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UNITED STATESSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSIONWashington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

|ý                                                              | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13
      OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934    
|-------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|For the fiscal year ended
      December 31, 2008             
|OR                                                            
|o                                                              | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION
      13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|For the
      transition period
      from                  to

Commission file number of issuing entity: 333-126757-73

Protective Life Secured Trust 2008-16(as issuer of the Notes (as defined in this report))(Exact name of issuing entity as specified in its charter)

Protective Life Insurance Company(Exact name of depositor as specified in its charter)

Protective Life Insurance Company(Exact name of sponsor as specified in its charter)

|Delaware(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
      organization)                                                                                                                   |  | 35-6792609(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |  | ----------------------------------------------
|Protective Life
      Secured Trust 2008-16c/o Protective Life Insurance Company2801 Highway 280 SouthBirmingham,
      Alabama  35223(Address of principal executive
      offices, zip code)

Registrant's
      telephone number, including area code:(205) 268-1000

Securities
      registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:None.
Securities registered pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Act:None.


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes o     No ý

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes ý     No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter
period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has
been subject to such filing requirements for the past
90 days.    Yes o     No ý

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers
pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and
will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive
proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of
this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    Yes ý     No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated
filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a small reporting company.  See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):


Large accelerated filer  o
    
    Accelerated filer  o
    
    Non-accelerated filer  ý
    
    Smaller Reporting Company  oIndicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company, as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exhcange Act.    Yes o     No ý

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting
common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which
the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such
common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant's most recently
completed second fiscal quarter.    None.
(APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE REGISTRANTS)
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the
registrant's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.    Not
applicable.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.

INFORMATION PROVIDED PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION J(2) TO FORM 10-K

Information required under Item 1112(b) "Significant Obligor Financial Information"
and Item 1119 of Regulation AB "Affiliations and Certain Relationships and Related Transactions".

Protective Life Insurance Company ("PLIC"), the depositor under the program, is the sole
obligor under the funding agreement (the "Funding Agreement") securing the notes (the "Notes") issued by the Trust identified on the cover of this Form 10-K
and, as such, the originator of the Funding Agreement.  For information relating to PLIC, please see PLIC's
(Commission file number 001-31901) periodic reports, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and other information on file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").  You can read and copy these reports and other information at the
public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549.  You may obtain copies of
this material for a fee by writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, NE,
Washington, D.C. 20549.  You may obtain information about the operation of the Public Reference Room
by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.  You can also access some of this information electronically by
means of the SEC's website on the Internet athttp://www.sec.gov
, which contains reports and other information that PLIC has filed electronically with the SEC.

Information required under Item 1114(b)(2) "Credit Enhancement and Other Support, Except for
Certain Derivatives Instruments" and Item 1115(b) of Regulation AB "Significant Enhancement Provider Financial Information".
None.

Information required under Item 1117 of Regulation AB "Legal Proceedings".
None.

Information required under Item 1122 of Regulation AB "Compliance With Applicable Servicing Criteria" and
Item 1123 of Regulation AB "Servicer Compliance Statement".
See Exhibits 33.1, 33.2, 34.1, 34.2 and 35.1 to this Form 10-K.  In Exhibits 33.2 and 34.2 hereto, The Bank of New York Mellon has identified a material
instance of non-compliance with servicing criteria contained in Item 1122(d)(2)(i) of Regulation AB.  The Bank of New York Mellon has advised PLIC that such instance of
non-compliance is unrelated to PLIC, the Funding Agreement or the Notes, and that The Bank of New York Mellon's performance of its servicing functions in respect of each of
the foregoing was, and is, unaffected by such material instance of non-compliance.

PART IV
Item 15.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.


Exhibit 1.1
    
    Standard Selling Agent Agreement Terms,
      dated July 21, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to PLIC's
      Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-126757)).Exhibit 1.2
    
    Schedule identifying the differences between the Selling Agent Agreement relating to the Notes and Exhibit 1.1(a) to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006).Exhibit 3.1
    
    Schedule identifying the differences between the Certificate of
     Trust for the Trust and Exhibit 3.1(a) to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on
     May 9, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K filed on
     May 9, 2006).Exhibit 3.2
    
    Statutory Trust Agreement Terms,
      dated July 21, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to PLIC's
      Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-126757)).Exhibit 3.3
    
    Schedule identifying differences between the Statutory Trust Agreement relating to the Trust
      and Exhibit 3.2(a) to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006
      (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006).Exhibit 4.1
    
    Standard Indenture Terms,
      dated August 17, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to PLIC's
      Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-126757)).Exhibit 4.2
    
