SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT - Debt and Other Obligations (Details) - USD ($)			1 Months Ended		11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 03, 2015	Feb. 02, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2007	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2016	Oct. 09, 2009
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Debt maturities due in 2018						$ 156,700,000
Debt maturities due in 2019						454,700,000
Debt maturities due thereafter						381,900,000
6.40% Senior Notes (2007), due 2018
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)				6.40%
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Amount of debt issued				$ 150,000,000.0
Borrowings under line of credit arrangements and debt				$ 148,700,000
7.375% Senior Notes (2009), due 2019
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)										7.375%
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Amount of debt issued										$ 400,000,000
8.45% Senior Notes (2009), due 2039
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total debt										$ 300,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)										8.45%
6.25% Subordinated Debentures (2012), due 2042, callable 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)								6.25%
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Amount of debt issued								$ 287,500,000.0
6.00% Subordinated Debentures (2012), due 2042, callable 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)								6.00%
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Amount of debt issued								$ 150,000,000.0
8.00% Senior Notes (2009), due 2024, callable 2014
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)							8.00%			8.00%
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Amount of debt issued										$ 100,000,000
2015 Credit Facility
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 1,000,000,000.0
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity to be granted upon entity's request		$ 1,250,000,000.00
Base of floating rate interest rate payments		LIBOR
Facility fee percentage	0.125%	0.15%
2015 Credit Facility | Prime Rate
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Base of floating rate interest rate payments		prime rate
2015 Credit Facility | Federal Funds Rate
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Base of floating rate interest rate payments		Federal Funds rate
Interest rate added to the base rate (as a percent)		0.50%
2015 Credit Facility | LIBOR One-Month Rate
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Base of floating rate interest rate payments		one-month LIBOR
Interest rate added to the base rate (as a percent)		1.00%
Credit Facility | Federal Funds Rate
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Interest rate added to the base rate (as a percent)		0.50%
7.25% Subordinated Debentures (2002), due 2032, callable 2007
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Repayment of debt								118,600,000
Capital Securities 7.25% Due 2066
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Repayment of debt								75,000,000
Capital securities due 2066
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Write off of deferred issue costs								4,000,000
Repayment of debt								125,000,000
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION | 7.375% Senior Notes (2009), due 2019
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Amount of debt issued										400,000,000
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION | 8.45% Senior Notes (2009), due 2039
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Amount of debt issued										300,000,000
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION | 8.00% Senior Notes (2009), due 2024, callable 2014
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Amount of debt issued										100,000,000
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION | Senior notes
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Amount of debt issued										800,000,000
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION | 2015 Credit Facility
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Facility fee percentage		0.15%
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION | Surplus notes
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Aggregate principal amount of debt repurchased by Golden Gate from third parties										800,000,000
Outstanding surplus notes										800,000,000
Golden Gate
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Aggregate principal amount of debt repurchased by Golden Gate from third parties										800,000,000
Successor
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					$ 1,335,000,000	966,926,000
Total debt					1,588,806,000	1,163,285,000
Total subordinated debt securities					448,763,000	441,202,000
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Outstanding letters of credit (LOC)						0
Successor | 6.40% Senior Notes (2007), due 2018
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					150,000,000	150,000,000
Total debt					162,671,000	$ 156,663,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)						6.40%
Successor | 7.375% Senior Notes (2009), due 2019
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					400,000,000	$ 400,000,000
Total debt					473,127,000	$ 454,688,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)						7.375%
Successor | 8.45% Senior Notes (2009), due 2039
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					300,000,000	$ 246,926,000
Total debt					468,008,000	$ 381,934,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)						8.45%
Successor | 6.25% Subordinated Debentures (2012), due 2042, callable 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total subordinated debt securities					295,833,000	$ 290,002,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)						6.25%
