Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	$ 16,461	$ 15,240	$ 14,519	$ 13,377
VOBA	8,143	9,379	9,997	11,088
DAC and VOBA	24,604	24,619	24,516	24,465
Latin America [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	838	693
VOBA	362	357
DAC and VOBA	1,200	1,050
Asia [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	3,796	2,990
VOBA	5,855	6,564
DAC and VOBA	9,651	9,554
Europe, the Middle East and Africa [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	861	623
VOBA	1,061	1,243
DAC and VOBA	1,922	1,866
Retail [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	10,487	10,470
VOBA	863	1,211
DAC and VOBA	11,350	11,681
Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	382	377
VOBA	0	0
DAC and VOBA	382	377
Corporate Benefit Funding [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	97	86
VOBA	2	3
DAC and VOBA	99	89
Corporate & Other [Member]
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]
DAC	0	1
VOBA	0	1
DAC and VOBA	$ 0	$ 2