Schedule V Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Allowance for mortgage and other loans receivable
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	$ 322	$ 297	$ 308
Charged to costs and expenses	93	49	(7)
Charge offs	(19)	(25)	(15)
Acquisitions	0	0	0
Reclassified to assets of businesses held-for-sale	0	0	0
Divested Business	0	0	0
Other changes	1	1	11
Balance at the end of the year	397	322	297
Allowance for premiums and insurances balances receivable
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	236	262	333
Charged to costs and expenses	2	36	26
Charge offs	(20)	(58)	(88)
Acquisitions	0	0	0
Reclassified to assets of businesses held-for-sale	0	0	(2)
Divested Business	0	(8)	(7)
Other changes	(2)	4	0
Balance at the end of the year	216	236	262
Allowance for reinsurance assets
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	187	207	272
Charged to costs and expenses	(8)	33	(23)
Charge offs	(45)	(50)	(34)
Acquisitions	8	0	0
Reclassified to assets of businesses held-for-sale	0	0	(8)
Divested Business	0	0	0
Other changes	(2)	(3)	0
Balance at the end of the year	140	187	207
Federal and foreign valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	1,374	2,831	3,012
Charged to costs and expenses	21	43	83
Charge offs	0	0	0
Acquisitions	82	0	0
Reclassified to assets of businesses held-for-sale	0	0	0
Divested Business	0	0	0
Other changes	302	(1,500)	(264)
Balance at the end of the year	$ 1,779	$ 1,374	$ 2,831