Investments (Details Textuals 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Fair Value, Concentration of Risk, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities relating to variable interest entities	$ 353,927	$ 324,797
RMBS backed by sub-prime mortgage loans [Member] \| ABS [Member]
Fair Value, Concentration of Risk, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities relating to variable interest entities	997	1,119
Residential, Subprime, Financing Receivable [Member] \| ABS [Member]
Fair Value, Concentration of Risk, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Gross Unrealized Loss	$ 350	$ 317
ABS [Member] \| Vintage Year, 2005 or Prior [Member]
Fair Value, Concentration of Risk, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Percentage ABS supported by Sub-prime Mortgage Loans	71.00%	88.00%
Rated Aa/AA or Better [Member]
Fair Value, Concentration of Risk, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Percentage ABS supported by Sub-prime Mortgage Loans	24.00%	54.00%
National Association Of Insurance Commissioners Two Or Better [Member]
Fair Value, Concentration of Risk, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
ABS supported by sub-prime mortgage loans rated certain National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") rating as a percentage of total ABS supported by sub-prime mortgage loans	68.00%	66.00%

For an unclassified balance sheet, total of debt securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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+ Details