Schedule V Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Divested Businesses
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Net change	$ 3	$ 1	$ (6)
Allowance for mortgage and other loans receivable
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	271	312	405
Charged to costs and expenses	58	(8)	20
Charge offs	(29)	(68)	(116)
Divested Business	3	1	(6)
Other changes	5	34	9
Balance at the end of the year	308	271	312
Allowance for mortgage and other loans receivable | Segment Discontinued Operations
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Net change		0	0
Allowance for premiums and insurances balances receivable
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	431	560	624
Charged to costs and expenses	35	35	14
Charge offs	(120)	(99)	(74)
Other changes	(13)	(65)	(4)
Balance at the end of the year	333	431	560
Allowance for reinsurance assets
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	258	276	338
Charged to costs and expenses	90	4	(42)
Charge offs	(67)	(3)	(31)
Other changes	(9)	(19)	11
Balance at the end of the year	272	258	276
Federal and foreign valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	1,739	3,596	8,036
Charged to costs and expenses	110	(181)	(3,165)
Charge offs	0	0	0
Other changes	1,163	(1,676)	(1,235)
Balance at the end of the year	3,012	1,739	3,596
Federal and foreign valuation allowance for deferred tax assets | Segment Discontinued Operations
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Net change	$ 0	$ 0	$ (40)