FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES (TEXTUAL) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis Quantitative Disclosure [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale	$ 34,555,000,000		$ 31,925,000,000
Fair value freestanding contract	$ 917,000,000		$ 659,000,000
Freestanding contract invested assets (as a percent)	66.40%		64.10%
Fair value adjustments on GMIB asset	$ 161,000,000		$ 123,000,000
Transfers out of Level 3	(4,000,000)	$ (61,000,000)
Transfers into level 3	$ 42,000,000	$ 41,000,000
Transfers out of Levels 2 and 3 to Total Equity (as a percent)	0.30%	0.50%
Level 1
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis Quantitative Disclosure [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on recurring basis (as a percent)	70.10%		71.80%
Level 2
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis Quantitative Disclosure [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on recurring basis (as a percent)	29.00%		27.30%
Mortgages and asset-backed securities owned	$ 640,000,000		$ 673,000,000
Level 3
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis Quantitative Disclosure [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on recurring basis (as a percent)	0.90%		0.90%
Mortgages and asset-backed securities owned	$ 485,000,000		$ 543,000,000
Fair value disclosures broker priced	144,000,000		119,000,000
Public Fixed Maturities
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis Quantitative Disclosure [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale	$ 26,837,000,000		24,216,000,000
Available-for-sale fixed maturity assets measured at fair value on recurring basis (as a percent)	17.60%	16.20%
Private Fixed Maturities
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis Quantitative Disclosure [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale	$ 7,683,000,000		$ 7,677,000,000
Available-for-sale fixed maturity assets measured at fair value on recurring basis (as a percent)	5.00%	5.40%
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Level 3 | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis Quantitative Disclosure [Line Items]
Transfers into level 3	$ 5