OPERATING SEGMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		8 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Feb. 01, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues		$ 960,593		$ 2,701,681
Segment Operating Income (Loss)		133,807		322,615
Realized investment (losses) gains - investments		8,625		(150,014)
Realized investment (losses) gains - derivatives		(55,172)		104,396
Income tax expense		(26,853)		(89,889)
Net Income		60,407		187,108
Realized gain (losses) on investments
Investment gains (losses) - gross		(4,716)		(147,843)
Less: amortization related to DAC/VOBA and benefits and settlement expenses		(13,341)		2,171
Realized investment gains (losses) - investments		8,625		(150,014)
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross		(74,590)		53,654
Less: VA GMWB economic cost		(19,418)		(50,742)
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives		(55,172)		104,396
Other-than-temporary impairments		10,064		15,798
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		65,772,612		65,772,612
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired		1,466,342		1,466,342
Other intangibles		655,459		655,459
Goodwill		735,712		735,712		$ 735,700
Total assets		68,630,125		68,630,125
Operating | Life Marketing
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues		388,768		1,040,066
Segment Operating Income (Loss)		19,535		29,611
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		13,223,607		13,223,607
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired		1,078,408		1,078,408
Other intangibles		324,362		324,362
Goodwill		203,543		203,543
Total assets		14,829,920		14,829,920
Operating | Acquisitions
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues		352,141		974,915
Segment Operating Income (Loss)		59,016		132,962
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		20,014,577		20,014,577
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired		(182,038)		(182,038)
Other intangibles		40,297		40,297
Goodwill		14,524		14,524
Total assets		19,887,360		19,887,360
Operating | Annuities
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues		92,773		341,227
Segment Operating Income (Loss)		46,003		133,377
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		19,776,706		19,776,706
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired		531,735		531,735
Other intangibles		200,112		200,112
Goodwill		336,677		336,677
Total assets		20,845,230		20,845,230
Operating | Stable Value Products
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues		17,065		44,063
Segment Operating Income (Loss)		12,785		28,249
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		1,790,724		1,790,724
Other intangibles		9,556		9,556
Goodwill		113,813		113,813
Total assets		1,914,093		1,914,093
Operating | Asset Protection
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues		68,949		182,656
Segment Operating Income (Loss)		5,322		15,266
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		905,660		905,660
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired		38,237		38,237
Other intangibles		81,132		81,132
Goodwill		67,155		67,155
Total assets		1,092,184		1,092,184
Operating | Corporate and Other
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues		40,897		118,754
Segment Operating Income (Loss)		(8,854)		(16,850)
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		10,050,619		10,050,619
Total assets		10,050,619		10,050,619
Adjustments
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets		10,719		10,719
Total assets		$ 10,719		$ 10,719
Predecessor
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	$ 340,909		$ 1,148,086		$ 3,393,987
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	28,485		168,010		472,800
Realized investment (losses) gains - investments	89,815		(4,836)		138,617
Realized investment (losses) gains - derivatives	(117,118)		21,709		(139,119)
Income tax expense	327		(65,974)		(161,773)
Net Income	1,509		118,909		310,525
Realized gain (losses) on investments
Investment gains (losses) - gross	80,672		(1,160)		148,051
Less: amortization related to DAC/VOBA and benefits and settlement expenses	(9,143)		3,676		9,434
Realized investment gains (losses) - investments	89,815		(4,836)		138,617
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(123,274)		3,781		(191,495)
Less: VA GMWB economic cost	(6,156)		(17,928)		(52,376)
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives	(117,118)		21,709		(139,119)
Other-than-temporary impairments	481		2,354		5,405
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							$ 67,083,371
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired							3,294,570
Goodwill							102,365
Total assets							70,480,306
Predecessor | Operating | Life Marketing
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	145,595		400,706		1,192,504
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	(1,618)		32,820		82,654
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							13,858,491
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired							1,973,156
Goodwill							10,192
Total assets							15,841,839
Predecessor | Operating | Acquisitions
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	139,761		408,522		1,273,714
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	20,134		72,929		198,807
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							19,858,284
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired							600,482
Goodwill							29,419
Total assets							20,488,185
Predecessor | Operating | Annuities
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	7,884		182,239		482,313
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	13,164		49,335		156,236
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							20,783,373
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired							684,574
Total assets							21,467,947
Predecessor | Operating | Stable Value Products
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	8,181		38,713		93,641
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	4,529		19,506		54,190
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							1,958,867
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired							621
Total assets							1,959,488
Predecessor | Operating | Asset Protection
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	21,953		70,584		207,837
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	2,420		8,530		23,433
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							927,202
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired							35,418
Goodwill							62,671
Total assets							1,025,291
Predecessor | Operating | Corporate and Other
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	17,535		47,322		143,978
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	$ (10,144)		$ (15,110)		$ (42,520)
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							9,682,362
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired							319
Goodwill							83
Total assets							9,682,764
Predecessor | Adjustments
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets							14,792
Total assets							$ 14,792