Consolidated Supplementary Insurance Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	$ 24,619	$ 24,465	$ 16,415	$ 17,129
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	202,793	187,548	142,219
Policyholder Account Balances	217,700	210,757	138,515
Policyholder Dividends Payable	774	830	761
Unearned Revenue	2,316	2,088	2,040
Latin America [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	1,050	1,092	883
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	7,731	7,972	5,715
Policyholder Account Balances	6,159	6,232	4,643
Policyholder Dividends Payable	4	3	0
Unearned Revenue	514	508	416
Asia [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	9,554	8,630	1,436
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	38,528	34,220	4,240
Policyholder Account Balances	59,739	54,584	981
Policyholder Dividends Payable	53	44	0
Unearned Revenue	655	423	344
Europe, the Middle East and Africa [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	1,866	1,887	124
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	8,113	7,882	376
Policyholder Account Balances	14,235	14,017	1,128
Policyholder Dividends Payable	58	61	0
Unearned Revenue	103	13	16
Retail [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	11,681	12,404	13,523
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	72,238	68,871	66,403
Policyholder Account Balances	69,553	66,193	65,453
Policyholder Dividends Payable	659	722	761
Unearned Revenue	995	1,091	1,202
Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	377	387	385
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	19,626	18,493	17,793
Policyholder Account Balances	9,273	9,676	9,486
Policyholder Dividends Payable	0	0	0
Unearned Revenue	0	0	0
Corporate Benefit Funding [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	89	62	60
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	49,858	43,832	41,830
Policyholder Account Balances	56,367	57,828	55,556
Policyholder Dividends Payable	0	0	0
Unearned Revenue	49	53	62
Corporate & Other [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	2	3	4
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	6,699	6,278	5,862
Policyholder Account Balances	2,374	2,227	1,268
Policyholder Dividends Payable	0	0	0
Unearned Revenue	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

The sum of the following as of the balance sheet date: 1) The known and estimated amounts payable as of the balance sheet date to policyholders pertaining to insured events for long-duration contracts, which can be viewed as either (a) the present value of future benefits to be paid to or on behalf of policyholders and expenses less the present value of future net premiums payable under the insurance contracts or (b) the accumulated amount of net premiums already collected less the accumulated amount of benefits and expenses already paid to or on behalf of policyholders, 2) The liability to the policyholders for funds held that are returnable under the terms of insurance contracts that were not separately reported and 3) The excess of the cumulative actual closed block earnings over the cumulative expected (actuarially determined) closed block earnings (each) for the period from the actuarial calculation date to the date of measurement. The excess will result in future dividends to closed block policyholders, unless offset by less favorable than expected future performance of the closed block. The policyholder dividend obligation, which may not have a negative balance, recognizes that a portion of earnings in certain cases will not inure to the stockholders of the insurance entity.

+ References+ Details

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the liability for dividends that are payable to the policyholders based upon the terms of the underlying insurance contracts.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 7

-Section 03

-Paragraph 14

-Subparagraph a

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.14(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 60

-Paragraph 60

-Subparagraph g

-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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 50

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6483535&loc=d3e16392-158451

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 120

-Paragraph 5, 6

-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 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 95-1

-Paragraph 14-18

-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.

+ Details