FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	$ 33,820,196
Total fixed maturity securities	35,639,529
Equity securities	724,477
Other long-term investments	390,260
Short-term investments	238,658
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	12,646,751
Variable universal life	792,800
Liabilities:
Other liabilities	633,336
Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	32,928,888
Trading securities	2,700,000
Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,615,822
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,277,663
Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	793,014
States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,613,485
Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	18,884
Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	25,930,436
Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	62,112
Level 3 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Total investments	585,751
Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Total investments	1,022,464
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	35,639,529
Equity securities	724,477
Other long-term investments	390,260
Short-term investments	238,658
Total investments	36,992,924
Cash	663,313
Other assets	20,376
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	12,646,751
Variable universal life	792,800
Total assets	51,116,164
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	95,198
Other liabilities	633,336
Total liabilities	728,534
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	32,928,888
Trading securities	2,710,641
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,615,822
Trading securities	288,280
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,277,663
Trading securities	148,640
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	793,014
Trading securities	277,090
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,617,472
Trading securities	241,305
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,613,485
Trading securities	310,973
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	18,884
Trading securities	59,527
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	25,930,436
Trading securities	1,377,901
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	62,112
Trading securities	6,925
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	1,407,916
Equity securities	642,921
Other long-term investments	122,120
Short-term investments	229,835
Total investments	2,402,792
Cash	663,313
Other assets	20,376
Assets related to separate accounts
Variable annuity	12,646,751
Variable universal life	792,800
Total assets	16,526,032
Liabilities:
Other liabilities	22,085
Total liabilities	22,085
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,164,566
Trading securities	243,350
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,102,371
Trading securities	236,425
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	83
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 1 | Preferred stock
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	62,112
Trading securities	6,925
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	32,423,649
Equity securities	11,792
Other long-term investments	172,937
Short-term investments	8,823
Total investments	32,617,201
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets	32,617,201
Liabilities:
Other liabilities	2,891
Total liabilities	2,891
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	30,129,830
Trading securities	2,293,819
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Residential mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,615,819
Trading securities	288,280
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,277,663
Trading securities	148,640
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	207,263
Trading securities	121,937
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | U.S. government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	515,101
Trading securities	4,880
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | States, municipals, and political subdivisions
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,613,485
Trading securities	310,973
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	18,884
Trading securities	59,527
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 2 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	24,881,615
Trading securities	1,359,582
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3
Assets:
Total fixed maturity securities	1,807,964
Equity securities	69,764
Other long-term investments	95,203
Total investments	1,972,931
Assets related to separate accounts
Total assets	1,972,931
Liabilities:
Annuity account balances	95,198
Other liabilities	608,360
Total liabilities	703,558
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,634,492
Trading securities	173,472
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	585,751
Trading securities	155,153
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Level 3 | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	1,048,738
Trading securities	$ 18,319
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
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 | Fixed maturities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		33,957,169
Trading securities		2,818,820
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | 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 | 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 | Other asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		839,376
Trading securities		274,579
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | 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 | 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 | Other government-related securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		20,172
Trading securities		57,032
Predecessor | Measured at fair value on a recurring basis | Corporate securities
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities		27,385,527
Trading securities		1,472,077
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