Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	$ 16,239	$ 15,240	$ 14,236	$ 13,377
VOBA	8,866	9,379	10,911	11,088
DAC and VOBA	25,105	24,619	25,147	24,465
Latin America [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	781	693
VOBA	377	357
DAC and VOBA	1,158	1,050
Asia [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	2,950	2,647
VOBA	6,084	6,553
DAC and VOBA	9,034	9,200
Europe, the Middle East and Africa [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	1,119	966
VOBA	1,189	1,254
DAC and VOBA	2,308	2,220
Retail Products [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	10,557	10,103
VOBA	1,213	1,211
DAC and VOBA	11,770	11,314
Group, Voluntary and Worksite Benefits [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	748	744
VOBA	0	0
DAC and VOBA	748	744
Corporate Benefit Funding [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	83	86
VOBA	2	3
DAC and VOBA	85	89
Corporate & Other [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	1	1
VOBA	1	1
DAC and VOBA	$ 2	$ 2