Held for Sale Transaction and Subsequent Event (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014 Lincoln Benefit Life Company	Dec. 31, 2013 Lincoln Benefit Life Company	Apr. 02, 2014 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Subsequent event	Apr. 02, 2014 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Expected impact Subsequent event	Mar. 31, 2014 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Fixed income securities	Dec. 31, 2013 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Fixed income securities	Mar. 31, 2014 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Mortgage loans	Dec. 31, 2013 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Mortgage loans	Dec. 31, 2013 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Short-term investments	Mar. 31, 2014 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Policy loans	Dec. 31, 2013 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Policy loans	Mar. 31, 2014 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Other investments	Dec. 31, 2013 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Other investments
Assets
Investments		$ 11,506	$ 11,983			$ 9,959	$ 10,167	$ 1,289	$ 1,367	$ 160	$ 197	$ 198	$ 61	$ 91
Cash		242
Deferred policy acquisition costs		714	743
Reinsurance recoverables, net		1,782	1,660
Accrued investment income		108	109
Other assets		85	79
Separate Accounts		1,661	1,701
Assets held for sale		16,098	16,275
Less: Loss accrual		(708)	(682)
Total assets held for sale		15,390	15,593
Liabilities
Reserve for life-contingent contract benefits		2,000	1,894
Contractholder funds		10,661	10,945
Unearned premiums		11	12
Deferred income taxes		151	151
Other liabilities and accrued expenses		157	196
Separate Accounts		1,661	1,701
Total liabilities held for sale		14,641	14,899
Accumulated other comprehensive income related to assets held for sale		155	85
Estimated loss on disposition, pre-tax		61
Estimated loss on disposition, after-tax		18
Gross sale price	(2)			796
Estimated cash proceeds from sale					$ 594