INVESTMENTS - Pretax Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Losses by Investment Category (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	$ 343	[1]	$ 528	[2]	$ 546	[1]	$ 933	[2]
Change In Intent Impairment
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	76				251
Credit Related Impairment
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	267				295
Perpetual Securities
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	76		184		216		184
Corporate Bonds
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	120		343		183		740
Mortgage- and asset-backed Securities
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	3		1		3		7
Municipalities
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	0		0		0		1
Sovereign and Supranational
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	144		0		144		0
Equity Securities
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 1

[1] Includes $267 and $295 for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2012, respectively, for credit-related impairments and $76 and $251 for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2012, respectively, from change in intent to sell securities

[2] Consisted completely of credit-related impairments