SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT - Statements of Cash Flows (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
Cash flows from operating activities
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
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
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)
Deferred income tax										(14,904)	(697,727)	247,687
Accrued income tax										115,090	40,280	(162,619)
Other, net										(48,444)	(101,784)	(81,091)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities										(144,129)	195,272	249,638
Cash flows from investing activities
Sale of investments, available-for-sale										2,576,119	1,802,215	1,956,302
Cost of investments acquired, available-for-sale										(5,577,921)	(4,029,233)	(4,982,907)
Change in other long-term investments										(168,897)	(91,518)	(250,557)
Change in short-term investments										(217,300)	(279,191)	(72,810)
Purchase of property and equipment										(92,269)	(37,533)	(5,295)
Net cash used in investing activities										(1,947,894)	(2,624,770)	(4,366,985)
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowings under line of credit arrangements and debt										1,075,000	1,035,000	265,000
Principal payments on line of credit arrangement and debt										(757,884)	(1,156,498)	(633,074)
Dividends to shareowner										(140,000)	(143,848)	(89,343)
Net cash provided by financing activities										2,013,427	2,333,626	4,069,457
Change in cash										(78,596)	(95,872)	(47,890)
Cash at beginning of period				252,310				348,182		252,310	348,182	396,072
Cash at end of period	173,714				252,310				$ 396,072	173,714	252,310	348,182
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income									393,029	302,361	1,106,532	393,029
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Realized investment (gains) losses									29,289	(468)	45,091	29,289
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries									163,420	(210,534)	(873,415)	163,420
Depreciation expense									506	587	739
Receivables from subsidiaries									15,181	13,485	(28,794)
Income tax receivable									2,109	513	10,548
Deferred income tax									20,715	45,082	46,020
Accrued income tax									0	10,034	0
Accrued expenses and other liabilities									(33,639)	(28,209)	(52,846)
Other, net									(16,426)	(57,595)	4,226
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities									574,184	75,256	258,101
Cash flows from investing activities
Sale of investments, available-for-sale									0	675,000	0
Cost of investments acquired, available-for-sale									(59,025)	(776,743)	(26,423)
Return of and/or (additional) capital investments in subsidiaries									(45,762)	(2,600)	38,410
Change in other long-term investments									(10)	0	0
Change in short-term investments									0	(35,807)	(79,818)
Purchase of property and equipment									(1,649)	0	0
Sales of property and equipment									0	0	(100)
Net cash used in investing activities									(106,446)	(140,150)	(67,931)
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowings under line of credit arrangements and debt									265,000	965,000	1,035,000
Principal payments on line of credit arrangement and debt									(633,074)	(757,884)	(1,156,498)
Dividends to shareowner									(89,343)	(140,000)	(143,848)
Net cash provided by financing activities									(457,417)	67,116	(265,346)
Change in cash									10,321	2,222	(75,176)
Cash at beginning of period				$ 3,760				$ 78,936	$ 68,615	3,760	78,936
Cash at end of period	$ 5,982				$ 3,760					$ 5,982	$ 3,760	$ 78,936