INVESTMENT OPERATIONS - Schedule of Gross Realized Gains (Losses) on Investments Available-for-Sale (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Gross realized gains	$ 6,776	$ 10,082	$ 14,646	$ 18,131
Gross realized losses:
Impairment losses	(698)	(5)	(3,840)	(3,650)
Other realized losses	$ (5,714)	$ (4,598)	$ (8,447)	$ (9,865)

Gross Realized Losses [Abstract]

No definition available.

Name:	plico_GrossRealizedLossesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of realized gain (loss) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118939692&loc=d3e27357-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGainLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of realized gain (loss) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale), excluding other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGainLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale), recognized in earnings and other comprehensive loss (OCI).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118954083&loc=SL6284422-111562

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossDebtSecuritiesAvailableForSale
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration