OPERATING SEGMENTS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended					3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 Life Marketing	Jun. 30, 2010 Life Marketing	Jun. 30, 2011 Life Marketing	Jun. 30, 2010 Life Marketing	Dec. 31, 2010 Life Marketing	Jun. 30, 2011 Acquisitions	Jun. 30, 2010 Acquisitions	Jun. 30, 2011 Acquisitions	Jun. 30, 2010 Acquisitions	Dec. 31, 2010 Acquisitions	Jun. 30, 2011 Annuities	Jun. 30, 2010 Annuities	Jun. 30, 2011 Annuities	Jun. 30, 2010 Annuities	Dec. 31, 2010 Annuities	Jun. 30, 2011 Stable Value Products	Jun. 30, 2010 Stable Value Products	Jun. 30, 2011 Stable Value Products	Jun. 30, 2010 Stable Value Products	Dec. 31, 2010 Stable Value Products	Jun. 30, 2011 Asset Protection	Jun. 30, 2010 Asset Protection	Jun. 30, 2011 Asset Protection	Jun. 30, 2010 Asset Protection	Dec. 31, 2010 Asset Protection	Jun. 30, 2011 Corporate and Other	Mar. 31, 2011 Corporate and Other	Jun. 30, 2010 Corporate and Other	Jun. 30, 2011 Corporate and Other	Jun. 30, 2010 Corporate and Other	Dec. 31, 2010 Corporate and Other	Jun. 30, 2011 Adjustments	Dec. 31, 2010 Adjustments	Mar. 31, 2010 Lender's Indemnity line of business
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Decrease in reserves related to final settlement in runoff line of business																																											$ 7,800,000
Pre-tax earnings relating to settlement of a dispute																																				8,500,000
Revenues	902,784,000		712,102,000		1,739,864,000		1,503,872,000			326,427,000	298,128,000	656,764,000	607,132,000		242,771,000	177,579,000	442,894,000	376,296,000		153,602,000	85,475,000	283,734,000	226,055,000		46,421,000	37,273,000	91,136,000	85,229,000		69,777,000	67,769,000	137,680,000	134,200,000		63,786,000		45,878,000	127,656,000	74,960,000
Segment Operating Income (Loss)	126,157,000		84,522,000		223,630,000		182,718,000			33,704,000	35,755,000	59,943,000	76,433,000		39,429,000	30,190,000	71,820,000	61,559,000		24,375,000	605,000	37,460,000	18,792,000		19,142,000	10,979,000	28,337,000	22,006,000		5,530,000	6,616,000	12,072,000	19,683,000		3,977,000		377,000	13,998,000	(15,755,000)
Realized investment (losses) gains - investments	49,617,000		50,578,000		47,493,000		86,394,000
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives	(32,797,000)		(70,513,000)		(24,000,000)		(103,176,000)
Income tax expense	(49,909,000)		(23,216,000)		(86,538,000)		(54,786,000)
Net income available to PLC's common shareowners	93,068,000	[1]	41,371,000	[1]	160,585,000	[1]	111,150,000	[1]
Realized gain (losses) on investments
Realized investment (losses) gains - investments, gross	49,430,000		50,906,000		48,239,000		86,936,000
Less: related amortization of DAC/VOBA	(187,000)		328,000		746,000		542,000
Realized investment (losses) gains - investments	49,617,000		50,578,000		47,493,000		86,394,000
Realized gain (losses) on derivatives
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives, gross	(34,993,000)		(119,888,000)		(47,679,000)		(142,960,000)
Less: settlements on certain interest rate swaps	0		42,000		0		84,000
Less: derivative activity related to certain annuities	(2,196,000)		(49,417,000)		(23,679,000)		(39,868,000)
Realized investment gains (losses) - derivatives	(32,797,000)		(70,513,000)		(24,000,000)		(103,176,000)
Other-than-temporary impairments	9,487,000		16,798,000		15,150,000		28,667,000
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	46,846,188,000				46,846,188,000				43,596,285,000	10,165,308,000		10,165,308,000		9,623,991,000	11,677,513,000		11,677,513,000		10,270,540,000	14,140,861,000		14,140,861,000		12,603,533,000	2,562,165,000		2,562,165,000		3,069,330,000	698,051,000		698,051,000		691,973,000	7,580,311,000			7,580,311,000		7,313,232,000	21,979,000	23,686,000
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	4,028,452,000				4,028,452,000				3,851,743,000	2,532,898,000		2,532,898,000		2,475,621,000	892,883,000		892,883,000		810,681,000	518,129,000		518,129,000		471,163,000	3,070,000		3,070,000		6,903,000	78,192,000		78,192,000		83,878,000	3,280,000			3,280,000		3,497,000
Goodwill	113,209,000				113,209,000				114,758,000	10,192,000		10,192,000		10,192,000	40,263,000		40,263,000		41,812,000											62,671,000		62,671,000		62,671,000	83,000			83,000		83,000
Total assets	$ 50,987,849,000				$ 50,987,849,000				$ 47,562,786,000	$ 12,708,398,000		$ 12,708,398,000		$ 12,109,804,000	$ 12,610,659,000		$ 12,610,659,000		$ 11,123,033,000	$ 14,658,990,000		$ 14,658,990,000		$ 13,074,696,000	$ 2,565,235,000		$ 2,565,235,000		$ 3,076,233,000	$ 838,914,000		$ 838,914,000		$ 838,522,000	$ 7,583,674,000			$ 7,583,674,000		$ 7,316,812,000	$ 21,979,000	$ 23,686,000

[1] Protective Life Corporation ("PLC")