CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Premiums, reinsurance ceded	$ 402	$ 447	$ 485
Contract charges, reinsurance ceded	252	283	291
Contract benefits, reinsurance ceded	644	631	673
Interest credited to contractholder funds, reinsurance ceded	$ 28	$ 27	$ 32

Premiums assumed and earned by another insurer as a result of reinsurance arrangements.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 605

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486662&loc=d3e27175-158546

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 113

-Paragraph 16

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 17

-Article 12

Reference 4: 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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 1

-Article 7

Name:	us-gaap_CededPremiumsEarnedLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration