Sales Inducements (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Changes in deferred sales inducement
Balance, beginning of period	$ 118,000,000		$ 182,000,000	$ 186,000,000
Sales inducements deferred	0	1,000,000
Amortization - Unlock	1,000,000	(1,000,000)
Amortization charged to income	(1,000,000)	(6,000,000)
Balance, end of period	45,000,000		182,000,000	186,000,000
Deferred Sales Inducements, Amortization Expense	1,000,000	6,000,000
Retirement Plans [Member]
Changes in deferred sales inducement
Amortization charged to income	(22,000,000)
Deferred Sales Inducements, Amortization Expense	22,000,000
Retirement Plans and Individual Life Businesses [Member]
Changes in deferred sales inducement
Amortization charged to income	(71,000,000)	0
Deferred Sales Inducements, Amortization Expense	71,000,000	0
Individual Life [Member]
Changes in deferred sales inducement
Amortization charged to income	(49,000,000)
Deferred Sales Inducements, Amortization Expense	$ 49,000,000