Separate Accounts, Death Benefits and Other Insurance Benefit Features (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 MAV Only [Member] Age		Jun. 30, 2012 With 5% rollup [Member] Age		Jun. 30, 2012 With Earnings Protection Benefit Rider (EPB) [Member] Age		Jun. 30, 2012 With 5% rollup & EPB [Member] Age		Jun. 30, 2012 Asset Protection Benefit ("APB") [Member] Age		Jun. 30, 2012 Lifetime Income Benefit ("LIB") - Death Benefit [Member] Age		Jun. 30, 2012 Reset [Member] Age		Jun. 30, 2012 Return of Premium ("ROP")/Other [Member] Age		Jun. 30, 2012 Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] U.S. [Member] Age		Jun. 30, 2012 Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] JAPAN [Member] Age		Jun. 30, 2012 Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit [Member] JAPAN [Member] Age
Individual Variable and Group Annuity Account Value by GMDB/GMIB Type
Account Value (AV)	$ 27,292	[1],[2]		$ 20,104	[1],[2]	$ 1,469	[1],[2],[3]	$ 5,147	[1],[2],[4]	$ 572	[1],[2]	$ 20,992	[1],[2],[5]	$ 1,066	[1],[2],[6]	$ 3,125	[1],[2],[7]	$ 21,816	[1],[2],[8]	$ 74,291	[1],[2]	$ 16,296	[1],[10],[2],[9]	$ 15,608	[1],[10],[2],[9]
Net Amount at Risk (NAR)	6,167	[11],[2]		4,861	[11],[2]	444	[11],[2],[3]	717	[11],[2],[4]	145	[11],[2]	2,002	[11],[2],[5]	73	[11],[2],[6]	208	[11],[2],[7]	578	[11],[2],[8]	9,028	[11],[2]	4,541	[10],[11],[2],[9]	4,211	[10],[11],[2],[9]
Retained Net Amount at Risk (RNAR)	410	[11],[2]		354	[11],[2]	31	[11],[2],[3]	19	[11],[2],[4]	6	[11],[2]	388	[11],[2],[5]	22	[11],[2],[6]	111	[11],[2],[7]	158	[11],[2],[8]	1,089	[11],[2]	0	[10],[11],[2],[9]	0	[10],[11],[2],[9]
Weighted Average Attained Age of Annuitant				69	[2]	69	[2],[3]	66	[2],[4]	69	[2]	66	[2],[5]	65	[2],[6]	69	[2],[7]	66	[2],[8]	67	[2]	68	[10],[2],[9]	68	[10],[2],[9]
Less: General Account Value with U.S. GMDB	7,329	[1],[2]
Subtotal Separate Account Liabilities with U.S. GMDB	66,962	[1],[2]
Separate Account Liabilities without U.S. GMDB	77,688	[1],[2]
Total Separate Account Liabilities	$ 144,650	[1],[2]	$ 143,859

[1] AV includes the contract holder’s investment in the separate account and the general account.

[2] MAV: the GMDB is the greatest of current AV, net premiums paid and the highest AV on any anniversary before age 80 (adjusted for withdrawals).

[3] Rollup: the GMDB is the greatest of the MAV, current AV, net premium paid and premiums (adjusted for withdrawals) accumulated at generally 5% simple interest up to the earlier of age 80 or 100% of adjusted premiums.

[4] EPB GMDB is the greatest of the MAV, current AV, or contract value plus a percentage of a contract’s growth. A contract’s growth is AV less premiums net of withdrawals, subject to a cap of 200% of premiums net of withdrawals.

[5] APB GMDB is the greater of current AV or MAV, not to exceed current AV plus 25% times the greater of net premiums and MAV (each adjusted for premiums in the past 12 months).

[6] LIB GMDB is the greatest of current AV, net premiums paid, or for certain contracts a benefit amount that ratchets over time, generally based on market performance.

[7] Reset GMDB is the greatest of current AV, net premiums paid and the most recent five to seven year anniversary AV before age 80 (adjusted for withdrawals).

[8] ROP: the GMDB is the greater of current AV and net premiums paid.

[9] Assumed GMDB includes a ROP and MAV (before age 80) paid in a single lump sum. GMIB is a guarantee to return initial investment, adjusted for earnings liquidity, paid through a fixed annuity, after a minimum deferral period of 10, 15 or 20 years. The guaranteed remaining balance (“GRB”) related to the Japan GMIB was $19.8 billion and $21.1 billion as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The GRB related to the Japan GMAB and GMWB was $528 and $567 as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. These liabilities are not included in the Separate Account as they are not legally insulated from the general account liabilities of the insurance enterprise. As of June 30, 2012, 100% of RNAR is reinsured to an affiliate. See Note 10 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial statements.

[10] Policies with a guaranteed living benefit (a GMWB in the US or a GMIB in Japan) also have a guaranteed death benefit. The NAR for each benefit is shown, however these benefits are not additive. When a policy terminates due to death, any NAR related to GMWB or GMIB is released. Similarly, when a policy goes into benefit status on a GMWB or GMIB, its GMDB NAR is released.

[11] NAR is defined as the guaranteed benefit in excess of the current AV. RNAR is NAR reduced for reinsurances. NAR and RNAR are highly sensitive to equity market movements and increase when equity markets decline.