Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	$ 16,075	$ 15,240	$ 14,739	$ 13,377
VOBA	8,430	9,379	10,495	11,088
DAC and VOBA	24,505	24,619	25,234	24,465
Latin America [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	769	693
VOBA	355	357
DAC and VOBA	1,124	1,050
Asia [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	3,181	2,647
VOBA	6,027	6,553
DAC and VOBA	9,208	9,200
Europe, the Middle East and Africa [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	1,095	966
VOBA	1,036	1,254
DAC and VOBA	2,131	2,220
Retail [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	10,182	10,103
VOBA	1,010	1,211
DAC and VOBA	11,192	11,314
Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	759	744
VOBA	0	0
DAC and VOBA	759	744
Corporate Benefit Funding [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	88	86
VOBA	2	3
DAC and VOBA	90	89
Corporate & Other [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	1	1
VOBA	0	1
DAC and VOBA	$ 1	$ 2