DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		8 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) position	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) position	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		$ (74,590)		$ 53,654
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		9,590,325		9,590,325
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		390,260		390,260
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		11,978,077		11,978,077
Fair Value, Other liabilities		$ 633,336		$ 633,336
Cash flow hedges. | Interest rate swaps
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Positions held | position		0		0
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		$ (74,590)		$ 53,654
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(64,830)		(83,515)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(86)		3,558
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		194		2,073
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate futures | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		12,140		(2,091)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		297,690		297,690
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		9,806		9,806
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		81,421		81,421
Fair Value, Other liabilities		1,835		1,835
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		40,951		3,215
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		709		1,016
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		17		39
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Currency futures
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		239,526		239,526
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		2,608		2,608
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		37,137		37,137
Fair Value, Other liabilities		93		93
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Currency futures | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		4,000		1,428
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Volatility futures | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(24)		6
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		2,833,844		2,833,844
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		192,335		192,335
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		1,242,384		1,242,384
Fair Value, Other liabilities		8,863		8,863
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		33,519		8,195
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(12,099)		(6,499)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(1,110)		(1,048)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaptions
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		225,000		225,000
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		4,619		4,619
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaptions | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(3,618)		(12,399)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaps
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		1,325,000		1,325,000
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		82,642		82,642
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		575,000		575,000
Fair Value, Other liabilities		$ 13,809		$ 13,809
Positions held | position		0		0
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaps | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		$ 101,808		$ (74,150)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - GMWB
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		3,656,394		3,656,394
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		94,344		94,344
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		6,535,763		6,535,763
Fair Value, Other liabilities		288,091		288,091
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - GMWB | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(253,630)		(7,713)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		962,123		962,123
Fair Value, Other liabilities		76,709		76,709
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - FIA | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		11,328		9,035
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		44,581		44,581
Fair Value, Other liabilities		21,711		21,711
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - IUL | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		1,287		3,082
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - Modco reinsurance treaties
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(9,817)		131,505
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		64,984		64,984
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		859		859
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		2,490,850		2,490,850
Fair Value, Other liabilities		221,849		221,849
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate futures
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		946,551		946,551
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		2,547		2,547
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		7,727		7,727
Fair Value, Other liabilities		140		140
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Other.
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(51)		33
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments		1,336		1,336
Fair Value, Other long-term investments		500		500
Notional Amount, Other liabilities		1,091		1,091
Fair Value, Other liabilities		$ 236		$ 236
Predecessor
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	$ (123,274)		$ 3,781		$ (191,495)
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						$ 7,178,906
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						293,970
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						11,763,048
Fair Value, Other liabilities						820,739
Predecessor | Cash flow hedges. | Inflation
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						40,469
Fair Value, Other liabilities						142
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(123,274)		3,781		(191,495)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(53,581)		(15,585)		(96,365)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(1,032)		(1,250)		(2,888)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(598)		339		54
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate futures | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	1,413		1,979		12,777
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						26,483
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						427
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						385,256
Fair Value, Other liabilities						15,069
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	9,221		861		(9,049)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(184)		117		1,067
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity futures | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	3		16		16
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Currency futures
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						197,648
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						2,384
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Currency futures | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	7,778		10,185		6,020
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Volatility futures | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross			(4)		4
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Variance swaps | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross			1,570		(1,103)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						1,921,167
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						163,212
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						699,295
Fair Value, Other liabilities						47,077
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	3,047		2,050		(31,240)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(2,617)		1,099		5,077
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Equity options | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(115)		(24)		(24)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaptions
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						625,000
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						8,012
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaptions | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	9,268		(2,812)		(17,213)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaps
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						1,550,000
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						50,743
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						275,000
Fair Value, Other liabilities						3,599
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate swaps | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	122,710		22,011		124,548
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - GMWB
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						2,804,629
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						66,843
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						7,038,228
Fair Value, Other liabilities						311,969
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - GMWB | Annuity account
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(207,018)		(51,429)		(181,105)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						749,933
Fair Value, Other liabilities						124,465
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - FIA | FIA
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	1,769		(2,462)		(9,036)
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						12,019
Fair Value, Other liabilities						6,691
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - IUL | IUL
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(486)		347		62
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Embedded derivative - Modco reinsurance treaties
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(68,026)		20,426		(91,945)
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						25,760
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						1,051
Notional Amount, Other liabilities						2,562,848
Fair Value, Other liabilities						311,727
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Interest rate futures
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						27,977
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						938
Predecessor | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Other.
Notional amount and fair value of the entity's derivative financial instruments
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	$ (37)		$ (149)		$ (351)
Notional Amount, Other long-term investments						242
Fair Value, Other long-term investments						$ 360