SCHEDULE IV - REINSURANCE (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Life insurance in force
Life insurance in force, Gross amount	$ 115,034	$ 127,978	$ 119,024
Life insurance in force, Ceded to other companies	94,041	98,527	97,574
Life insurance in force, Assumed from other companies	291,256	296,291	305,313
Life insurance in force, Net amount	$ 312,249	$ 325,742	$ 326,763
Life insurance in force, Percentage of amount assumed to net	93.30%	91.00%	93.40%
Premiums and contract charges:
Premiums and contract charges, Goss amount	$ 715	$ 728	$ 1,084
Premiums and contract charges, Ceded to other companies	347	356	392
Premiums and contract charges, Assumed from other companies	941	966	744
Premiums and contract charges, Net amount	$ 1,309	$ 1,338	$ 1,436
Premiums and contract charges, Percentage of amount assumed to net	71.90%	72.20%	51.80%
Reinsurance or coinsurance income netted against premiums ceded	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Life insurance
Premiums and contract charges:
Premiums and contract charges, Goss amount	675	689	1,022
Premiums and contract charges, Ceded to other companies	325	334	353
Premiums and contract charges, Assumed from other companies	869	898	674
Premiums and contract charges, Net amount	$ 1,219	$ 1,253	$ 1,343
Premiums and contract charges, Percentage of amount assumed to net	71.30%	71.70%	50.20%
Accident and health insurance
Premiums and contract charges:
Premiums and contract charges, Goss amount	$ 40	$ 39	$ 62
Premiums and contract charges, Ceded to other companies	22	22	39
Premiums and contract charges, Assumed from other companies	72	68	70
Premiums and contract charges, Net amount	$ 90	$ 85	$ 93
Premiums and contract charges, Percentage of amount assumed to net	80.00%	80.00%	75.30%

Represents the amount of reinsurance or coinsurance income netted against premiums ceded.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of earned premiums and contract charges that are assumed and earned by another insurer as a result of reinsurance arrangements.

+ References

No definition available.

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Amount, after premiums and contract charges ceded to other entities and premiums and contract charges assumed by the entity, of premiums and contract charges earned.

+ References

No definition available.

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Amount of earned premiums assumed from other entities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 235
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574992-122915

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
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-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 605
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b),(c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547

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Amount, before premiums ceded to other entities and premiums assumed by the entity, of premiums earned.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 605
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b),(c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574992-122915

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

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- Definition

Amount of life insurance issued and outstanding assumed from other entities. Includes, but not limited to, dividends and adjustments to face value.

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Amount of life insurance issued and outstanding ceded to other entities. Includes, but not limited to, dividends and adjustments to face value.

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Amount before contracts ceded to other entities and contracts assumed by the entity of life insurance issued and outstanding. Includes, but not limited to, dividends and adjustments to face value.

+ References

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Amount after contracts ceded to other entities and contracts assumed by the entity of life insurance issued and outstanding. Includes, but not limited to, dividends and adjustments to face value.

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Percentage of assumed life insurance issued and outstanding contracts to life insurance issued and outstanding after contracts ceded to other entities and contracts assumed by the entity. Includes, but not limited to, dividends and adjustments to face value.

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- Definition

Percentage of assumed premiums earned by the entity to net premiums earned.

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- References

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