Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended																																			12 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 Realized capital gains and losses	Dec. 31, 2012 Realized capital gains and losses	Dec. 31, 2011 Realized capital gains and losses	Dec. 31, 2013 Net investment income	Dec. 31, 2012 Net investment income	Dec. 31, 2011 Net investment income	Dec. 31, 2013 Interest credited to contractholder funds	Dec. 31, 2012 Interest credited to contractholder funds	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest credited to contractholder funds	Dec. 31, 2013 Contract benefits	Dec. 31, 2012 Contract benefits	Dec. 31, 2011 Contract benefits	Dec. 31, 2013 Loss on disposition of operations	Dec. 31, 2013 Fixed income securities	Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed income securities	Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed income securities	Dec. 31, 2013 Municipal	Dec. 31, 2012 Municipal	Dec. 31, 2011 Municipal	Dec. 31, 2013 Corporate	Dec. 31, 2012 Corporate	Dec. 31, 2011 Corporate	Dec. 31, 2013 ABS	Dec. 31, 2012 ABS	Dec. 31, 2011 ABS	Dec. 31, 2012 RMBS	Dec. 31, 2011 RMBS	Dec. 31, 2013 CMBS	Dec. 31, 2012 CMBS	Dec. 31, 2011 CMBS	Dec. 31, 2012 Redeemable preferred stock	Dec. 31, 2010 Redeemable preferred stock	Dec. 31, 2013 Equity securities	Dec. 31, 2012 Equity securities	Dec. 31, 2011 Equity securities	Dec. 31, 2013 Free-standing derivatives, net	Dec. 31, 2012 Free-standing derivatives, net	Dec. 31, 2011 Free-standing derivatives, net	Dec. 31, 2013 Other assets	Dec. 31, 2011 Other assets	Dec. 31, 2010 Other assets	Dec. 31, 2013 Assets held for sale
Rollforward of Level 3 assets held at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance at beginning of period	$ 2,041	$ 1,965	$ 6,322														$ 2,060	$ 2,038	$ 6,369	$ 338	$ 387	$ 601	$ 1,501	$ 1,319	$ 1,760	$ 199	$ 254	$ 1,974	$ 47	$ 1,189	$ 21	$ 30	$ 844	$ 1	$ 1	$ 7	$ 14	$ 29	$ (27)	$ (88)	$ (77)	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1
Total gains (losses) included in: net income	33	60	(71)	20	38	(101)	14	22	34	40	132	(106)	74	36	(32)	(6)	17	35	(29)	(12)	(5)	(2)	32	20	52	(2)	24	21		(57)	(1)	(4)	(43)					(5)	19	25	(37)	(1)			(2)
Total gains (losses) included in: OCI	14	154	95														20	154	95	19	22	7	(32)	63	(35)	30	59	(65)		77	3	10	111												(6)
Transfers into Level 3	114	476	350														101	476	350		53	48	84	381	237	17	42						65												13
Transfers out of Level 3	(201)	(128)	(3,655)														(188)	(128)	(3,645)		(10)	(34)	(172)	(64)	(410)	(16)	(7)	(1,470)	(47)	(853)			(878)					(10)							(13)
Transfer to held for sale																	(385)			(51)			(244)			(85)					(5)														385
Purchases	154	169	441														145	137	422			10	145	125	266		11	146						1			5	1	9	27	18
Sales	(382)	(508)	(1,139)														(371)	(496)	(1,138)	(173)	(107)	(241)	(173)	(223)	(473)	(8)	(165)	(136)		(222)	(17)		(66)	(1)		(1)	(12)	(1)							(10)
Settlements	(169)	(147)	(378)														(158)	(156)	(386)	(2)	(2)	(2)	(133)	(120)	(78)	(23)	(19)	(216)		(87)		(15)	(3)						(6)	9	8				(5)
Balance at end of period	1,604	2,041	1,965														1,241	2,060	2,038	119	338	387	1,008	1,501	1,319	112	199	254		47	1	21	30	1	1	6	7	14	(5)	(27)	(88)		1	1	362
Effect to net income reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income	33	60	(71)	20	38	(101)	14	22	34	40	132	(106)	74	36	(32)	(6)	17	35	(29)	(12)	(5)	(2)	32	20	52	(2)	24	21		(57)	(1)	(4)	(43)					(5)	19	25	(37)	(1)			(2)
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	142	228	(205)
Free-standing derivatives, assets	9	3	1
Free-standing derivatives, liabilities	14	30	89
Assets transferred between Level 1 and Level 2	0	0	0
Liabilities transferred between Level 1 and Level 2	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0