Schedule II Condensed Financial Information of Registrant - Parent Company Only (Details - Statements of Cash Flows) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 61	$ (7,818)	$ 3,502
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sale of divested businesses, net	10	792	2,809
Purchase of investments	(58,552)	(63,246)	(69,985)
Net change in short-term investments	1,524	2,098	(3,089)
Contributions from (to) subsidiaries - net	0	0	0
Acquisition of business	(5,717)	0	0
Mortgage and other loans receivable	(10,286)	(9,369)	(10,651)
Payments received on mortgages and other loan receivables	4,272	5,742	6,074
Loans to subsidiaries - net	0	0	0
Other, net	200	(2,143)	(1,020)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(223)	14,041	3,252
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of long-term debt	4,734	3,356	5,954
Repayments of long-term debt	(3,672)	(3,698)	(4,082)
Cash dividends paid	(1,138)	(1,172)	(1,372)
Loans from subsidiaries - net	0	0	0
Purchase of common stock	(1,739)	(6,275)	(11,460)
Other, net	3,570	31	(68)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	794	(5,697)	(6,833)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash	621	497	(24)
Cash and restricted cash at beginning of year	2,737	2,107	2,238
Cash and restricted cash at end of year	3,358	2,737	2,107
Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents:
Cash				$ 2,873	$ 2,362	$ 1,868
Short-term investments, restricted cash				142	58	46
Restricted cash included in Other assets				343	317	193
Total cash and restricted cash shown in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	3,358	2,737	2,107	3,358	2,737	2,107
Interest:
Intercompany	0	0	0
Taxes:
Income tax authorities	(154)	(544)	(493)
Intercompany	0	0	0
Non-cash investing/financing activities:
Fixed maturity securities received in exchange for equity securities	0	0	440
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	1,256	36	2,112
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sales and maturities of investments	5,587	5,714	5,598
Sale of divested businesses, net	0	40	2,160
Purchase of investments	(1,980)	(2,465)	(1,002)
Net change in short-term investments	1,533	1,994	(1,170)
Contributions from (to) subsidiaries - net	1	2,446	1,637
Acquisition of business	(5,475)
Mortgage and other loans receivable	0	0	(85)
Payments received on mortgages and other loan receivables	0	107	171
Loans to subsidiaries - net	868	199	1,525
Other, net	(73)	(183)	(56)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	461	7,852	8,778
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of long-term debt	2,470	1,505	3,831
Repayments of long-term debt	(1,493)	(1,724)	(1,996)
Cash dividends paid	(1,138)	(1,172)	(1,372)
Loans from subsidiaries - net	90	(63)	3
Purchase of common stock	(1,739)	(6,275)	(11,460)
Other, net	212	(154)	(309)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(1,598)	(7,883)	(11,303)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash	119	5	(413)
Cash and restricted cash at beginning of year	8	3	416
Cash and restricted cash at end of year	127	8	3
Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents:
Cash				2	3	2
Short-term investments, restricted cash				124	4	0
Restricted cash included in Other assets				1	1	1
Total cash and restricted cash shown in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	8	8	3	$ 127	$ 8	$ 3
Interest:
Third party	(914)	(948)	(975)
Intercompany	1	0	2
Taxes:
Income tax authorities	(32)	(329)	(15)
Intercompany	895	614	479
Non-cash investing/financing activities:
Other capital contributions - net	2,369	259	3,245
Return of capital	2,706	26	0
Dividends received in the form of securities	745	735	5,234
Paydown of FRBNY Credit Facility by subsidiary	2,369	259	3,245
Fixed maturity securities received in exchange for equity securities	0	0	440
Non-cash consideration received from sale	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,101