Fair Value Measurements (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011
Equity Securities [Member] | Available-for-sale Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Value	$ 55	[1]			$ 55	[1]	$ 56	[1]	$ 58	[1]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings	(4)	[1],[2],[3],[4]	0	[1],[2],[3],[5]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Period Increase (Decrease)	(3)	[1],[3],[5]	0	[1],[3],[5]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Gain (Loss) Included in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	6	[1],[6]	2	[1],[6]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Purchases	0	[1]	0	[1]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Settlements	0	[1]	0	[1]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Sales	2	[1]	0	[1]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3	0	[1],[7]	0	[1],[7]
Freestanding Derivatives [Member]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Beginning Balance	722	[1]	661	[1]					235	[1]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income	(309)	[1],[2],[3],[4]	(452)	[1],[2],[3],[5]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI	0	[1],[6]	0	[1],[6]
Purchases	1	[1]	(22)	[1]
Settlements	9	[1]	(17)	[1]
Sales	0	[1]	0	[1]
Transfers out of Level 3	(2)	[1],[7]	(31)	[1],[7]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Ending Balance	407	[1]							235	[1]
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income related to financial instruments still held at March 31, 2011	(247)	[1],[3],[5]	(444)	[1],[3],[5]
Freestanding Derivatives [Member] | Hedging Derivatives [Member] | International [Member]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Beginning Balance	(75)	[1]	(35)	[1]					(57)	[1]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income	(44)	[1],[2],[3],[4]	(18)	[1],[2],[3],[5]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI	0	[1],[6]	0	[1],[6]
Purchases	(20)	[1]	(48)	[1]
Settlements	6	[1]	(36)	[1]
Sales	0	[1]	0	[1]
Transfers out of Level 3	0	[1],[7]	(8)	[1],[7]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Ending Balance	(145)	[1]							(57)	[1]
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income related to financial instruments still held at March 31, 2011	17	[1],[3],[5]	(15)	[1],[3],[5]
Freestanding Derivatives [Member] | Hedging Derivatives [Member] | Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit [Member] | U.S. [Member]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Beginning Balance	519	[1]	883	[1]					594	[1]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income	(190)	[1],[2],[3],[4]	(312)	[1],[2],[3],[5]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI	0	[1],[6]	0	[1],[6]
Purchases	0	[1]	0	[1]
Settlements	0	[1]	0	[1]
Sales	0	[1]	0	[1]
Transfers out of Level 3	0	[1],[7]	(23)	[1],[7]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Ending Balance	329	[1]							594	[1]
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income related to financial instruments still held at March 31, 2011	(185)	[1],[3],[5]	(312)	[1],[3],[5]
Freestanding Derivatives [Member] | U.S. Macro Hedge Program [Member]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Beginning Balance			357	[1]					173	[1]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income			(184)	[1],[2],[3],[5]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI			0	[1],[6]
Purchases			0	[1]
Settlements			0	[1]
Sales			0	[1]
Transfers out of Level 3			0	[1],[7]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Ending Balance									173	[1]
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income related to financial instruments still held at March 31, 2011			(183)	[1],[3],[5]
Freestanding Derivatives [Member] | U.S. Macro Hedge Program [Member] | U.S. [Member]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Beginning Balance	286	[1]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income	(64)	[1],[2],[3],[4]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI	0	[1],[6]
Purchases	21	[1]
Settlements	0	[1]
Sales	0	[1]
Transfers out of Level 3	0	[1],[7]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Ending Balance	243	[1]
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income related to financial instruments still held at March 31, 2011	(63)	[1],[3],[5]
Freestanding Derivatives [Member] | Credit derivative [Member]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Beginning Balance	4	[1]	(489)	[1]					(415)	[1]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income	2	[1],[2],[3],[4]	77	[1],[2],[3],[5]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI	0	[1],[6]	0	[1],[6]
Purchases	0	[1]	0	[1]
Settlements	0	[1]	3	[1]
Sales	0	[1]	0	[1]
Transfers out of Level 3	0	[1],[7]	0	[1],[7]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Ending Balance	6	[1]							(415)	[1]
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income related to financial instruments still held at March 31, 2011	2	[1],[3],[5]	70	[1],[3],[5]
Freestanding Derivatives [Member] | Equity derivative [Member]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Beginning Balance	45	[1]	36	[1]					32	[1]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income	(15)	[1],[2],[3],[4]	(14)	[1],[2],[3],[5]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI	0	[1],[6]	0	[1],[6]
Purchases	0	[1]	26	[1]
Settlements	3	[1]	16	[1]
Sales	0	[1]	0	[1]
Transfers out of Level 3	0	[1],[7]	0	[1],[7]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Ending Balance	27	[1]							32	[1]
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income related to financial instruments still held at March 31, 2011	(15)	[1],[3],[5]	(3)	[1],[3],[5]
Freestanding Derivatives [Member] | Interest rate derivatives [Member]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Beginning Balance	(57)	[1]	(91)	[1]					(92)	[1]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income	2	[1],[2],[3],[4]	(1)	[1],[2],[3],[5]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI	0	[1],[6]	0	[1],[6]
Purchases	0	[1]	0	[1]
Settlements	0	[1]	0	[1]
Sales	0	[1]	0	[1]
Transfers out of Level 3	(2)	[1],[7]	0	[1],[7]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets Netted Against Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Ending Balance	(53)	[1]							(92)	[1]
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income related to financial instruments still held at March 31, 2011	$ (3)	[1],[3],[5]	$ (1)	[1],[3],[5]

[1] Derivative instruments are reported in this table on a net basis for asset/(liability) positions and reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in other investments and other liabilities.

[2] Includes fair value of reinsurance recoverables of approximately $435 and $1.6 billion as of March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, related to a transaction entered into with an affiliated captive reinsurer. See Note 11 - Transactions with Affiliates of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

[3] All amounts in these rows are reported in net realized capital gains (losses). The realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income for separate account assets are offset by an equal amount for separate account liabilities, which results in a net zero impact on net income for the Company. All amounts are before income taxes and amortization of DAC.

[4] The Company classifies gains and losses on GMWB reinsurance derivatives and Guaranteed Living Benefit embedded derivatives as unrealized gains (losses) for purposes of disclosure in this table because it is impracticable to track on a contract-by-contract basis the realized gains (losses) for these derivatives and embedded derivatives.

[5] Includes both market and non-market impacts in deriving realized and unrealized gains (losses).

[6] All amounts are before income taxes and amortization of DAC.

[7] Transfers in and/or (out) of Level 3 are primarily attributable to the availability of market observable information and the re-evaluation of the observability of pricing inputs.