SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Details 5) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 88,472	$ 76,248	$ 53,004	$ 73,878	$ 60,142	$ 70,911	$ 81,627	$ 95,856	$ 291,602	$ 308,536	$ 323,756
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Realized investment losses (gains)	13,227	(4,263)	47,636	5,223	44,085	2,686	(6,669)	13,022	61,823	53,124	(45,427)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of businesses acquired									154,660	192,183	249,520
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition cost									(345,885)	(311,960)	(355,033)
Depreciation expense									6,595	7,378	8,616
Deferred income taxes									149,195	70,037	107,265
Accrued income taxes									70,749	359	(24,683)
Interest credited to universal life and investment products									875,180	962,678	993,574
Policy fees assessed on universal life and investment products									(894,176)	(794,825)	(712,038)
Change in reinsurance receivables									97,523	(140,424)	(28,615)
Change in accrued investment income and other receivables									(34,551)	580	(35,436)
Change in policy liabilities and other policyholders' funds of traditional life and health products									95,421	300,523	15,307
Trading securities:
Maturities and principal reductions of investments									179,180	276,659	283,239
Sale of investments									256,938	454,150	860,474
Cost of investments acquired									(380,836)	(585,618)	(950,051)
Other net change in trading securities									38,999	(56,615)	7,933
Change in other liabilities									(78,240)	(22,009)	(148,801)
Other, net									13,679	11,220	118,311
Net cash provided by operating activities									542,477	696,632	632,399
Cash flows from investing activities
Maturities and principal reductions of investments									1,094,862	1,169,563	1,396,105
Sale of investments									3,241,559	2,535,708	2,957,589
Cost of investments acquired									(5,079,971)	(4,228,755)	(5,155,155)
Mortgage loans:
New borrowings									(583,697)	(346,435)	(484,483)
Repayments									861,562	739,402	446,794
Change in investment real estate, net									(10,356)	4,927	(4,266)
Change in policy loans, net									17,181	14,428	14,190
Purchase of property and equipment									(10,275)	(6,157)	(17,463)
Change in other long-term investments, net									(231,653)	(123,401)	77,079
Change in short-term investments, net									147,477	(82,282)	122,665
Payments for business acquisitions									(471,714)		(209,609)
Net cash used in investing activities									(1,082,652)	(585,833)	(787,744)
Cash flows from financing activities
Capital contributions									70,000
Repurchase program borrowings									200,000	150,000
Investment product and universal life deposits									3,219,561	3,716,553	4,216,738
Investment products and universal life withdrawals									(2,874,426)	(3,818,845)	(3,777,365)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									616,172	(10,992)	88,122
Change in cash									75,997	99,807	(67,223)
Cash at beginning of period				269,582				169,775	269,582	169,775	236,998
Cash at end of period	345,579				269,582				345,579	269,582	169,775
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income									291,602	308,536	323,756
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Realized investment losses (gains)									(103,422)	43,384	(32,255)
Equity in undistributed (net income) loss of subsidiaries									45,319	(27,000)	33,255
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of businesses acquired									219,593	134,549	155,614
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition cost									(369,538)	(431,560)	(190,859)
Depreciation expense									6,146	4,716	5,944
Deferred income taxes									163,208	163,183	85,472
Accrued income taxes									157,970	(111,649)	15,332
Interest credited to universal life and investment products									703,620	775,749	790,799
Policy fees assessed on universal life and investment products									(716,862)	(582,848)	(487,602)
Change in reinsurance receivables									(209,152)	(630,244)	(55,169)
Change in accrued investment income and other receivables									3,327	(18,632)	(10,280)
Change in due to/from subsidiaries, net									8,388	(5,424)	(7,650)
Change in policy liabilities and other policyholders' funds of traditional life and health products									120,456	668,760	(217,459)
Trading securities:
Maturities and principal reductions of investments									133,635	223,889	230,857
Sale of investments									235,701	430,095	817,434
Cost of investments acquired									(330,119)	(526,694)	(860,487)
Other net change in trading securities									33,650	(62,528)	(37,030)
Change in other liabilities									47,639	113,825	(153,839)
Other, net									91,254	45,512	(120,189)
Net cash provided by operating activities									532,415	515,619	285,644
Cash flows from investing activities
Maturities and principal reductions of investments									637,855	767,796	972,818
Sale of investments									2,104,400	1,921,862	2,082,356
Cost of investments acquired									(3,324,738)	(3,425,248)	(3,348,476)
Mortgage loans:
New borrowings									(543,760)	(262,677)	(472,893)
Repayments									692,377	657,780	382,229
Additional investments in/return of capital from subsidiaries									(54,228)	(103,236)	(113,941)
Change in investment real estate, net									(10,356)	4,065	(4,306)
Change in policy loans, net									5,978	(23,122)	17,336
Purchase of property and equipment									(10,117)	(4,053)	(14,998)
Change in other long-term investments, net									(212,261)	(111,745)	123,388
Change in short-term investments, net									45,250	(31,174)	74,246
Net unsettled security transactions									13,652	37,169	68,810
Payments for business acquisitions									(471,714)		(209,609)
Net cash used in investing activities									(1,127,662)	(572,583)	(443,040)
Cash flows from financing activities
Capital contributions									70,000
Repurchase program borrowings									200,000	150,000
Investment product and universal life deposits									2,883,575	3,692,312	3,613,791
Investment products and universal life withdrawals									(2,684,456)	(3,624,816)	(3,576,474)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									469,119	217,496	37,317
Change in cash									(126,128)	160,532	(120,079)
Cash at beginning of period				128,568				(31,964)	128,568	(31,964)	88,115
Cash at end of period	$ 2,440				$ 128,568				$ 2,440	$ 128,568	$ (31,964)