MORTGAGE LOANS (Details 2) (Commercial mortgage loans, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012 item
Commercial mortgage loans
Delinquent loans
Past due period at which to cease carrying accrued interest on delinquent loans	90 days
Past due period at which to initiate foreclosure proceedings	90 days
30-59 Days Delinquent	$ 6,786
60-89 Days Delinquent	1,575
Greater than 90 Days Delinquent	19,791
Total Delinquent	$ 28,152
Number of loans, 30-59 Days Delinquent	3
Number of loans, 60-89 Days Delinquent	1
Number of loans, Greater than 90 Days Delinquent	6
Number of loans, Total Delinquent	10

Represents the minimum number of days over which the entity's policy is to cease carrying accrued interest on loans.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Represents the minimum number of days over which the entity's policy is to initiate foreclosure proceedings.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the number of financing receivables that are more than 29 days past due but less than 60 days past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plico_FinancingReceivableNumberOfLoans30To59DaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of financing receivables that are more than 59 days past due but less than 90 days past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plico_FinancingReceivableNumberOfLoans60To89DaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of financing receivables that are equal to or greater than 90 days past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plico_FinancingReceivableNumberOfLoansEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	plico_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of financing receivables that are past due at the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Financing receivables that are less than 60 days past due but more than 29 days past due.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=SL6953401-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment30To59DaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Financing receivables that are less than 90 days past due but more than 59 days past due.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment60To89DaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Financing receivables that are equal to or greater than 90 days past due.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Recorded Investment in financing receivables that are past due at the balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

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