Fair Value Measurements (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | International program hedging instruments [Member] | Equity options [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input [Abstract]
Assets accounted for at Fair Value on a recurring basis	$ (68)			$ (66)
Fair value measurements valuation techniques	Option model	Option model
Fair value measurements significant assumptions	Equity volatility	Equity volatility
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value Relationships of Change	Increase	Increase	[1]
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | International program hedging instruments [Member] | Short Interest Rate Swaptions [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input [Abstract]
Assets accounted for at Fair Value on a recurring basis				(12)
Fair value measurements valuation techniques		Option model
Fair value measurements significant assumptions		Interest rate volatility
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value Relationships of Change		Decrease	[1]
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | International program hedging instruments [Member] | Long Interest Rate Swaptions [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input [Abstract]
Assets accounted for at Fair Value on a recurring basis	61			48
Fair value measurements valuation techniques	Option model	Option model
Fair value measurements significant assumptions	Interest rate volatility	Interest rate volatility
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value Relationships of Change	Increase	Increase	[1]
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Maximum [Member] | International program hedging instruments [Member] | Equity options [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Equity Volatility	36.00%	37.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Maximum [Member] | International program hedging instruments [Member] | Short Interest Rate Swaptions [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Equity Volatility		1.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Maximum [Member] | International program hedging instruments [Member] | Long Interest Rate Swaptions [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Equity Volatility	3.00%	1.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Minimum [Member] | International program hedging instruments [Member] | Equity options [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Equity Volatility	28.00%	29.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Minimum [Member] | International program hedging instruments [Member] | Short Interest Rate Swaptions [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Equity Volatility		0.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Minimum [Member] | International program hedging instruments [Member] | Long Interest Rate Swaptions [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Equity Volatility	0.00%	1.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | CMBS [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input [Abstract]
Assets accounted for at Fair Value on a recurring basis	309			360
Fair value measurements valuation techniques	Discounted cash flows	Discounted cash flows
Fair value measurements significant assumptions	Spread (encompasses prepayment, default risk and loss severity)	Spread (encompasses prepayment, default risk and loss severity)
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value Relationships of Change	Decrease	Decrease	[2]
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | CMBS [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Counterparty Credit Risk	24.39%	25.11%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | CMBS [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Counterparty Credit Risk	0.98%	0.99%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | CMBS [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Counterparty Credit Risk	3.17%	4.46%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Corporate [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input [Abstract]
Assets accounted for at Fair Value on a recurring basis	447			398	[3]
Fair value measurements valuation techniques	Discounted cash flows	Discounted cash flows	[3]
Fair value measurements significant assumptions	Spread	Spread	[3]
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value Relationships of Change	Decrease	Decrease	[2],[3]
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Corporate [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Counterparty Credit Risk	6.97%	55.94%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Corporate [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Counterparty Credit Risk	1.18%	1.19%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Corporate [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Counterparty Credit Risk	2.67%	3.32%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Interest Rate Derivative [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input [Abstract]
Assets accounted for at Fair Value on a recurring basis				(24)
Fair value measurements valuation techniques		Discounted  cash flows
Fair value measurements significant assumptions		Swap curve  beyond 30 years
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value Relationships of Change		Increase	[1]
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Interest Rate Derivative [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Interest Rate Volatility		4.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Interest Rate Derivative [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Interest Rate Volatility		4.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | U.S. GMWB Hedging Instruments [Member] | Equity options [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input [Abstract]
Assets accounted for at Fair Value on a recurring basis	52			72
Fair value measurements valuation techniques	Option model	Option model
Fair value measurements significant assumptions	Equity volatility	Equity volatility
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value Relationships of Change	Increase	Increase	[1]
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | U.S. GMWB Hedging Instruments [Member] | Customized swaps [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input [Abstract]
Assets accounted for at Fair Value on a recurring basis	71			74
Fair value measurements valuation techniques	Discounted  cash flows	Discounted  cash flows
Fair value measurements significant assumptions	Equity volatility	Equity volatility
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value Relationships of Change	Increase
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | U.S. GMWB Hedging Instruments [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Equity options [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Equity Volatility	30.00%	29.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | U.S. GMWB Hedging Instruments [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Customized swaps [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Equity Volatility	50.00%	50.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | U.S. GMWB Hedging Instruments [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Equity options [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Equity Volatility	20.00%	21.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | U.S. GMWB Hedging Instruments [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Customized swaps [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Equity Volatility	10.00%	10.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | U.S. Macro Hedge Program [Member] | Equity options [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input [Abstract]
