Represents the amount of obligations collateralized under support agreements.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Represents the minimum percentage of the reporting entity's fixed maturity securities priced by third party pricing services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plico_FairValueDeterminationPercentageOfFixedMaturitySecuritiesPricedByThirdPartyPricingServicesMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Actuarially determined death rate of policyholders, which is included in determining the amount of the specified guaranteed benefit obligation as of the balance sheet date, as a percentage of the 94 GMDB table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plico_LongDurationContractsAssumptionsByProductAndGuaranteeMortalityRateRelativeToGMDB
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represent the payments triggered under the agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the percentage of derivatives based upon notional values, excluding embedded derivatives that were priced using exchange prices or independent broker quotations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plico_PercentageOfDerivativesExcludingEmbeddedDerivativesPricedUsingExchangePricesOrIndependentBrokerQuotations
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the minimum percentage of the underlying collateral guaranteed by a third party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plico_PercentageOfUnderlyingCollateralGuaranteedByThirdPartyMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets elected not to be offset. Excludes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (a),(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234895&loc=SL5624163-113959

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82849420&loc=SL20226000-175313

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4D
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82924980&loc=SL51823488-111719

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities elected not to be offset. Excludes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4D
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82924980&loc=SL51823488-111719

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (a),(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234895&loc=SL5624163-113959

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82849420&loc=SL20226000-175313

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock represents an equity interest in a FHLB. It does not have a readily determinable fair value because its ownership is restricted and it lacks a market (liquidity).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 325
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75031641&loc=d3e63345-112809

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value portion of investment securities, including, but not limited to, marketable securities, derivative financial instruments, and investments accounted for under the equity method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(12))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82895926&loc=d3e24584-111560

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(6))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75030427&loc=d3e22054-111558

Reference 7: 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)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of accrued obligation to policyholders that relates to insured events for long-duration contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 25
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28366191&loc=d3e13145-158430

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (cc)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65670824&loc=d3e14764-158437

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65670824&loc=d3e14764-158437

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForFuturePolicyBenefits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=plico_InterestSupportYearlyRenewableTermPremiumSupportAndPortfolioMaintenanceAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=plico_GoldenGateIICaptiveInsuranceCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=plico_InterestSupportAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=plico_YearlyRenewableTermPremiumSupportAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=plico_GoldenGateVAndWestCoastLifeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=plico_PortfolioMaintenanceAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesSecuritizedLoansAndReceivablesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentSecondaryCategorizationAxis=us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentSecondaryCategorizationAxis=us-gaap_TradingAccountAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=plico_CorporateBondsAndSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=plico_EmbeddedDerivativeGLWBMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=plico_EmbeddedDerivativeFIAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=plico_EmbeddedDerivativeIulMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=plico_EmbeddedDerivativeModifiedCoinsuranceAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=plico_FundsWithheldDerivativeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Determination of fair values
Minimum percentage of the Company's fixed maturity securities priced by third party pricing services	91.00%
Underlying collateral, Percentage guaranteed by the Federal Family Education Loan Program	97.00%	97.00%
Percentage of derivatives excluding embedded derivatives that were priced using exchange prices or independent broker quotations	82.00%
Fair Value, Assets	$ 429,369,000	$ 417,769,000
Other liabilities	203,002,000	176,979,000
Interest support, YRT premium support and portfolio maintenance agreement
Determination of fair values
Fair Value, Assets	31,500,000
Golden Gate II \| Interest Support Agreement
Determination of fair values
Fair Value, Assets	25,200,000
Payments made under agreement	0
Amount of collateralized support agreement obligations by PLC	2,800,000
Golden Gate II \| YRT premium support agreement
Determination of fair values
Fair Value, Assets	2,100,000
Payments made under agreement	0
Golden Gate V and West Coast Life \| Portfolio maintenance agreements
Determination of fair values
Fair Value, Assets	4,200,000
Payments made under agreement	0
Level 3
Determination of fair values
Level 3 fair value	618,857,000	$ 493,419,000	$ 525,216,000	$ 669,866,000	$ 586,361,000	$ 468,360,000
Level 3 \| Annuity account
Determination of fair values
Level 3 fair value	86,100,000
Asset-Backed Securities \| Level 2
Determination of fair values
Fair Value	4,900,000,000
Asset-Backed Securities \| Level 3
Determination of fair values
Fair Value	$ 619,700,000
Other asset-backed securities \| Level 3
Determination of fair values
Underlying collateral, Percentage guaranteed by the Federal Family Education Loan Program	97.00%
Other asset-backed securities \| Level 3 \| Available-for-sale securities
Determination of fair values
Fair Value	$ 564,800,000
Other asset-backed securities \| Level 3 \| Trading Securities
Determination of fair values
Fair Value	54,900,000
Corporate Bonds, U.S. Government-Related Securities, States, Municipals, and Political Subdivisions, and Other Government Related Securities \| Level 2
Determination of fair values
Fair Value	31,800,000,000
Corporate Bonds, U.S. Government-Related Securities, States, Municipals, and Political Subdivisions, and Other Government Related Securities \| Level 3
Determination of fair values
Fair Value	668,200,000
Equity securities
Determination of fair values
Fair Value	65,700,000
Federal Home Loan Bank stock	$ 65,600,000
Embedded derivative - GLWB \| Level 3 \| Minimum
Determination of fair values
Mortality (as a percent)	91.10%
Embedded derivative - GLWB \| Level 3 \| Maximum
Determination of fair values
Mortality (as a percent)	106.60%
Embedded derivative - FIA \| Level 3 \| Minimum
Determination of fair values
Mortality (as a percent)	46.00%
Embedded derivative - FIA \| Level 3 \| Maximum
Determination of fair values
Mortality (as a percent)	113.00%
Embedded derivative - IUL \| Level 3 \| Minimum
Determination of fair values
Mortality (as a percent)	38.00%
Embedded derivative - IUL \| Level 3 \| Maximum
Determination of fair values
Mortality (as a percent)	153.00%
Embedded derivative - Modified coinsurance agreements
Determination of fair values
Statutory policy liabilities (net of policy loans)	$ 2,400,000,000
Embedded derivative - Modified coinsurance agreements \| Trading Securities
Determination of fair values
Fair Value	207,600,000
Funds withheld derivative \| Level 2
Determination of fair values
Other liabilities	$ 69,800,000