SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT - Statements of Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues
Net investment income	$ 674,286	$ 672,139	$ 616,462	$ 520,863	$ 529,490	$ 507,914	$ 507,771	$ 506,413		$ 2,483,750	$ 2,051,588	$ 1,942,456
Realized investment gains (losses)	(68,450)	(47,334)	(37,337)	(9,540)	(18,701)	(64,191)	(54,471)	(47,037)		(192,385)	(196,142)	32,623
Other income	111,883	113,530	113,861	114,411	115,139	110,970	111,311	109,242		453,685	446,662	415,653
Total revenues	1,284,046	1,347,168	1,243,908	1,165,832	1,142,040	1,084,388	1,087,067	1,105,297		5,040,954	4,418,792	4,483,947
Expenses
Total benefits and expenses	1,228,317	1,210,449	1,145,136	1,074,034	1,055,950	973,538	961,299	992,948		4,657,936	3,983,735	3,889,950
Income before income tax	55,729	136,719	98,772	91,798	86,090	110,850	125,768	112,349		383,018	435,057	593,997
Income tax (benefit) expense
Current										95,561	26,252	(46,719)
Deferred										(14,904)	(697,727)	247,687
Total income tax expense (benefit)	19,075	26,619	17,277	17,686	(778,218)	28,308	41,500	36,935		80,657	(671,475)	200,968
Net income	$ 36,654	$ 110,100	$ 81,495	$ 74,112	$ 864,308	$ 82,542	$ 84,268	$ 75,414		302,361	1,106,532	393,029
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
Revenues
Dividends from subsidiaries										31,600	261,090	541,762
Service fees from subsidiaries										250,241	285,979	250,668
Net investment income										8,417	9,457	8,607
Realized investment gains (losses)									$ (29,289)	468	(45,091)	(29,289)
Other income										2,211	2,049	9,828
Total revenues										292,937	513,484	781,576
Expenses
Operating and administrative										123,004	182,525	143,941
Interest										63,878	61,263	60,137
Total benefits and expenses										186,882	243,788	204,078
Income before income tax										106,055	269,696	577,498
Income tax (benefit) expense
Current										(30,854)	(9,441)	334
Deferred										45,082	46,020	20,715
Total income tax expense (benefit)										14,228	36,579	21,049
Income before equity in undistributed income from subsidiaries										91,827	233,117	556,449
Equity (loss) in undistributed income of subsidiaries									(163,420)	210,534	873,415	(163,420)
Net income									$ 393,029	$ 302,361	$ 1,106,532	$ 393,029