2.2.0.7 false CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) 0010 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME true false In Thousands, except Share data false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDPerShare Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 2 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDPerShare Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 3 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDPerShare Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 4 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDPerShare Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 5 Revenues 3 us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 6 Premiums and policy fees 4 pl_PremiumsAndPolicyFees pl false credit duration The sum of premiums revenue and policy fees revenue. Premiums revenue is premiums earned on the income statement for all... false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 true true false false 640265000 640265 false false false 2 true true false false 652497000 652497 false false false 3 true true false false 1948278000 1948278 false false false 4 true true false false 1991638000 1991638 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The sum of premiums revenue and policy fees revenue. Premiums revenue is premiums earned on the income statement for all insurance and reinsurance contracts adding premiums assumed from other insurers. Policy fees revenue is income from services rendered from acting in a fiduciary capacity, including fees earned from (1) acting as an agent for fiduciary placement and loans and (2) custody or investment advisory services. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Reinsurance ceded 4 pl_ReinsuranceCeded pl false debit duration Premiums related to insurance that are ceded to another insurer. false false false false false false false false false false true negated false 1 false true false false -334040000 -334040 false false false 2 false true false false -351664000 -351664 false false false 3 false true false false -1019598000 -1019598 false false false 4 false true false false -1104188000 -1104188 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Premiums related to insurance that are ceded to another insurer. No authoritative reference available. false 8 Net of reinsurance ceded 4 pl_NetOfReinsuranceCeded pl false credit duration Premiums and policy fees revenue after subtracting any amounts ceded to another insurer and adding premiums assumed from... false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 306225000 306225 false false false 2 false true false false 300833000 300833 false false false 3 false true false false 928680000 928680 false false false 4 false true false false 887450000 887450 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Premiums and policy fees revenue after subtracting any amounts ceded to another insurer and adding premiums assumed from other insurers. No authoritative reference available. true 9 Net investment income 4 us-gaap_NetInvestmentIncome us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 429548000 429548 false false false 2 false true false false 409956000 409956 false false false 3 false true false false 1264045000 1264045 false false false 4 false true false false 1262785000 1262785 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The income earned from investments in securities and property, equipment and other capital assets. It includes rent from property and equipment, dividends from shares in corporations, and interest from bonds, loans, mortgages, derivatives, commercial paper, bank accounts, certificates of deposits, treasuries, and other financial securities. It does not include realized gains and losses on investments. 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No authoritative reference available. false 12 All other investments 5 pl_RealizedInvestmentGainsLossesAllOtherInvestments pl false credit duration This item represents the total realized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of investments other than... false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 110787000 110787 false false false 2 false true false false 165576000 165576 false false false 3 false true false false 226390000 226390 false false false 4 false true false false 291532000 291532 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This item represents the total realized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of investments other than derivative financial instruments. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Other-than-temporary impairment losses 4 us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsAmount us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false true negated false 1 false true false false -12898000 -12898 false false false 2 false true false false -14873000 -14873 false false false 3 false true false false -71437000 -71437 false false false 4 false true false false -181064000 -181064 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents the amount of loss recognized for other than temporary impairments of investments in debt and equity securities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 16 false 14 Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income (before taxes) 4 pl_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsInOtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationBeforeTax pl false credit duration Noncredit portion of impairment losses on investments reclassified to other comprehensive income for those securities that... false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 5283000 5283 false false false 2 false true false false -16095000 -16095 false false false 3 false true false false 35155000 35155 false false false 4 false true false false 19299000 19299 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Noncredit portion of impairment losses on investments reclassified to other comprehensive income for those securities that meet the criteria to have impairment losses bifurcated between net income (credit losses) and other comprehensive income (noncredit losses). No authoritative reference available. false 15 Net impairment losses recognized in earnings 4 pl_NetOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesRecognizedInEarnings pl false debit duration The amount of loss recognized for other-than-temporary impairments of investments, net of noncredit impairment losses on... false false false false false false false false false false true negatedtotal false 1 false true false false -7615000 -7615 false false false 2 false true false false -30968000 -30968 false false false 3 false true false false -36282000 -36282 false false false 4 false true false false -161765000 -161765 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The amount of loss recognized for other-than-temporary impairments of investments, net of noncredit impairment losses on certain securities that are recognized in other comprehensive income. No authoritative reference available. true 16 Other income 4 us-gaap_OtherIncome us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 58190000 58190 false false false 2 false true false false 41222000 41222 false false false 3 false true false false 161134000 161134 false false false 4 false true false false 119471000 119471 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Reflects the sum of all other revenue and income recognized by the entity in the period not otherwise specified in the income statement. 