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

Represents the number of annual installments, for awards that vest in annual installments in which an employee's right to exercise an award becomes no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition.

No definition available.

Name:	plico_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAnnualVestingInstallments
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan), issued during the period.

No definition available.

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

The period of time in which the equity-based award expires.

No definition available.

Name:	plico_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

Number of shares under non-option equity instrument agreements that were exercised, forfeited or expired during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	plico_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionExercisesForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The weighted-average base price of shares under non-option equity instrument agreements that were exercised, forfeited and expired during the reporting period.

No definition available.

Name:	plico_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionExercisesForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageBasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The weighted-average base price of outstanding shares under non-option equity instrument agreements as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	plico_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionOutstandingWeightedAverageBasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the portion of the grant issued in the second quarter of 2012 that is expected to vest in the fourth year from the latest fiscal year.

No definition available.

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

Represents the percentage of average operating return on average equity which must be met in order to earn the maximum award.

No definition available.

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

Represents the minimum percentage of average operating return on average equity for the entity, below which no award is earned.

No definition available.

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

Represents the period for awards that vest in installments, after grant date upon which an employee's right to exercise an award begins to vest in annual installments.

No definition available.

Name:	plico_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardVestingInstallmentPeriodStart
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the period over which the entity's average operating return on average equity (ROE) is calculated to determine the payment of awards.

No definition available.

Name:	plico_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentPeriodForCalculationOfAverageReturnOnAverageEquity
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph b(2)(c)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

Number of shares reserved for issuance under non-option equity instrument agreements awarded that validly exist and are outstanding, including vested instruments.