Business Segment Information (Details Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Business Segment Information (Textuals) [Abstract]
Operating revenues from U.S. Operations	$ 11,700,000,000	$ 11,100,000,000	$ 34,200,000,000	$ 33,300,000,000
Percent of Operating revenues from U.S. Operations representative of consolidated operating revenues	69.00%	87.00%	69.00%	87.00%
Prior period reclassifications to conform with current period presentation in connection with reclassifications of income tax amounts that affected assets, liabilities and results of operations on a segment basis with no impact to the consolidated results		4,000,000		10,000,000
Prior period adjustment to consolidated operating earnings tax expense		44,000,000		6,000,000
Income Annuities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Prior period reclassifications to conform with current period presentation in connection with reclassifications that affected assets, liabilities and results of operations on a segment basis with no impact to the consolidated results		7,000,000		18,000,000
GMIB [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Prior period reclassifications to conform with current period presentation in connection with reclassifications that affected assets, liabilities and results of operations on a segment basis with no impact to the consolidated results		$ (82,000,000)		$ (11,000,000)