Schedule V Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Allowance for mortgage and other loans receivable
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	$ 308	$ 271	$ 312
Charged to costs and expenses	(7)	58	(8)
Charge offs	(15)	(29)	(68)
Reclassified to assets of businesses held-for-sale	0	0	0
Divested Business	0	3	1
Other changes	11	5	34
Balance at the end of the year	297	308	271
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	333	431	560
Charged to costs and expenses	26	35	35
Charge offs	(88)	(120)	(99)
Reclassified to assets of businesses held-for-sale	(2)	0	0
Divested Business	(7)	0	0
Other changes	0	(13)	(65)
Balance at the end of the year	262	333	431
Allowance for reinsurance assets
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	272	258	276
Charged to costs and expenses	(23)	90	4
Charge offs	(34)	(67)	(3)
Reclassified to assets of businesses held-for-sale	(8)	0	0
Divested Business	0	0	0
Other changes	0	(9)	(19)
Balance at the end of the year	207	272	258
Federal and foreign valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	3,012	1,739	3,596
Charged to costs and expenses	83	110	(181)
Charge offs	0	0	0
Reclassified to assets of businesses held-for-sale	0	0	0
Divested Business	0	0	0
Other changes	(264)	1,163	(1,676)
Balance at the end of the year	2,831	3,012	1,739
Federal and foreign valuation allowance for deferred tax assets | Segment Discontinued Operations
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Net change	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0