Schedule V Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Allowance for mortgage and other loans receivable
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	$ 740	$ 878	$ 2,444
Charged to costs and expenses	(103)	(18)	348
Charge offs	(43)	(125)	(354)
Reclassified to assets of businesses held-for-sale			(58)
Other changes	16	38	8
Balance at the end of the year	405	740	878
Allowance for mortgage and other loans receivable | Divested Businesses
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Net change		(55)	(1,635)
Allowance for mortgage and other loans receivable | Segment Discontinued Operations
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Net change	(205)	22	(125)
Allowance for premiums and insurances balances receivable
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	484	515	537
Charged to costs and expenses	174	63	87
Charge offs	(36)	(94)	(113)
Other changes	2		13
Balance at the end of the year	624	484	515
Allowance for premiums and insurances balances receivable | Divested Businesses
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Net change			(7)
Allowance for premiums and insurances balances receivable | Segment Discontinued Operations
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Net change			(2)
Allowance for reinsurance assets
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	364	492	440
Charged to costs and expenses	(4)	(116)	3
Charge offs	(1)	(63)	14
Other changes	(21)	51	39
Balance at the end of the year	338	364	492
Allowance for reinsurance assets | Segment Discontinued Operations
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Net change			(4)
Federal and foreign valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	11,047	27,548	25,605
Charged to costs and expenses	(1,907)	(18,307)	1,361
Other changes	(1,104)	1,806	(710)
Balance at the end of the year	8,036	11,047	27,548
Federal and foreign valuation allowance for deferred tax assets | Segment Discontinued Operations
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Net change			$ 1,292