Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended							3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended								3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Realized capital gains and losses	Sep. 30, 2012 Realized capital gains and losses	Sep. 30, 2013 Realized capital gains and losses	Sep. 30, 2012 Realized capital gains and losses	Sep. 30, 2013 Net investment income	Sep. 30, 2012 Net investment income	Sep. 30, 2013 Net investment income	Sep. 30, 2012 Net investment income	Sep. 30, 2013 Interest credited to contractholder funds	Sep. 30, 2012 Interest credited to contractholder funds	Sep. 30, 2013 Interest credited to contractholder funds	Sep. 30, 2012 Interest credited to contractholder funds	Sep. 30, 2013 Contract benefits	Sep. 30, 2012 Contract benefits	Sep. 30, 2013 Contract benefits	Sep. 30, 2012 Contract benefits	Sep. 30, 2013 Fixed income securities	Sep. 30, 2012 Fixed income securities	Sep. 30, 2013 Fixed income securities	Sep. 30, 2012 Fixed income securities	Sep. 30, 2013 Municipal	Sep. 30, 2012 Municipal	Sep. 30, 2013 Municipal	Sep. 30, 2012 Municipal	Sep. 30, 2013 Corporate	Sep. 30, 2012 Corporate	Sep. 30, 2013 Corporate	Sep. 30, 2012 Corporate	Sep. 30, 2013 ABS	Sep. 30, 2012 ABS	Sep. 30, 2013 ABS	Sep. 30, 2012 ABS	Sep. 30, 2012 RMBS	Sep. 30, 2013 CMBS	Sep. 30, 2012 CMBS	Sep. 30, 2013 CMBS	Sep. 30, 2012 CMBS	Sep. 30, 2012 Redeemable preferred stock	Sep. 30, 2013 Redeemable preferred stock	Jun. 30, 2013 Redeemable preferred stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Redeemable preferred stock	Jun. 30, 2012 Redeemable preferred stock	Sep. 30, 2012 Equity securities	Sep. 30, 2013 Equity securities	Sep. 30, 2012 Equity securities	Jun. 30, 2013 Equity securities	Sep. 30, 2013 Free-standing derivatives, net	Sep. 30, 2012 Free-standing derivatives, net	Sep. 30, 2013 Free-standing derivatives, net	Sep. 30, 2012 Free-standing derivatives, net	Sep. 30, 2013 Other assets	Jun. 30, 2013 Other assets	Dec. 31, 2012 Other assets	Sep. 30, 2012 Other assets	Jun. 30, 2012 Other assets	Dec. 31, 2011 Other assets	Sep. 30, 2013 Assets held for sale	Sep. 30, 2013 Assets held for sale
Rollforward of Level 3 assets held at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance at beginning of period	$ 1,676	$ 2,007	$ 2,041	$ 1,965																	$ 1,676	$ 2,062	$ 2,060	$ 2,038	$ 225	$ 363	$ 338	$ 387	$ 1,255	$ 1,403	$ 1,501	$ 1,319	$ 190	$ 274	$ 199	$ 254	$ 47	$ 5	$ 21	$ 21	$ 30	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1	$ 15	$ 7	$ 14	$ 6	$ (7)	$ (71)	$ (27)	$ (88)	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1
Total gains (losses) included in: net income	5	8	33	54	1	2	18	37	3	5	12	17	15	143	40	119	10	18	56	32	8	(1)	14	33			(12)		8	9	28	16		(9)	(1)	20			(1)	(1)	(3)						(1)		(1)		(2)	10	20	22							(1)	(1)
Total gains (losses) included in: OCI	11	79	10	122																	19	79	18	121	1	7	21	9	1	38	(37)	58	15	33	30	45		2	1	4	9								1												(8)	(8)
Transfers into Level 3	24	169	104	302																	21	169	101	302		53		53	21	74	84	207		42	17	42																									3	3
Transfers out of Level 3	(2)	(4)	(186)	(71)																		(4)	(184)	(71)				(10)			(168)	(10)		(4)	(16)	(4)	(47)																								(2)	(2)
Transfer to held for sale																					(385)		(385)		(51)		(51)		(244)		(244)		(85)		(85)			(5)		(5)																					385	385
Purchases	40	75	134	131																	39	54	132	99					39	54	132	98										1							5		1	21	2	27
Sales	(39)	(275)	(322)	(382)																	(29)	(275)	(311)	(377)	(1)	(12)	(122)	(28)	(28)	(113)	(164)	(187)		(150)	(8)	(161)				(17)		(1)						(1)	(5)												(10)	(10)
Settlements	(58)	(35)	(157)	(97)																	(54)	(45)	(150)	(106)					(49)	(45)	(129)	(81)	(5)		(21)	(10)					(15)										(2)	10	(5)	9							(2)	(2)
Balance at end of period	1,657	2,024	1,657	2,024																	1,295	2,039	1,295	2,039	174	411	174	411	1,003	1,420	1,003	1,420	115	186	115	186		2	21	2	21	1	1	1	1	1	14	6	14	6	(10)	(30)	(10)	(30)	1	1	1	1	1	1	365	365
Effect to net income reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income	5	8	33	54	1	2	18	37	3	5	12	17	15	143	40	119	10	18	56	32	8	(1)	14	33			(12)		8	9	28	16		(9)	(1)	20			(1)	(1)	(3)						(1)		(1)		(2)	10	20	22							(1)	(1)
Fair value assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis, gain (loss) included in earnings
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in net income, recurring Level 3 assets and liabilities	29	168	126	205
Free-standing derivatives, assets	6	2	6	2
Free-standing derivatives, liabilities	16	32	16	32
Assets transferred between Level 1 and Level 2	0	0	0	0
Liabilities transferred between Level 1 and Level 2	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0