INVESTMENTS (Details 7) (Fixed maturity securities, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Fixed maturity securities
Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 6,090	$ 6,396	$ 6,504	$ 6,786
Increases due to:
Credit impairments on new securities subject to impairment losses		169	172	254
Additional credit impairments on previously impaired securities	45	222	421	457
Reduction due to:
Credit impaired securities fully disposed for which there was no prior intent or requirement to sell	(297)	(133)	(815)	(458)
Credit impaired securities for which there is a current intent or anticipated requirement to sell	(5)		(5)
Accretion on securities previously impaired due to credit	(215)	(148)	(668)	(355)
Hybrid securities with embedded credit derivatives reclassified to Bond trading securities				(179)
Other	(3)		6	1
Balance at the end of the period	$ 5,615	$ 6,506	$ 5,615	$ 6,506

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The cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings related to debt securities held for which a portion of an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of shareholders' equity).

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