FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets:
Mortgage loans on real estate	$ 5,390,844	$ 5,486,417
Policy loans	1,793,110	1,815,744
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity	385,000	365,000
Liabilities:
Stable value product account balances	2,537,504	2,559,552
Annuity account balances	11,113,637	11,125,253
Debt:
Subordinated debt securities	540,593	540,593
Non-recourse funding obligations	582,437	562,448
Golden Gate V
Debt:
Non-recourse funding obligations	385,000
Carrying Amounts
Assets:
Mortgage loans on real estate	5,390,844	5,486,417
Policy loans	1,793,110	1,815,744
Liabilities:
Stable value product account balances	2,537,504	2,559,552
Annuity account balances	11,113,637	11,125,253
Debt:
Bank borrowings	410,000	485,000
Senior Notes	1,100,000	1,100,000
Subordinated debt securities	540,593	540,593
Non-recourse funding obligations	582,437	562,448
Carrying Amounts | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity	385,000	365,000
Carrying Amounts | Golden Gate V
Debt:
Non-recourse funding obligations	385,000	365,000
Fair Values
Assets:
Mortgage loans on real estate	5,909,438	5,949,058
Policy loans	1,793,110	1,815,744
Liabilities:
Stable value product account balances	2,556,791	2,566,209
Annuity account balances	10,663,008	10,639,637
Debt:
Bank borrowings	410,000	485,000
Senior Notes	1,323,919	1,294,675
Subordinated debt securities	522,553	473,503
Non-recourse funding obligations	548,508	470,709
Fair Values | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity	420,747	335,676
Fair Values | Golden Gate V
Debt:
Non-recourse funding obligations	$ 398,300	$ 321,500