CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, income tax expense (benefit)	$ (469)	$ (392)
Reclassification adjustment for investment amounts included in net income, income tax expense (benefit)	(7)	3
Change in net expected credit losses, tax expense (benefit)	1	(2)
Change in accumulated (loss) gain - derivatives, income tax expense (benefit)	1	(1)
Reclassification adjustment for derivative amounts included in net income, income tax	$ 0	$ 0

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Securities, Available-for-Sale, Cumulative Gain (Loss),Tax

No definition available.

Name:	plico_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossSecuritiesAvailableForSaleCumulativeGainLossTax
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, before reclassification, of tax expense (benefit) for gain (loss) from derivative instrument designated and qualifying as cash flow hedge included in assessment of hedge effectiveness.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121641772&loc=d3e640-108580

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of tax expense (benefit) for reclassification of gain (loss) from accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) for derivative instrument designated and qualifying as cash flow hedge included in assessment of hedge effectiveness.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of tax expense (benefit) of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income for unrealized gain (loss) realized upon the sale of available-for-sale securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121641772&loc=d3e640-108580

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121645371&loc=d3e27357-111563

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount, before adjustment, of tax expense (benefit) for unrealized holding gain (loss) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). Excludes tax expense (benefit) for unrealized gain (loss) on investment in debt security measured at amortized cost (held-to-maturity) from transfer to available-for-sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121641772&loc=d3e640-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121641772&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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