2.4.0.84060 - Disclosure - Reinsurance (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalse$D2013Q2http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000352736duration2013-04-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false USDfalsefalse$D2012Q2http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000352736duration2012-04-01T00:00:002012-06-30T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3false USDfalsefalse$D2013Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000352736duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4false USDfalsefalse$D2012Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000352736duration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-06-30T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 4alic_RevenueNetOfReinsuranceRecoveriesLifeAbstractalic_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Effects of reinsurance on revenue2false 5alic_DirectLifeAndAnnuityPremiumsAndContractChargesalic_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse520000000520USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse536000000536USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse10350000001035USD$falsetruefalse4truefalsefalse10710000001071USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryPremiums and contract charges related to life insurance, accident and health insurance and annuity contracts that are written and earned directly by the insurer before adding contracts assumed from other insurers or subtracting any amounts assumed by other insurers.No definition available.false2Direct premiums and contract charges3false 5alic_LifeAndAnnuityPremiumsAndContractChargesNetOfReinsuranceCededalic_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse410000000410USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse408000000408USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse819000000819USD$falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse809000000809USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryPremiums recognized as revenue in the period on all life insurance and reinsurance contracts, as well as accident and health insurance and reinsurance contracts, after subtracting any amounts ceded to another insurer. Also includes an amount that an insurer adds to a policy's premium, or deducts from a policy's cash value or contract holder's account, as compensation for services rendered (may include fees), after subtracting any amounts ceded to another insurer.No definition available.true2Total premiums and contract charges4true 4alic_CostsNetOfReinsuranceRecoveriesLifeAbstractalic_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Effects of reinsurance on cost and expenses5false 5alic_DirectLifeAndAnnuityContractBenefitsalic_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse441000000441USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse499000000499USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse871000000871USD$falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse901000000901USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryContract benefits related to provision for benefits, claims and claims settlement expenses directly incurred during the period for life and annuity insurance contracts, as well as accident and health insurance contracts.No definition available.false2Direct contract benefits6false 5alic_DirectLifeAndAnnuityInterestCreditedToContractholderFundsalic_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse302000000302USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse360000000360USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse637000000637USD$falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse734000000734USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryInterest credited to contractholder funds which has been directly incurred and expensed during the period for life and annuity insurance contracts, as well as accident and health insurance contracts.No definition available.false2Direct interest credited to contractholder funds7false 5alic_LifeAndAnnuityContractBenefitsNetOfReinsuranceRecoveriesalic_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse396000000396USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse388000000388USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse777000000777USD$falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse752000000752USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryProvision for benefits, claims and claims settlement expenses incurred during the period for life and annuity insurance contracts, as well as accident and health insurance contracts, net of the effects of contracts assumed and ceded.No definition available.true2Contract benefits, net of reinsurance8false 5us-gaap_InterestCreditedToPolicyholdersAccountBalancesus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse304000000304USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse360000000360USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse643000000643USD$falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse731000000731USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryInterest allocated to policyholders holding contracts under which the insurer must provide a guaranteed yield.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.6) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480726&loc=d3e6691-158385 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 97 -Paragraph 21 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 6 -Article 7 true2Interest credited to contractholder funds, net of reinsurance9false 0truefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5false USDtruefalse$D2013Q2_AffiliatedEntityMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000352736duration2013-04-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:00falsefalseAffiliatedei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$nanafalse0Affiliate10true 4alic_RevenueNetOfReinsuranceRecoveriesLifeAbstractalic_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Effects of reinsurance on revenue11false 5alic_AssumedLifeAndAnnuityPremiumsAndContractChargesalic_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse3100000031USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2900000029USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse6100000061USD$falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse5700000057USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryPremiums and contract charges related to life insurance, accident and health insurance and annuity contracts that are assumed and earned from another insurer as a result of reinsurance arrangements.No definition available.false2Assumed premiums and contract charges12true 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5alic_ReinsuranceCededLifeAndAnnuityContractBenefitsalic_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse-75000000-75USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-133000000-133USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-159000000-159USD$falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse-194000000-194USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount in the period for estimated recoupment of contract benefits under life insurance, accident and health insurance, and annuity contracts ceded.No definition available.false2Ceded contract benefits23false 5alic_ReinsuranceCededInterestCreditedToPolicyholdersAccountBalancesalic_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse-9000000-9USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse-7000000-7USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse-14000000-14USD$falsetruefalse4truefalsefalse-14000000-14USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount in the period for estimated recoupment of interest credited expense under annuity contracts ceded.No definition available.false2Ceded interest credited to contractholder fundsfalseReinsurance (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.allstate.com/role/DisclosureReinsuranceDetails423