Business and Basis of Presentation	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Business and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Business and Basis of Presentation	BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION Pruco Life Insurance Company, or “Pruco Life”, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Insurance which in turn is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc., or “Prudential Financial.” Pruco Life was organized in 1971 under the laws of the State of Arizona. It is licensed to sell life insurance and annuities in the District of Columbia, Guam and in all States except New York, and sells such products primarily through affiliated and unaffiliated distributors. Pruco Life has two subsidiaries, including one wholly-owned insurance subsidiary, Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, or “PLNJ,” and one indirect subsidiary formed in 2009 for the purpose of holding certain commercial loan investments. Pruco Life and its subsidiaries are together referred to as (the "Company", "we" or "our") and all financial information is shown on a consolidated basis. PLNJ is a stock life insurance company organized in 1982 under the laws of the state of New Jersey. It is licensed to sell life insurance and annuities in New Jersey and New York only. Acquisition of The Hartford’s Individual Life Insurance Business On January 2, 2013, Prudential Insurance acquired The Hartford Life Business through a reinsurance transaction. Under the agreement, Prudential Insurance paid The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. cash consideration of $615 million, primarily in the form of a ceding commission to provide reinsurance for approximately 700,000 life insurance policies with net retained face amount in force of approximately $141 billion. This acquisition increased Prudential Insurance's scale in the U.S. individual life insurance market, particularly universal life products, and provides complementary distribution opportunities through expanded wirehouse and bank distribution channels. In connection with this transaction, Prudential Insurance retroceded to the Company the portion of the assumed business that is classified as guaranteed universal life insurance (“GUL”), with account values of approximately $4 billion as of January 2, 2013. The Company reinsured more than 79,000 GUL policies with a net retained face amount in force of approximately $30 billion. The Company then retroceded all of the GUL policies to an affiliated captive reinsurance company. Collectively, these transactions do not have a material impact on equity, as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), or the statutory capital and surplus of the Company. Basis of Presentation The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates include those used in determining deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC") and related amortization; amortization of deferred sales inducements; valuation of investments including derivatives and the recognition of other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”); future policy benefits including guarantees; reinsurance recoverables; provision for income taxes and valuation of deferred tax assets; and reserves for contingent liabilities, including reserves for losses in connection with unresolved legal matters. Out of Period Adjustments 2015 results include a pre-tax expense of $32 million for out-of-period adjustments primarily related to 2014. These adjustments primarily relate to reserve, DAC and related amortization impacts for certain variable annuities products with optional living benefit guarantees. Management has evaluated the impact of all out-of-period adjustments in 2015, both individually and in the aggregate, and concluded that they are not material to the current quarter or to any previously reported quarterly or annual financial statements. Reclassifications Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Pruco Life Insurance Company, or “Pruco Life”, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Insurance which in turn is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc., or “Prudential Financial.” Pruco Life was organized in 1971 under the laws of the State of Arizona. It is licensed to sell life insurance and annuities in the District of Columbia, Guam and in all States except New York, and sells such products primarily through affiliated and unaffiliated distributors.

Pruco Life has two subsidiaries, including one wholly-owned insurance subsidiary, Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, or “PLNJ,” and one indirect subsidiary formed in 2009 for the purpose of holding certain commercial loan investments. Pruco Life and its subsidiaries are together referred to as (the "Company", "we" or "our") and all financial information is shown on a consolidated basis.

PLNJ is a stock life insurance company organized in 1982 under the laws of the state of New Jersey. It is licensed to sell life insurance and annuities in New Jersey and New York only.

Acquisition of The Hartford’s Individual Life Insurance Business

On January 2, 2013, Prudential Insurance acquired The Hartford Life Business through a reinsurance transaction. Under the agreement, Prudential Insurance paid The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. cash consideration of $615 million, primarily in the form of a ceding commission to provide reinsurance for approximately 700,000 life insurance policies with net retained face amount in force of approximately $141 billion. This acquisition increased Prudential Insurance's scale in the U.S. individual life insurance market, particularly universal life products, and provides complementary distribution opportunities through expanded wirehouse and bank distribution channels.

In connection with this transaction, Prudential Insurance retroceded to the Company the portion of the assumed business that is classified as guaranteed universal life insurance (“GUL”), with account values of approximately $4 billion as of January 2, 2013. The Company reinsured more than 79,000 GUL policies with a net retained face amount in force of approximately $30 billion. The Company then retroceded all of the GUL policies to an affiliated captive reinsurance company. Collectively, these transactions do not have a material impact on equity, as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), or the statutory capital and surplus of the Company.

Basis of Presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The most significant estimates include those used in determining deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC") and related amortization; amortization of deferred sales inducements; valuation of investments including derivatives and the recognition of other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”); future policy benefits including guarantees; reinsurance recoverables; provision for income taxes and valuation of deferred tax assets; and reserves for contingent liabilities, including reserves for losses in connection with unresolved legal matters.

Out of Period Adjustments

2015 results include a pre-tax expense of $32 million for out-of-period adjustments primarily related to 2014. These adjustments primarily relate to reserve, DAC and related amortization impacts for certain variable annuities products with optional living benefit guarantees.

Management has evaluated the impact of all out-of-period adjustments in 2015, both individually and in the aggregate, and concluded that they are not material to the current quarter or to any previously reported quarterly or annual financial statements.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.