SHAREOWNER'S EQUITY (Details) (PLC, USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
PLC
SHAREOWNER'S EQUITY
Number of shares of non-voting preferred stock owned in the subsidiary, PL&A	2,000
Amount of PL&A statutory earnings in immediately the preceding fiscal year, which must be exceeded for preferred stock to pay noncumulative participating dividends	$ 1.0
Dividends received by PLC on preferred stock holdings in PL & A	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Represents the amount of subsidiaries statutory earnings in the immediately preceding fiscal year, which must be exceeded for preferred stock to pay noncumulative participating dividends.

No definition available.

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