DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Changes in DAC [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	$ 7,552	$ 7,424	$ 7,640
Business acquired (sold) through reinsurance	0	0	(37)
Deferrals	1,681	1,641	1,621
Amortization, net of interest:
Prospective unlocking - assumption changes	(274)	(31)	(15)
Prospective unlocking - model refinements	114	145	0
Retrospective unlocking	96	41	19
Other amortization	(959)	(930)	(746)
Adjustment related to realized (gains) losses	(23)	(50)	148
Adjustment related to unrealized (gains) losses	(1,051)	(688)	(1,206)
Balance as of end-of-year	7,136	7,552	7,424
Changes in VOBA [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	1,378	2,086	3,762
Business acquired (sold) through reinsurance	12	0	(255)
Deferrals	20	26	30
Amortization:
Prospective unlocking - assumption changes	72	(41)	(20)
Prospective unlocking - model refinements	102	(7)	0
Retrospective unlocking	21	11	(44)
Other amortization	(300)	(361)	(349)
Accretion of interest	78	89	102
Adjustment related to realized (gains) losses	(6)	(8)	43
Adjustment related to unrealized (gains) losses	(322)	(417)	(1,183)
Balance as of end-of-year	1,055	1,378	2,086
Interest accrual rate, low end	3.40%
Interest accrual rate, high end	7.25%
Estimated future amortization of VOBA, net of interest [Abstract]
2012	117
2013	101
2014	76
2015	68
2016	64
Changes in DSI [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	286	323	263
Deferrals	39	66	76
Amortization, net of interest:
Prospective unlocking - assumption changes	(2)	(3)	0
Retrospective unlocking	17	7	5
Other amortization	(55)	(58)	(33)
Adjustment related to realized (gains) losses	(1)	(8)	13
Adjustment related to unrealized (gains) losses	(13)	(41)	(1)
Balance as of end-of-year	271	286	323
Changes in DFEL [Abstract]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	1,502	1,338	1,019
Business acquired (sold) through reinsurance	0	0	(11)
Deferrals	544	546	497
Amortization, net of interest:
Prospective unlocking - assumption changes	5	(57)	(22)
Prospective unlocking - model refinements	26	56	0
Retrospective unlocking	15	(23)	(16)
Other amortization	(180)	(173)	(129)
Adjustment related to realized (gains) losses	(9)	(8)	(1)
Adjustment related to unrealized (gains) losses	(534)	(177)	1
Balance as of end-of-year	$ 1,369	$ 1,502	$ 1,338

The unamortized carrying amount of deferred front end loads as of the balance sheet date.

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The amount of deferred front end loads capitalized during the period.

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No definition available.

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Additions in deferred front end load liability during the year arising from acquisitions of insurance entities.

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No definition available.

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The amount of adjustment to amortization of deferred front end loads arising from a revision in estimated gross profit (when such amount serves as the basis for allocating amortization of DFEL to reporting periods).

+ References

No definition available.

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Amount of amortization of deferred front end loads attributable to realized investment gains (losses).

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No definition available.

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The amount of other amortization of deferred front end loads, net of interest, during the period.

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No definition available.

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The amount of adjustment to amortization of deferred front end loads arising from assumption changes (when such amount serves as the basis for allocating amortization of DFEL to reporting periods).

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No definition available.

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The amount of adjustment to amortization of deferred front end loads arising from model refinements (when such amount serves as the basis for allocating amortization of DFEL to reporting periods).

+ References

No definition available.

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Amount of amortization of deferred front end loads attributable to unrealized investment gains (losses).

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No definition available.

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The amount of other amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, net of interest, during the period.

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No definition available.

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The amount of adjustment to amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs arising from assumption changes (when such amount serves as the basis for allocating amortization of DAC to reporting periods).

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No definition available.

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The amount of adjustment to amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs arising from model refinements (when such amount serves as the basis for allocating amortization of DAC to reporting periods).

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No definition available.

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Additions in policy acquisition costs during the year arising from acquisitions of insurance entities.

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No definition available.

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Amount of amortization of deferred sales inducement costs attributable to realized investment gains (losses).

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No definition available.

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Amount of amortization of deferred sales inducement costs attributable to unrealized investment gains (losses).

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No definition available.

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The amount of adjustment to amortization of deferred sales inducement costs arising from a revision in estimated gross profit (when such amount serves as the basis for allocating amortization of DSI to reporting periods).

+ References

No definition available.

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The amount of other amortization of deferred sales inducement costs, net of interest, during the period.

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No definition available.

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The amount of adjustment to amortization of deferred sales inducement costs arising from assumption changes (when such amount serves as the basis for allocating amortization of DSI to reporting periods).

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

States the assumed long-term market interest rate used in the determination of the present value of future profits on long-duration contracts acquired in a business combination, high end of range.

+ References

No definition available.

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States the assumed long-term market interest rate used in the determination of the present value of future profits on long-duration contracts acquired in a business combination, low end of range.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of adjustment to amortization of the present value of future profits asset arising from a revision in estimated gross profit (when such amount serves as the basis for allocating amortization of VOBA to reporting periods).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of amortization of the present value of future profits asset due to realized investment gains (losses).

+ References

No definition available.

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The amount of adjustment to amortization of the present value of future profits asset arising from assumption changes (when such amount serves as the basis for allocating amortization of VOBA to reporting periods).

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of adjustment to amortization of the present value of future profits asset arising from model refinements (when such amount serves as the basis for allocating amortization of VOBA to reporting periods).

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of amortization of the present value of future profits asset due to unrealized investment gains (losses).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Total amount of additions in present value of future profits asset from sources other than acquisitions of insurance entities during the income statement period.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of other amortization of the present value of future profits asset during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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The amount of adjustment to amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs arising from a revision in estimated gross profit (when such amount serves as the basis for allocating amortization of DAC to reporting periods).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 113

-Paragraph 22, 23, 25, 27

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Amount of amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs due to realized investment gains (losses).

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

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-Paragraph 23

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Amount of amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs due to unrealized investment gains (losses).

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-Paragraph 23

-Subparagraph c

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Total amount of policy acquisition costs capitalized during the income statement period.

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No definition available.

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The unamortized portion as of the balance sheet date of capitalized costs that vary with and are primarily related to the acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts and coverages.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 16, 18

-Article 12

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

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-Article 7

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-Paragraph 28, 29

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The amount of deferred sales inducement costs capitalized during the period.

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 03-1

-Paragraph 39

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The unamortized carrying amount of deferred sales inducement costs as of the balance sheet date.

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

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Expected amortization expense in the fifth year after the balance sheet date of the present value of the future profits of long-duration contracts acquired in a purchase of an insurance enterprise.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 92-9

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Expected amortization expense in the fourth year after the balance sheet date of the present value of the future profits of long-duration contracts acquired in a purchase of an insurance enterprise.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

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Expected amortization expense in the first year after the balance sheet date of the present value of the future profits of long-duration contracts acquired in a purchase of an insurance enterprise.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

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Expected amortization expense in the third year after the balance sheet date of the present value of the future profits of long-duration contracts acquired in a purchase of an insurance enterprise.

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

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Expected amortization expense in the second year after the balance sheet date of the present value of the future profits of long-duration contracts acquired in a purchase of an insurance enterprise.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the present value of the future profits asset (also known as value of business acquired).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Article 7

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Additions in present value of future profits asset during the year arising from acquisitions of insurance entities.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

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Amount of long-term market rate of interest earned on present value of future insurance profits during the reporting period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

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