FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	$ 33,890,884
Total fixed maturity securities	35,762,609
Equity securities	722,457
Other long-term investments	394,947
Short-term investments	204,667
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	13,313,000
Variable universal life	859,114
Liabilities:
Other liabilities	518,571
Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	33,015,877
Trading securities	2,700,000
Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,576,826
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,203,156
Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	799,471
States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,585,068
Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	18,782
Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	26,169,377
Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	61,667
Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Total investments	590,885
Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Total investments	1,084,954
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	1,397,279
Equity securities	641,429
Other long-term investments	109,761
Short-term investments	191,745
Total investments	2,340,214
Cash	568,776
Other assets	17,835
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	13,313,000
Variable universal life	859,114
Total assets	17,098,939
Liabilities:
Other liabilities	71,454
Total liabilities	71,454
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,153,279
Trading securities	244,000
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,091,530
Trading securities	236,424
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	82
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	61,667
Trading securities	7,576
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	32,483,101
Equity securities	11,308
Other long-term investments	115,590
Short-term investments	12,922
Total investments	32,622,921
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets	32,622,921
Liabilities:
Other liabilities	19,352
Total liabilities	19,352
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	30,160,279
Trading securities	2,322,822
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,576,823
Trading securities	298,138
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,203,156
Trading securities	146,314
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	208,586
Trading securities	108,837
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	510,000
Trading securities	4,840
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,585,068
Trading securities	307,411
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	18,782
Trading securities	58,090
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	25,057,864
Trading securities	1,399,192
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	1,882,229
Equity securities	69,720
Other long-term investments	169,596
Total investments	2,121,545
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets	2,121,545
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	95,178
Other liabilities	427,765
Total liabilities	522,943
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,702,319
Trading securities	179,910
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	3
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	590,885
Trading securities	160,594
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,111,431
Trading securities	19,316
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	35,762,609
Equity securities	722,457
Other long-term investments	394,947
Short-term investments	204,667
Total investments	37,084,680
Cash	568,776
Other assets	17,835
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	13,313,000
Variable universal life	859,114
Total assets	51,843,405
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	95,178
Other liabilities	518,571
Total liabilities	613,749
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	33,015,877
Trading securities	2,746,732
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,576,826
Trading securities	298,138
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,203,156
Trading securities	146,314
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	799,471
Trading securities	269,431
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,601,530
Trading securities	241,264
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,585,068
Trading securities	307,411
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	18,782
Trading securities	58,090
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	26,169,377
Trading securities	1,418,508
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	61,667
Trading securities	$ 7,576
Predecessor
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		$ 34,894,415
Total fixed maturity securities		36,775,989
Equity securities		803,230
Other long-term investments		293,970
Short-term investments		250,645
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity		13,157,429
Variable universal life		834,940
Liabilities:
Other liabilities		820,739
Predecessor | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		33,957,169
Trading securities		2,800,000
Predecessor | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,418,258
Predecessor | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,177,252
Predecessor | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		839,376
Predecessor | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,687,689
Predecessor | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		20,172
Predecessor | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		27,385,527
Predecessor | Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Total investments		563,752
Predecessor | Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Total investments		1,282,864
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities		1,410,883
Equity securities		630,910
Other long-term investments		119,997
Short-term investments		244,100
Total investments		2,405,890
Cash		379,411
Other assets		11,669
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity		13,157,429
Variable universal life		834,940
Total assets		16,789,339
Liabilities:
Other liabilities		62,146
Total liabilities		62,146
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,165,320
Trading securities		245,563
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,165,188
Trading securities		245,563
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		132
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities		33,277,579
Equity securities		99,266
Other long-term investments		106,079
Short-term investments		6,545
Total investments		33,489,469
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets		33,489,469
Liabilities:
Other liabilities		3,741
Total liabilities		3,741
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		30,898,527
Trading securities		2,379,052
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,418,255
Trading securities		288,114
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,177,252
Trading securities		151,111
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		275,415
Trading securities		105,118
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		263,707
Trading securities		4,898
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,684,014
Trading securities		325,446
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		20,172
Trading securities		57,032
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		26,059,712
Trading securities		1,447,333
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities		2,087,527
Equity securities		73,054
Other long-term investments		67,894
Total investments		2,228,475
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets		2,228,475
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances		97,825
Other liabilities		754,852
Total liabilities		852,677
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,893,322
Trading securities		194,205
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		3
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		563,961
Trading securities		169,461
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		3,675
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,325,683
Trading securities		24,744
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities		36,775,989
Equity securities		803,230
Other long-term investments		293,970
Short-term investments		250,645
Total investments		38,123,834
Cash		379,411
Other assets		11,669
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity		13,157,429
Variable universal life		834,940
Total assets		52,507,283
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances		97,825
Other liabilities		820,739
Total liabilities		918,564
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		33,957,169
Trading securities		2,818,820
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,418,258
Trading securities		288,114
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,177,252
Trading securities		151,111
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		839,376
Trading securities		274,579
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,428,895
Trading securities		250,461
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		1,687,689
Trading securities		325,446
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		20,172
Trading securities		57,032
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fair Values | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		27,385,527
Trading securities		$ 1,472,077