835,000	(8,630,000)	2,985,000	(7,725,000)
Fixed maturities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	764,592,000	792,036,000	804,636,000	1,745,093,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings		(821,000)		6,828,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	2,245,000		3,068,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(2,590,000)		(3,506,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(4,380,000)		37,791,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	3,222,000		3,802,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(3,424,000)		(6,217,000)
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		65,911,000		(876,343,000)
Purchases	152,940,000		162,390,000
Sales	(114,988,000)		(144,789,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	54,739,000	(27,133,000)	36,671,000	(87,756,000)
Other	762,000		1,443,000
Ending Balance	857,498,000	825,613,000	857,498,000	825,613,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	376,000	(1,199,000)	519,000	(731,000)
Fixed maturities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	719,495,000	709,742,000	741,269,000	1,640,004,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings				5,872,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	1,786,000		1,786,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(2,133,000)		(2,137,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(4,380,000)		37,791,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	3,222,000		3,802,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(3,424,000)		(6,217,000)
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		55,509,000		(913,608,000)
Purchases	149,148,000		158,598,000
Sales	(109,928,000)		(120,837,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	12,698,000		(5,370,000)	(9,188,000)
Other	(12,000)		(42,000)
Ending Balance	770,852,000	760,871,000	770,852,000	760,871,000
Fixed maturities | Trading Securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	45,097,000	82,294,000	63,367,000	105,089,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings		(821,000)		956,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	459,000		1,282,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(457,000)		(1,369,000)
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		10,402,000		37,265,000
Purchases	3,792,000		3,792,000
Sales	(5,060,000)		(23,952,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	42,041,000	(27,133,000)	42,041,000	(78,568,000)
Other	774,000		1,485,000
Ending Balance	86,646,000	64,742,000	86,646,000	64,742,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	376,000	(1,199,000)	519,000	(731,000)
Residential mortgage-backed securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	19,000	22,000	20,000	23,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings				4,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings			(4,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income			12,000
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		(1,000)		(6,000)
Sales	(12,000)		(12,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3			(9,000)
Ending Balance	7,000	21,000	7,000	21,000
Residential mortgage-backed securities | Trading Securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		3,563,000		7,244,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings		(28,000)		(1,000)
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		(3,535,000)		(3,855,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3				(3,388,000)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance			19,901,000	844,535,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Other Comprehensive Income				38,281,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income			147,000
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		39,952,000		(842,864,000)
Sales			(102,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3			(19,946,000)
Ending Balance		39,952,000		39,952,000
Other asset-backed securities | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	639,407,000	599,116,000	641,129,000	693,930,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings				5,868,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	1,786,000		1,786,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(2,133,000)		(2,133,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(1,759,000)		(3,696,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	1,751,000		2,158,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(3,050,000)		(5,146,000)
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		(66,000)		(89,473,000)
Purchases	109,148,000		118,598,000
Sales	(109,148,000)		(118,598,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3				(9,338,000)
Other	(15,000)		(48,000)
Ending Balance	637,746,000	597,291,000	637,746,000	597,291,000
Other asset-backed securities | Trading Securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	41,713,000	48,450,000	59,925,000	47,509,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings		(1,451,000)		(755,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	329,000		1,152,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	(457,000)		(1,313,000)
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		14,138,000		14,383,000
Purchases	3,792,000		3,792,000
Sales	(5,060,000)		(23,952,000)
Other	776,000		1,489,000
Ending Balance	41,093,000	61,137,000	41,093,000	61,137,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	(128,000)	(1,451,000)	71,000	(985,000)
U.S. government-related securities. | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	15,084,000	15,151,000	15,109,000	15,102,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(6,000)		40,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(87,000)		(115,000)
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		4,000		7,000
Other	3,000		6,000
Ending Balance	15,000,000	15,149,000	15,000,000	15,149,000
U.S. government-related securities. | Trading Securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	3,384,000	3,310,000	3,442,000	3,310,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings		254,000		255,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	130,000		130,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings			(56,000)
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		(2,000)		(3,000)
Other	(2,000)		(4,000)
Ending Balance	3,512,000	3,562,000	3,512,000	3,562,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	130,000	253,000	74,000	255,000
States, municipals, and political subdivisions | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	78,000	86,000	78,000,000	86,000
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		(4,000)		(4,000)
Sales	(4,000)		(4,000)
Ending Balance	74,000	82,000	74,000	82,000
States, municipals, and political subdivisions | Trading Securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance				4,994,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings				77,000
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3				(5,071,000)
Other government-related securities | Trading Securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance				41,965,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings				1,058,000
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)				(47,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3				(42,976,000)
Corporate bonds | Available-for-sale securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	64,907,000	95,367,000	65,032,000	86,328,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Other Comprehensive Income		(2,615,000)		3,166,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income	1,471,000		1,485,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(287,000)		(956,000)
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		15,624,000		18,732,000
Purchases	40,000,000		40,000,000
Sales	(764,000)		(2,121,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	12,698,000		14,585,000	150,000
Ending Balance	118,025,000	108,376,000	118,025,000	108,376,000
Corporate bonds | Trading Securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance		26,971,000		67,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings		404,000		322,000
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		(199,000)		26,787,000
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	42,041,000	(27,133,000)	42,041,000	(27,133,000)
Ending Balance	42,041,000	43,000	42,041,000	43,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	374,000	(1,000)	374,000	(1,000)
Equity securities
Assets:
Beginning Balance	79,544,000	71,397,000	77,098,000	70,708,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings		4,000		4,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	49,000		49,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Other Comprehensive Income			445,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(745,000)		(744,000)
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		1,736,000		2,425,000
Purchases	1,962,000		3,962,000
Sales	(49,000)		(49,000)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	21,000		21,000
Ending Balance	80,782,000	73,137,000	80,782,000	73,137,000
Other long-term investments
Assets:
Beginning Balance	26,072,000	16,962,000	25,065,000	16,525,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings		(7,431,000)		(6,994,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Earnings	1,459,000		2,466,000
Ending Balance	27,531,000	9,531,000	27,531,000	9,531,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	1,459,000	(7,431,000)	2,466,000	(6,994,000)
Annuity account balances.
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance	143,020,000	150,630,000	143,264,000	149,893,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings		(738,000)		(2,841,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	2,104,000		4,235,000
Purchases, Issuances, and Settlements (net)		1,928,000		3,294,000
Issuances	135,000		314,000
Settlements	2,789,000		5,343,000
Ending Balance	142,470,000	149,440,000	142,470,000	149,440,000
Other liabilities.
Liabilities:
Beginning Balance	178,386,000	128,235,000	190,529,000	105,838,000
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (losses) Included in Earnings		(104,962,000)		(127,359,000)
Total Realized and Unrealized Losses Included in Earnings	37,141,000		24,998,000
Sales	1,868,000		1,868,000
Ending Balance	213,659,000	233,197,000	213,659,000	233,197,000
Total Gains (losses) included in Earnings related to Instruments still held at the Reporting Date	$ (37,141,000)	$ (104,962,000)	$ (24,998,000)	$ (127,359,000)