Assets accounted for at Fair Value on a recurring basis	133			139
Fair value measurements valuation techniques	Option model	Option model
Fair value measurements significant assumptions	Equity volatility	Equity volatility
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value Relationships of Change	Increase	Increase	[1]
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | U.S. Macro Hedge Program [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Equity options [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Equity Volatility	34.00%	31.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | U.S. Macro Hedge Program [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Equity options [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Equity Volatility	23.00%	24.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Municipal [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input [Abstract]
Assets accounted for at Fair Value on a recurring basis	30			29
Fair value measurements valuation techniques	Discounted cash flows	Discounted cash flows
Fair value measurements significant assumptions	Spread	Spread
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value Relationships of Change	Decrease	Decrease	[2]
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Municipal [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Treasury Yield	1.89%	1.84%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Municipal [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Treasury Yield	1.89%	1.84%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Municipal [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Treasury Yield	1.89%	1.84%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input [Abstract]
Assets accounted for at Fair Value on a recurring basis	807			798
Fair value measurements valuation techniques	Discounted cash flows	Discounted cash flows
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 1 [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input [Abstract]
Fair value measurements significant assumptions	Spread	Spread
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value Relationships of Change	Decrease	Decrease	[2]
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 1 [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Counterparty Credit Risk	17.63%	17.48%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 1 [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Counterparty Credit Risk	0.58%	0.62%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 1 [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs Counterparty Credit Risk	2.13%	2.45%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 2 [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input [Abstract]
Fair value measurements significant assumptions	Constant prepayment rate	Constant prepayment rate
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value Relationships of Change	Decrease [4]	Decrease [4]	[2],[4]
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 2 [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Prepayment Rate	10.00%	10.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 2 [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Prepayment Rate	0.00%	0.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 2 [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Prepayment Rate	3.00%	3.00%	[5]
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 3 [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input [Abstract]
Fair value measurements significant assumptions	Constant default rate	Constant default rate
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value Relationships of Change	Decrease	Decrease	[2]
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 3 [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Probability of Default	22.00%	22.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 3 [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Probability of Default	1.00%	1.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 3 [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Probability of Default	7.00%	8.00%	[5]
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 4 [Member]
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input [Abstract]
Fair value measurements significant assumptions	Loss severity	Loss severity
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value Relationships of Change	Decrease	Decrease	[2]
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 4 [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Loss Severity	100.00%	100.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 4 [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Loss Severity	0.00%	0.00%
Level 3 [Member] | Income approach Valuation Technique [Member] | RMBS Type 4 [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Loss Severity	79.00%	80.00%	[5]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	1,120			1,421
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	512			565
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0			0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	608			856
Macro Hedge Program [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Derivative Assets	83			109
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	(50)			(30)
Macro Hedge Program [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | UNITED STATES | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Derivative Assets	83			109
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	(50)			(30)
Macro Hedge Program [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | UNITED STATES | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Derivative Assets	0			0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0			0
Macro Hedge Program [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | UNITED STATES | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Derivative Assets	0			0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 0			$ 0

[1] Conversely, the impact of a decrease in input would have the opposite impact to the fair value as that presented in the table. Changes are based on long positions, unless otherwise noted. Changes in fair value will be inversely impacted for short positions.

[2] Conversely, the impact of a decrease in input would have the opposite impact to the fair value as that presented in the table above.

[3] [3]Level 3 corporate and municipal securities excludes those for which the Company bases fair value on broker quotations as discussed below.

[4] Decrease for above market rate coupons and increase for below market rate coupons.

[5] The weighted average is determined based on the fair value of the securities.