Segment Information (Details Textuals) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 Segment	Sep. 30, 2011 Segment, Divested Business [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Segment, Divested Business [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Latin America [Member] Segment, Divested Business [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Latin America [Member] Segment, Divested Business [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 South Asia and India Businesses [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 South Asia and India Businesses [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Corporate & Other [Member] Segment, Divested Business [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Corporate & Other [Member] Segment, Divested Business [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Certain Individual Income Disability and Property & Casualty Products [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Certain Individual Income Disability and Property & Casualty Products [Member]
Segment Information [Abstract]
Number of segments	6
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Prior period operating earnings reclassifications to conform with current period presentation		$ (44)	$ (54)	$ (3)	$ (10)	$ 0	$ 4	$ (41)	$ (44)	$ 14	$ 17
Prior period adjustment to operating earnings tax expense		$ (27)	$ (32)	$ (2)	$ (5)	$ 2	$ 5	$ (25)	$ (27)	$ (6)	$ (29)