Represents the entity's action level risk-based capital as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Represents the amount of adjusted capital as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the period for dividend to be paid after written notice to the insurance commissioner of the state of domicile unless such commissioner objects to the dividend prior to the expiration of such period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Statutory Accounting Practices, Gain (Loss) on Retrocession

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plico_StatutoryAccountingPracticesGainLossonRetrocession
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the risk-based capital ratio as of the balance sheet date which is the ratio of a company's total adjusted capital, as defined by the insurance regulators, to its company action level of RBC.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plico_StatutoryAccountingPracticesRiskBasedCapitalRatio
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The amount of consolidated stockholder's equity, excluding net unrealized gains on investments, which represents net assets of insurance subsidiaries which is required to be maintained as a minimum capital with respect to the state insurance department.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plico_StockholdersEquityRepresentingNetAssetsOfInsuranceSubsidiariesRequiredToBeMaintainedAsMinimumCapital
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of consolidated stockholder's equity, excluding net unrealized gains on investments, which represents net assets of insurance subsidiaries of the entity that are restricted from transfer to the parent entity without prior approval from the state insurance department.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plico_StockholdersEquityRepresentingNetAssetsOfInsuranceSubsidiariesRestrictedFromTransferToParent
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of cash and investment securities on deposit with state regulatory authorities in connection with capital requirements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 320
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28366721&loc=d3e22002-158495

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsHeldByInsuranceRegulators
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of statutory capital and surplus (stockholders' equity) as of the balance sheet date using prescribed or permitted statutory accounting practices (rather than GAAP, if different) of the state or country.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(23)(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486098&loc=d3e24708-158529

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of net income for the period determined using accounting principles prescribed or permitted by insurance regulators.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryNetIncomeAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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STATUTORY REPORTING PRACTICES AND OTHER REGULATORY MATTERS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 15, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
STATUTORY REPORTING PRACTICES AND OTHER REGULATORY MATTERS
Statutory net income		$ (391.6)	$ 440.0	$ 554.2
Statutory capital and surplus		$ 4,200.0	$ 3,800.0
Gain on retrocession	$ 1,200.0
Period for which dividend can be paid after written notice to the insurance commissioner		30 days
Net assets of the Company's insurance subsidiaries that are restricted from transfer (in dollars)		$ 201.8
Consolidated shareowners' equity which represented net assets of the Company's insurance subsidiaries that is required to be maintained as minimum capital		1,400.0
Total adjusted capital		4,500.0
Action level RBC		$ 731.0
RBC ratio (as a percent)		619.00%
Market value of fixed maturity and short-term investments of the company's subsidiaries deposited with regulatory authorities		$ 43.4