Investments (Details 42) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Mortgage loans, net [Member]
Accretable yield on purchased distressed assets acquired
Accretable yield, beginning of period	$ 170	$ 0
Accretion	(56)	(3)
Disposals	0	0
Reclassification to/ from nonaccretable difference	140	0
Accretable yield, end of period	254	170
Fixed maturity securities [Member]
Accretable yield on purchased distressed assets acquired
Accretable yield, beginning of period	541	0
Accretion	(114)	(62)
Disposals	(65)	0
Reclassification to/ from nonaccretable difference	174	(103)
Accretable yield, end of period	2,311	541
Investments Purchased [Member] \| Mortgage loans, net [Member]
Accretable yield on purchased distressed assets acquired
Additions	0	0
Investments Purchased [Member] \| Fixed maturity securities [Member]
Accretable yield on purchased distressed assets acquired
Additions	1,775	606
Acquisitions [Member] \| Mortgage loans, net [Member]
Accretable yield on purchased distressed assets acquired
Additions	0	173
Acquisitions [Member] \| Fixed maturity securities [Member]
Accretable yield on purchased distressed assets acquired
Additions	$ 0	$ 100

The aggregate excess of a loan's cash flows expected to be collected over the investor's initial investment in the loan for loans accounted for as debt securities, with evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination that were acquired by completion of a transfer for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the investor will be unable to collect all contractually required payments receivable.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 03-3

-Paragraph 16

-Subparagraph a(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 15

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6891207&loc=d3e13503-111538

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544

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Current period recognition due to accretion of the excess of a loan's cash flows expected to be collected over the investor's initial investment in the loan for loans accounted for as debt securities, with evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination that were acquired by completion of a transfer for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the investor will be unable to collect all contractually required payments receivable.

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Increases in the aggregate excess of a loan's cash flows expected to be collected over the investor's initial investment in the loan due to the acquisition of similar loans accounted for as debt securities during the period. This relates to loans accounted for as debt securities, with evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination that were acquired by completion of a transfer for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the investor will be unable to collect all contractually required payments receivable.

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Sale or transfer of a loan during the period resulting in a reduction in the excess of a loan's cash flows expected to be collected over the investor's initial investment. This relates to loans accounted for as debt securities, with evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination that was acquired by completion of a transfer for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the investor will be unable to collect all contractually required payments receivable.

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Change in the estimate of cash flows expected to be collected, after acquisition of a loan, which results in an increase in accretable yield (for example, if actual cash flows are significantly greater than previously expected). This relates to loans accounted for as debt securities, with evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination that was acquired by completion of a transfer for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the investor will be unable to collect all contractually required payments receivable.

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The aggregate excess of a loan's cash flows expected to be collected over the investor's initial investment in the loan. This relates to loans not accounted for as debt securities, with evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination that were acquired by completion of a transfer for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the investor will be unable to collect all contractually required payments receivable.

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The change in the estimate of cash flows expected to be collected, after acquisition of loans, which results in an increase in accretable yield (for example, if actual cash flows are significantly greater than previously expected). This relates to loans not accounted for as debt securities, with evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination that was acquired by completion of a transfer for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the investor will be unable to collect all contractually required payments receivable.

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