INVESTMENT OPERATIONS (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Investment operations
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments recorded	$ 6,259,000	$ 12,898,000	$ 37,912,000	$ 71,437,000
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments recorded in earnings	9,829,000	7,615,000	24,979,000	36,282,000
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments recorded in other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,570,000)	5,283,000	12,933,000	35,155,000
Non-credit gains included in other comprehensive income (loss) related to newly impaired securities	(1,300,000)
Net gain included in other comprehensive income (loss) related to previously impaired securities	4,900,000
Debt securities
Credit losses on debt securities
Beginning balance	49,847,000	31,576,000	39,427,000	25,076,000
Additions for newly impaired securities	744,000	6,211,000	10,150,000	25,661,000
Additions for previously impaired securities	6,647,000	1,179,000	10,750,000	2,930,000
Reductions for previously impaired securities that were sold in the current period		(2,947,000)	(3,089,000)	(17,648,000)
Ending balance	$ 57,238,000	$ 36,019,000	$ 57,238,000	$ 36,019,000