Investments and Derivative Instruments Level 4 Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting (Details) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / Barrels	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Invested Assets Suppoting Modco		$ 895	$ 1,000
Securities Received as Collateral		100	83
Security Owned and Pledged as Collateral, Fair Value		173	16
Derivative Asset, Collateral, Obligation to Return Cash, Offset		341	33
Derivative, Notional Amount		46,241	55,838
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(530)	(460)
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	[1]	(97)	723	$ (1,705)
Fair Value of Securities Received as Collateral that Can be Resold or Repledged		100	83
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		44,309	53,421
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(549)	(478)
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(7)
Derivatives formerly associated with Japan [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	[2]			0
Derivatives formerly associated with Japan [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	[2]	0	(2)
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net			(6)	(5)
International Program Hedging Instruments [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		0	(126)	(963)
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		4,600	4,500
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		5	4	4
Credit Default Swap, Buying Protection [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		3	(6)	(20)
Credit Default Swap, Selling Protection [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(4)	10	46
Equity Contract [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		19	7	(22)
Commodity Option [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(5)	0	0
GMAB, GMWB, and GMIB Reinsurance Contracts [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		0	579	1,107
Coinsurance and Modified Coinsurance Reinsurance Contracts [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		46	395	(1,405)
Commodity Option [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Cost of Hedge		$ 11
Derivative, Price Risk Option Strike Price | $ / Barrels		35,000,000
Coinsurance and Modified Coinsurance Reinsurance Contracts [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		$ 895	974
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		79	34
JAPAN
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	[3]	0	(126)	(963)
JAPAN | Three Win Related Foreign Currency Swaps [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedged Item in Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedge		4	116	250
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	[4]	0	(14)	6
JAPAN | Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	[5]	(21)	(148)	(268)
JAPAN | Fixed Annuity Hedging Instruments [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedged Item in Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedge			(51)	324
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	[6]	0	22	(207)
JAPAN | Macro Hedge Program [Member] | Foreign Exchange Option [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		0	400
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		0	0
UNITED STATES | GMWB Hedging Instruments [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		10,979	14,442
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		158	174
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(45)	3	(852)
UNITED STATES | GMWB Product Derivatives [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(59)	(2)	1,306
UNITED STATES | GMWB Reinsurance [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		17	4	(192)
UNITED STATES | Macro Hedge Program [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		4,548	6,383
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		147	141
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(46)	(11)	(234)
UNITED STATES | Macro Hedge Program [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net		(46)	(11)	(234)
UNITED STATES | Macro Hedge Program [Member] | Equity Option [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		4,548	5,983
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		147	$ 141
Derivative [Member] | Lehman Brothers [Member]
Non-qualifying Strategies for Hedge Accounting [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) from Hedged Firm Commitment Not Qualifying as Fair Value Hedge, Net		$ 2		$ 12

[1] [4]Excludes investments that contain an embedded credit derivative for which the Company has elected the fair value option. For further discussion, see the Fair Value Option section in Note 2 - Fair Value Measurements.

[2] These amounts relate to the termination of the hedging program associated with the Japan variable annuity product due to the sale of HLIKK.

[3] [3] Includes $(2) and $(55) of transactional foreign currency re-valuation losses for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively

[4] [2] For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, includes the transactional foreign currency re-valuation gains (losses) of $(51) and $324, respectively, related to the Japan fixed annuity product, as well as the change in value related to the derivative hedging instruments and the Japan government FVO securities of $37, and $(318), respectively.

[5] he associated liability is adjusted for changes in spot rates through realized capital gains and was $4, $116 and $250 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which is not presented in this table.

[6] he associated liability is adjusted for changes in spot rates through realized capital gains and losses and was $(51) and $324 for the years ended December 31, 2014, and 2013, respectively.