Statutory Financial Information and Dividend Limitations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statutory Financial Information and Dividend Limitations
Statutory net income (loss)	$ 1,010,000,000	$ 447,000,000	$ 382,000,000
Statutory capital and surplus	2,710,000,000	2,880,000,000
Maximum amount of dividends ALIC able to pay without prior IL DOI approval	819,000,000
Deficit position used to determine payment of dividends	122,000,000
Multiplier of authorized control level RBC to determine action level RBC	2
Authorized control level RBC	$ 499,000,000