Successor | 6.00% Subordinated Debentures (2012), due 2042, callable 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total subordinated debt securities					$ 152,930,000	$ 151,200,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)						6.00%
Successor | 6.125% Subordinated Debentures (2004), due 2034, callable 2009
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)					6.125%	8.45%
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Redemption of subordinated debt						$ 82,700,000
Par value of extinguished debt						53,100,000
Pre-tax gain on extinguishment						$ 9,800,000
Repayment of debt					$ 103,100,000
Successor | 2015 Credit Facility
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Interest rate added to the base rate (as a percent)						1.00%
Successor | Credit Facility
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Line of credit, amount outstanding						$ 170,000,000
Successor | Credit Facility | LIBOR One-Month Rate
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Interest rate added to the base rate (as a percent)						1.00%
Successor | Long-term debt and subordinated debt securities
Interest Expense
Interest expense					58,600,000	$ 62,100,000
Successor | PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					1,335,000,000	966,926,000
Total debt					1,588,806,000	1,163,285,000
Total subordinated debt securities					448,763,000	441,202,000
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Borrowings under line of credit arrangements and debt					330,000,000	265,000,000
Outstanding surplus notes					1,148,237,000	0
Successor | PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION | 6.40% Senior Notes (2007), due 2018
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					150,000,000	150,000,000
Total debt					162,671,000	156,663,000
Successor | PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION | 7.375% Senior Notes (2009), due 2019
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					400,000,000	400,000,000
Total debt					473,127,000	454,688,000
Successor | PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION | 8.45% Senior Notes (2009), due 2039
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					300,000,000	246,926,000
Total debt					468,008,000	381,934,000
Successor | PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION | 6.25% Subordinated Debentures (2012), due 2042, callable 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total subordinated debt securities					295,833,000	290,002,000
Successor | PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION | 6.00% Subordinated Debentures (2012), due 2042, callable 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total subordinated debt securities					152,930,000	151,200,000
Successor | PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION | Long-term debt and subordinated debt securities
Interest Expense
Interest expense					57,800,000	60,100,000
Successor | PLICO | Letter of Credit
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Outstanding letters of credit (LOC)					55,000,000				$ 30,000,000
Successor | Golden Gate
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Outstanding surplus notes					800,000,000
Predecessor
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)							8.00%
Predecessor | 8.00% Senior Notes (2009), due 2024, callable 2014
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Amount of debt issued										$ 100,000,000
Write off of deferred issue costs							$ 2,400,000
Predecessor | Senior notes
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Repayment of debt							150,000,000
Predecessor | Long-term debt and subordinated debt securities
Interest Expense
Interest expense			$ 8,900,000				118,400,000
Predecessor | PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Borrowings under line of credit arrangements and debt			0				500,000,000
Predecessor | PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION | Long-term debt and subordinated debt securities
Interest Expense
Interest expense			$ 8,900,000				118,400,000
Predecessor | PLICO | Letter of Credit
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Outstanding letters of credit (LOC)							$ 55,000,000
Revolving Line Of Credit | Successor
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					485,000,000	170,000,000
Total debt					485,000,000	170,000,000
Revolving Line Of Credit | Successor | PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					485,000,000	170,000,000
Total debt					485,000,000	170,000,000
Subordinated debentures
Future maturities of debt, excluding notes payable to banks, and subordinated debt securities, for the next five years
Write off of deferred issue costs								$ 7,200,000
Subordinated debentures | Successor
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					437,500,000	437,500,000
Subordinated debentures | Successor | 6.25% Subordinated Debentures (2012), due 2042, callable 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					287,500,000	287,500,000
Subordinated debentures | Successor | 6.00% Subordinated Debentures (2012), due 2042, callable 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					150,000,000	150,000,000
Subordinated debentures | Successor | PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					437,500,000	437,500,000
Subordinated debentures | Successor | PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION | 6.25% Subordinated Debentures (2012), due 2042, callable 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					287,500,000	287,500,000
Subordinated debentures | Successor | PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION | 6.00% Subordinated Debentures (2012), due 2042, callable 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Outstanding Principal					$ 150,000,000	$ 150,000,000