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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 true 18 Benefits and expenses 3 us-gaap_BenefitsLossesAndExpensesAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 19 Benefits and settlement expenses, net of reinsurance ceded: (three months: 2010 - $308,594; 2009 - $308,979; nine months: 2010 - $971,061; 2009 - $1,014,907) 4 us-gaap_PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredNet us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 549567000 549567 false false false 2 false true false false 521218000 521218 false false false 3 false true false false 1582233000 1582233 false false false 4 false true false false 1503725000 1503725 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Provision for benefits, claims and claims settlement expenses incurred during the period net of the effects of contracts assumed and ceded. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 5 -Article 7 false 20 Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired 4 pl_AmortizationOfDeferredPolicyAcquisitionCostsAndValueOfBusinessAcquired pl false debit duration The sum of amortization related to deferred policy acquisition costs and capitalized value of business acquired asset. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 42386000 42386 false false false 2 false true false false 47240000 47240 false false false 3 false true false false 146761000 146761 false false false 4 false true false false 250837000 250837 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The sum of amortization related to deferred policy acquisition costs and capitalized value of business acquired asset. No authoritative reference available. false 21 Other operating expenses, net of reinsurance ceded: (three months: 2010 - $48,851; 2009 - $54,791; nine months: 2010 - $142,932; 2009 - $161,819) 4 pl_OtherOperatingExpensesNetOfReinsuranceCeded pl false debit duration Expenses associated with the normal operations not otherwise classified, net of the effects of contracts ceded. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 104151000 104151 false false false 2 false true false false 80985000 80985 false false false 3 false true false false 305246000 305246 false false false 4 false true false false 229803000 229803 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Expenses associated with the normal operations not otherwise classified, net of the effects of contracts ceded. No authoritative reference available. false 22 Total benefits and expenses 4 us-gaap_BenefitsLossesAndExpenses us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 696104000 696104 false false false 2 false true false false 649443000 649443 false false false 3 false true false false 2034240000 2034240 false false false 4 false true false false 1984365000 1984365 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The total amount of expense recognized during the period for future policy benefits, claims and claims adjustment costs, and for selling, general and administrative costs. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 5, 6, 7 -Article 7 true 23 Income before income tax 3 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 106997000 106997 false false false 2 false true false false 41636000 41636 false false false 3 false true false false 272733000 272733 false false false 4 false true false false 214010000 214010 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income (expense) before income (loss) from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, and noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Subparagraph 1(i) -Article 4 true 24 Income tax expense 3 us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 36626000 36626 false false false 2 false true false false 14051000 14051 false false false 3 false true false false 91412000 91412 false false false 4 false true false false 73533000 73533 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The sum of the current income tax expense (benefit) and the deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations. 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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph A1, A4, A5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 29 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph a Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph c(1) true 26 Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests 3 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false -77000 -77 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false -277000 -277 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The portion of net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest (if any) deducted in order to derive the portion attributable to the parent. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph a Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph c(1) Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph A1, A4, A5 false 27 Net income available to PLC's common shareowners 3 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 true true false false 70448000 70448 [1] false false false 2 true true false false 27585000 27585 [1] false false false 3 true true false false 181598000 181598 [1] false false false 4 true true false false 140477000 140477 [1] false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The portion of consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. If the entity does not present consolidated financial statements, the amount of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes. 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