Other Expenses (Other Expenses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Employee related costs (1)	$ 876	$ 921	$ 2,714	$ 2,752
Third party staffing costs	425	435	1,214	1,217
General and administrative expenses	273	290	733	884
Pension, postretirement and postemployment benefit costs	57	45	170	141
Premium taxes, other taxes, and licenses & fees	164	193	508	559
Commissions and other variable expenses	1,514	1,403	4,433	4,257
Capitalization of DAC	(882)	(810)	(2,531)	(2,440)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	797	732	2,110	2,132
Amortization of negative VOBA	(4)	(7)	(24)	(45)
Interest expense on debt	223	267	731	862
Total other expenses	3,443	3,469	10,058	10,319
Net change in cash surrender value of investments, net of premiums paid	$ (59)	$ (40)	$ (176)	$ (57)