Reserve for Future Policy Benefits and SA Liabilities Level 4 Changes in Reserve for Future Policy Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Movement in Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Gross [Roll Forward]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Gross	$ 14,482	$ 14,000
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Incurred Benefits	227	282
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Payment for Benefits	222	220
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Other Liability Adjustments	205	(28)
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Gross	14,282	14,090
Movement in Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable [Roll Forward]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable	5,146	4,756
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable, Incurred Benefits, Net	54	121
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverables, Payment for Benefits, Net	34	34
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable	5,166	4,843
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Gross, HLIC ceded to HLA	277	314
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable, HLIC ceded to HLA	277	314
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member]
Movement in Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Gross [Roll Forward]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Gross	873	786
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Incurred Benefits	35	24
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Payment for Benefits	28	27
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Other Liability Adjustments	0	0
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Gross	880	783
Movement in Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable [Roll Forward]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable	464	432
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable, Incurred Benefits, Net	22	17
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverables, Payment for Benefits, Net	22	23
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable	464	426
Secondary Guarantees [Member] | Universal Life [Member]
Movement in Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Gross [Roll Forward]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Gross	2,940	2,627
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Incurred Benefits	87	79
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Other Liability Adjustments	0	0
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Gross	3,027	2,706
Movement in Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable [Roll Forward]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable	2,940	2,627
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable, Incurred Benefits, Net	87	79
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable	3,027	2,706
Annuitization Benefit [Member]
Movement in Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Gross [Roll Forward]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Gross	10,669	10,587
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Incurred Benefits	105	179
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Payment for Benefits	194	193
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Other Liability Adjustments	205	(28)
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Gross	10,375	10,601
Movement in Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable [Roll Forward]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable	1,742	1,697
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable, Incurred Benefits, Net	(55)	25
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverables, Payment for Benefits, Net	12	11
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Reinsurance Recoverable	$ 1,675	$ 1,711