CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues
Premiums and policy fees	$ 3,283,069plico_PremiumsAndPolicyFees	$ 2,967,322plico_PremiumsAndPolicyFees	$ 2,799,390plico_PremiumsAndPolicyFees
Reinsurance ceded	(1,395,743)us-gaap_CededPremiumsWritten	(1,387,437)us-gaap_CededPremiumsWritten	(1,310,097)us-gaap_CededPremiumsWritten
Net of reinsurance ceded	1,887,326plico_NetOfReinsuranceCeded	1,579,885plico_NetOfReinsuranceCeded	1,489,293plico_NetOfReinsuranceCeded
Net investment income	2,098,013us-gaap_NetInvestmentIncome	1,836,188us-gaap_NetInvestmentIncome	1,789,338us-gaap_NetInvestmentIncome
Realized investment gains (losses):
Derivative financial instruments	(13,492)	82,161	(227,816)
All other investments	205,302	(121,537)	232,836
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	(2,589)	(10,941)	(67,130)
Portion recognized in other comprehensive income (before taxes)	(4,686)	(11,506)	8,986
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	(7,275)	(22,447)	(58,144)
Other income	294,333us-gaap_OtherIncome	250,420us-gaap_OtherIncome	230,553us-gaap_OtherIncome
Total revenues	4,464,207us-gaap_Revenues	3,604,670us-gaap_Revenues	3,456,060us-gaap_Revenues
Benefits and expenses
Benefits and settlement expenses, net of reinsurance ceded: (2014 - $1,223,804; 2013 - $1,207,781; 2012 - $1,228,897)	2,786,463	2,473,988	2,317,121
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	308,320	154,660	192,183
Other operating expenses, net of reinsurance ceded: (2014 - $199,824; 2013 - $199,079; 2012 - $200,442)	630,635	553,523	487,177
Total benefits and expenses	3,725,418us-gaap_BenefitsLossesAndExpenses	3,182,171us-gaap_BenefitsLossesAndExpenses	2,996,481us-gaap_BenefitsLossesAndExpenses
Income before income tax	738,789	422,499	459,579
Income tax (benefit) expense
Current	181,763us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(18,298)us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	81,006us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Deferred	65,075us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	149,195us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	70,037us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Total income tax expense	246,838us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	130,897us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	151,043us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Net income	$ 491,951us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 291,602us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 308,536us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss

The sum of amortization related to deferred policy acquisition costs and capitalized value of business acquired asset.

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Premiums and policy fees revenue after subtracting any amounts ceded to another insurer and adding premiums assumed from other insurers.

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Expenses associated with the normal operations not otherwise classified, net of the effects of contracts ceded.

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Noncredit portion of impairment gains (losses) on investments reclassified to other comprehensive income for those securities that meet the criteria to have impairment losses bifurcated between net income (credit losses) and other comprehensive income (noncredit losses).

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The sum of premiums revenue and policy fees revenue. Premiums revenue is premiums earned on the income statement for all insurance and reinsurance contracts adding premiums assumed from other insurers. Policy fees revenue is income from services rendered from acting in a fiduciary capacity, including fees earned from (1) acting as an agent for fiduciary placement and loans and (2) custody or investment advisory services.

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The total amount of expense recognized during the period for future policy benefits, claims and claims adjustment costs, and for selling, general and administrative costs.

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Amount of written premiums ceded to other entities.

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Aggregate net gain (loss) on all derivative instruments recognized in earnings during the period, before tax effects.

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Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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This element represents the amount of loss recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of investments in debt and equity securities.

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The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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Amount, after investment expense, of income earned from investments in securities and real estate. Includes, but is not limited to, real estate investment, policy loans, dividends, and interest. Excludes realized gain (loss) on investments.

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The amount of other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses on equity securities, OTTI related to credit losses on debt securities, and OTTI losses on debt securities when the entity intends to sell the securities or it is more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the securities before recovery of its amortized cost basis. Additionally, this item includes OTTI losses recognized during the period on investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting.

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Amount, after effects of policies assumed or ceded, of expense related to the provision for policy benefits and costs incurred.

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Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

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