Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statutory capital surplus, guaranteed risk based capital, company action level, percent	225.00%
Capital contributions from parent		$ 15,000,000	$ 45,000,000
Deferred policy acquisition cost, amortization expense, assumption change	(300,000)
PHL Variable
Statutory capital surplus, guaranteed risk based capital, company action level, percent	122.00%	218.00%
Phoenix Life
Statutory capital surplus, guaranteed risk based capital, company action level, percent	288.00%	300.00%
Statutory capital surplus, guaranteed risk based capital, percent	250.00%
Statutory capital surplus, risk based capital, percent	125.00%
Surplus Notes \| Surplus Notes 10.5%
Debt instrument, face amount			30,000,000
Correction of errors
Income related to out of period adjustments	$ 0

Statutory Capital Surplus, Gauranteed Risk Based Capital, Company Action Level, Percent

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- Definition

Statutory Capital Surplus, Guaranteed Risk Based Capital, Percent

+ References

No definition available.

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Statutory Capital Surplus, Risk Based Capital, Percent

+ References

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- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

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- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) to amortization expense of deferred policy acquisition cost (DAC) due to assumption change.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period which is attributable to the parent.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.20)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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- Definition

The cash inflow from parent as a source of financing that is recorded as additional paid in capital.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 14

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3255-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

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