STATUTORY REPORTING PRACTICES AND OTHER REGULATORY MATTERS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
STATUTORY REPORTING PRACTICES AND OTHER REGULATORY MATTERS
Consolidated shareowners' equity which represented net assets of the Company's insurance subsidiaries that cannot be transferred to Protective Life Corporation (in dollars)	$ 290,000,000
Number of days after written notice within which dividends may be paid	30 days
Estimated maximum amount that would qualify as ordinary dividends from insurance subsidiaries in 2013 (in dollars)	469,300,000
Total adjusted capital	3,300,000,000
Action level RBC	644,000,000
RBC ratio (as a percent)	510.00%
Market value of fixed maturity and short-term investments of the company's subsidiaries deposited with regulatory authorities	48,700,000
Favorable (unfavorable) effects on the statutory surplus of the Company's insurance subsidiaries, compared to NAIC statutory surplus, from the use of prescribed and permitted practices
Accounting for Letters of Credit as admitted assets	1,205,000,000	1,015,000,000
Accounting for Red Mountain Note as admitted asset	300,000,000
Reserving based on state specific actuarial practices	95,000,000	84,000,000
PLICO
STATUTORY REPORTING PRACTICES AND OTHER REGULATORY MATTERS
Statutory net income	376,300,000	259,200,000	303,600,000
Statutory capital and surplus	3,000,000,000	2,600,000,000
Favorable (unfavorable) effects of PLICO's statutory surplus, compared to NAIC statutory surplus, from the use of prescribed and permitted practices
Non-admission of goodwill		(159,000,000)
Report BOLI Separate Accounts at Book Value	(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Reserving difference related to a captive insurance company	(49,000,000)
Total (net)	$ (50,000,000)	$ (160,000,000)