Other Expenses (Other Expenses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Employee related costs	$ 922	$ 937
Third party staffing costs	369	380
General and administrative expenses	223	243
Pension, postretirement and postemployment benefit costs	56	49
Premium taxes, other taxes, and licenses & fees	170	179
Commissions and other variable expenses	1,449	1,416
Capitalization of DAC	(812)	(796)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	624	693
Amortization of negative VOBA	(10)	(22)
Interest expense on debt	234	286
Total other expenses	$ 3,225	$ 3,365