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Investing Activities Available-for-sale Securities Narrative (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
security
Dec. 31, 2013
security
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Unrealized losses on below-investment-grade debt securities depressed of amortized cost (percent) 20.00%pnx_UnrealizedLossesOnBelowinvestmentgradeDebtSecuritiesDepressedOfAmortizedCostPercentage 20.00%pnx_UnrealizedLossesOnBelowinvestmentgradeDebtSecuritiesDepressedOfAmortizedCostPercentage
Unrealized losses on below-investment-grade debt securities depressed of amortized cost $ 0.9pnx_UnrealizedLossesOnBelowinvestmentgradeDebtSecuritiesDepressedOfAmortizedCostAmount $ 1.0pnx_UnrealizedLossesOnBelowinvestmentgradeDebtSecuritiesDepressedOfAmortizedCostAmount
Unrealized losses on below-investment-grade debt securities depressed of amortized cost for more than 12 month, amount $ 0.6pnx_UnrealizedLossesOnBelowinvestmentgradeDebtSecuritiesDepressedOfAmortizedCostForMoreThanTwelveMonthAmount $ 0.8pnx_UnrealizedLossesOnBelowinvestmentgradeDebtSecuritiesDepressedOfAmortizedCostForMoreThanTwelveMonthAmount
Unrealized losses on below-investment-grade debt securities depressed of amortized cost for more than 12 month (percent) 20.00%pnx_UnrealizedLossesOnBelowinvestmentgradeDebtSecuritiesDepressedOfAmortizedCostForMoreThanTwelveMonthPercentage 20.00%pnx_UnrealizedLossesOnBelowinvestmentgradeDebtSecuritiesDepressedOfAmortizedCostForMoreThanTwelveMonthPercentage
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 Months or longer, number of securities 127pnx_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsorLongerNumberOfSecurities 79pnx_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsorLongerNumberOfSecurities
Total available-for-sale debt securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 Months or longer, number of securities 123pnx_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsorLongerNumberOfSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
79pnx_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsorLongerNumberOfSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Equity Securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 Months or longer, number of securities 4pnx_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsorLongerNumberOfSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
0pnx_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsorLongerNumberOfSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember