FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details 9) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Mortgage and other loans receivable, Fair Value	$ 0	$ 134
Long-term debt, Fair Value	6,981	8,055
Fair Value Option
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Mortgage and other loans receivable, Fair Value		134
Mortgage and other loans receivable, Outstanding Principal Amount		141
Mortgage and other loans receivable, Difference		(7)
Long-term debt, Fair Value	6,981	8,055
Long-term debt, Outstanding Principal Amount	5,374	5,705
Long-term debt, Difference	1,607	2,350
Disclosure level, past due mortgage or other loans receivable for which the fair value option was elected, number of days past due threshold	90 days	90 days
Mortgage or other loans receivable for which the fair value option was elected which were 90 days or more past due	0	0
Mortgage or other loans receivable for which the fair value option was elected which were in non-accrual status	$ 0	$ 0

Minimum period for past due mortgage or other loans receivable for which the fair value option is elected.

No definition available.

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Includes the outstanding principal amount of mortgage loans on real estate, policy loans and collateral, commercial and guaranteed loans.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Details

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- Definition

This item represents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance of loans and long-term receivables (other than securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity) that have contractual principal amounts and for which the fair value option has been elected.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (d)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612

+ Details

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- Definition

This item represents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance of long-term debt instruments that have contractual principal amounts and for which the fair value option has been elected.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (d)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the aggregate fair value of loans held as assets that are 90 days or more past due for which the fair value option has been elected.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (e)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612

+ Details

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- Definition

This item represents the aggregate fair value of loans held as assets that are in nonaccrual status for which the fair value option has been elected, if the entity's policy is to recognize interest income separately from other changes in fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (e)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 7

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20, 22

-Article 5

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Fair value portion of an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the holder a definite sum of money at a future date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph b

-Article 5

+ Details

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