Goodwill (Details Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Retail [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Retail [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Retail [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Corporate Benefit Funding [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Corporate Benefit Funding [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Corporate Benefit Funding [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Corporate & Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Corporate & Other [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Retail Segment, Life & Other Reporting Unit [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Retail Segment, Annuities Reporting Unit [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Japan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Japan [Member]
Goodwill [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment, net of income tax	$ 1,600,000,000	$ 1,600,000,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Accumulated impairment loss	1,900,000,000	1,900,000,000		1,700,000,000									241,000,000	65,000,000
Goodwill	10,024,000,000	10,024,000,000	11,935,000,000	1,433,000,000		2,955,000,000	138,000,000		308,000,000	900,000,000		900,000,000	229,000,000	405,000,000			5,300,000,000	5,400,000,000
Goodwill impairment testing attributed to reportable segments					210,000,000			9,000,000			186,000,000
Goodwill impairment testing attributed to reporting unit															$ 34,000,000	$ 176,000,000