Investments and Derivative Instruments Level 4 Derivative Balance Sheet Location (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 55,838		$ 170,851
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(460)		(1,548)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	959		1,510
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	1,050		1,923
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	(1,510)		(3,471)
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(1,345)		(2,063)
Fixed Maturities [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	1		0
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] | Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net	(3)	[1]	(2)	[1]
Other Investments [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	13,588		40,564
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	339		272
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	478		721
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(139)		(449)
Cash Flow Hedging Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	2,242		3,215
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	37		16
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	37		49
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0		(33)
Cash Flow Hedges Foreign Currency Swaps [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	143		143
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(19)		(5)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	3		2
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(22)		(7)
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	2,385		3,358
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	18		11
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	40		51
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(22)		(40)
Fair Value Hedging Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	32		1,261
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	0		(24)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	0		2
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0		(26)
Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	32		1,261
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	0		(24)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	0		2
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0		(26)
Interest Rate Swaps Caps Floors and Futures [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	4,857		4,633
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(323)		(368)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	385		123
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(708)		(491)
Foreign Currency Swaps and Forwards Non-qualifying as Hedges [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	60		118
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	0		(4)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	0		6
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0		(10)
Credit Derivatives that Purchase Credit Protection [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	276		243
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(1)		(4)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	4		0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(5)		(4)
Credit Derivatives that Assume Credit Risk [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	946	[2]	1,507	[2]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	7	[2]	27	[2]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	11	[2]	28	[2]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(4)	[2]	(1)	[2]
Credit Derivatives in Offsetting Positions [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	2,175		3,501
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(1)		(3)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	21		35
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(22)		(38)
Equity Index Swaps Options [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	422		131
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	1		(2)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	30		18
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(29)		(20)
International Program Hedging Instruments [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	0		57,025
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	0		(27)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	0		649
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0		(676)
GMAB, GMWB, and GMIB Reinsurance Contracts [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	0		11,999
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	0		(540)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	0		0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0		(540)
Coinsurance and Modified Coinsurance Reinsurance Contracts [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	974		29,423
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	34		(427)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	34		383
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0		(810)
Non-qualifying Strategies [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	53,421		166,232
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(478)		(1,535)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	1,010		1,870
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(1,488)		(3,405)
Fixed Maturities [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	186		196
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	1		(1)
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0		(1)
Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	19,473		62,599
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(725)		(827)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	481		789
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(1,206)		(1,616)
Reinsurance Recoverables [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	4,633		33,931
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	90		(398)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	90		413
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0		(811)
Other Policyholder Funds and Benefits Payable [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	17,958		33,561
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(165)		(594)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	0		0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(165)		(594)
JAPAN | Three Win Related Foreign Currency Swaps [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	1,319		1,571
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(427)		(354)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	0		0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(427)		(354)
JAPAN | Fixed Annuity Hedging Instruments [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	0		1,436
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	0		(6)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	0		88
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0		(94)
JAPAN | International Program Hedging Instruments [Member] | Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net			(198)
JAPAN | Coinsurance and Modified Coinsurance Reinsurance Contracts [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount			28,200
UNITED STATES | GMWB Hedging Instruments [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	14,442		18,691
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	174		41
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	289		333
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(115)		(292)
UNITED STATES | Macro Hedge Program [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	6,383		9,934
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	141		139
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	180		178
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(39)		(39)
UNITED STATES | GMWB Product Derivatives [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	17,908	[3]	21,512	[3]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(139)	[3]	(36)	[3]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	0	[3]	0	[3]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	(139)	[3]	(36)	[3]
UNITED STATES | GMWB Reinsurance [Member]
Derivative Balance Sheet Location [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	3,659		4,508
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	56		29
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	56		29
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	$ 0		$ 0

[1] Represents embedded derivatives associated with non-funding agreement-backed consumer equity-linked notes.

[2] [1]Represents hedge programs formerly associated with the Japan variable and fixed annuity products which were terminated due to the sale of HLIKK during 2014. For further information on the sale, see Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

[3] [2]The derivative instruments related to this strategy are held for other investment purposes.