    Schedule identifying the differences between the Indenture relating to the Notes
      and Exhibit 4.1(a) to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006
      (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K
      filed on May 9, 2006).Exhibit 4.3
    
    Schedule identifying the differences between the Notes and Exhibit 4.2(a) to
     Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006
     (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K filed on
     May 9, 2006).Exhibit 4.4
    
    Schedule identifying the differences between the Funding Agreement issued by PLIC to the Trust
      and Exhibit 4.4(a) to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006
     (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K filed on
     May 9, 2006).Exhibit 4.5
    
    Standard Administrative Services Terms,
      dated July 21, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to PLIC's
      Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-126757)).Exhibit 4.6
    
    Schedule identifying the differences between the Administrative Services Agreement relating to the Trust
      and Exhibit 4.3(a) to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006
      (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K filed
      on May 9, 2006).Exhibit 4.7
    
    Schedule identifying the differences between the Omnibus Instrument relating to the Notes
      and Exhibit 4.5(a) to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006
     (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K filed
     on May 9, 2006).Exhibit 31.1
    
    Section 302 Certification.Exhibit 33.1
    
    PLIC report on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria.Exhibit 33.2
    
    The Bank of New York Mellon report on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria.Exhibit 34.1
    
    Attestation Report on PLIC assessment of compliance with servicing criteria.Exhibit 34.2
    
    Attestation Report on The Bank of New York Mellon assessment of compliance with servicing criteria.Exhibit 35.1
    
    Servicer compliance statement.




SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the
requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Protective Life Secured Trust 2008-16(by
      Protective Life Insurance Company as depositor)Date: March 16, 2009
    
    By:
    
    /s/JUDY
      WILSON
      Name: Judy WilsonTitle: Senior Vice
  PresidentSupplemental Information to be Furnished With Reports Filed Pursuant to
Section 15(d) of the Act by Registrants Which Have Not Registered Securities
Pursuant to Section 12 of the Act
No annual report or proxy materials have been sent to security holders and no such report or proxy materials are to be furnished to security holders subsquent to the filing of this Form 10-K.


EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
    
    DescriptionExhibit 1.1
    
    Standard Selling Agent Agreement Terms,
      dated July 21, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to PLIC's
      Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-126757)).Exhibit 1.2
    
    Schedule identifying the differences between the Selling Agent Agreement relating to the Notes and Exhibit 1.1(a) to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006).Exhibit 3.1
    
    Schedule identifying the differences between the Certificate of
     Trust for the Trust and Exhibit 3.1(a) to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on
     May 9, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K filed on
     May 9, 2006).Exhibit 3.2
    
    Statutory Trust Agreement Terms,
      dated July 21, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to PLIC's
      Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-126757)).Exhibit 3.3
    
    Schedule identifying differences between the Statutory Trust Agreement relating to the Trust
      and Exhibit 3.2(a) to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006
      (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006).Exhibit 4.1
    
    Standard Indenture Terms,
      dated August 17, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to PLIC's
      Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-126757)).Exhibit 4.2
    
    Schedule identifying the differences between the Indenture relating to the Notes
      and Exhibit 4.1(a) to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006
      (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K
      filed on May 9, 2006).Exhibit 4.3
    
    Schedule identifying the differences between the Notes and Exhibit 4.2(a) to
     Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006
     (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K filed on
     May 9, 2006).Exhibit 4.4
    
    Schedule identifying the differences between the Funding Agreement issued by PLIC to the Trust
      and Exhibit 4.4(a) to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006
     (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K filed on
     May 9, 2006).Exhibit 4.5
    
    Standard Administrative Services Terms,
      dated July 21, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to PLIC's
      Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-126757)).Exhibit 4.6
    
    Schedule identifying the differences between the Administrative Services Agreement relating to the Trust
      and Exhibit 4.3(a) to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006
      (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K filed
      on May 9, 2006).Exhibit 4.7
    
    Schedule identifying the differences between the Omnibus Instrument relating to the Notes
      and Exhibit 4.5(a) to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2006
     (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to Protective Life Secured Trust 2006-2's Form 8-K filed
     on May 9, 2006).Exhibit 31.1
    
    Section 302 Certification.Exhibit 33.1
    
    PLIC report on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria.Exhibit 33.2
    
    The Bank of New York Mellon report on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria.Exhibit 34.1
    
    Attestation Report on PLIC assessment of compliance with servicing criteria.Exhibit 34.2
    
    Attestation Report on The Bank of New York Mellon assessment of compliance with servicing criteria.Exhibit 35.1
    
    Servicer compliance statement.