Consolidated Supplementary Insurance Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	$ 24,761	$ 24,619	$ 24,465
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	211,642	202,793	187,548
Policyholder Account Balances	225,821	217,700	210,757
Policyholder Dividends Payable	728	774	830
Unearned Revenue	2,678	2,316	2,088
Latin America [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	1,231	1,050	1,092
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	8,856	7,731	7,972
Policyholder Account Balances	7,199	6,159	6,232
Policyholder Dividends Payable	0	4	3
Unearned Revenue	627	514	508
Asia [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	9,554	9,554	8,630
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	39,061	38,528	34,220
Policyholder Account Balances	64,003	59,739	54,584
Policyholder Dividends Payable	65	53	44
Unearned Revenue	831	655	423
Europe, the Middle East and Africa [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	1,998	1,866	1,887
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	7,521	8,113	7,882
Policyholder Account Balances	12,679	14,235	14,017
Policyholder Dividends Payable	53	58	61
Unearned Revenue	270	103	13
Retail [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	11,500	11,681	12,404
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	74,887	72,238	68,871
Policyholder Account Balances	67,023	69,553	66,193
Policyholder Dividends Payable	610	659	722
Unearned Revenue	911	995	1,091
Group, Voluntary and Worksite Benefits [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	382	377	387
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	21,078	19,626	18,493
Policyholder Account Balances	8,918	9,273	9,676
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	96	89	62
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	53,542	49,858	43,832
Policyholder Account Balances	63,523	56,367	57,828
Policyholder Dividends Payable	0	0	0
Unearned Revenue	39	49	53
Corporate & Other [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	0	2	3
Future Policy Benefits, Other Policy-related Balances and Policyholder Dividend Obligation	6,697	6,699	6,278
Policyholder Account Balances	2,476	2,374	2,227
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 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 2: 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.

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 SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 14

-Subparagraph a

-Article 7

Reference 5: 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 6: 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.

+ Details