Shares and Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Common stock as of end-of-year:
Assuming conversion of preferred stock (in shares)	291,480,374	315,893,178	302,407,233
Diluted basis (in shares)	298,225,244	324,043,137	311,846,021
Reconciliation of the denominator (number of shares) in the calculations of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share Table
Weighted-average shares, as used in basic calculation (in shares)	307,216,181	310,005,264	280,031,363
Shares to cover exercise of outstanding warrants (in shares)	10,150,292	12,260,236	6,209,013
Shares to cover conversion of preferred stock (in shares)	173,289	178,720	184,687
Shares to cover non-vested stock (in shares)	813,905	616,314	550,700
Average stock options outstanding during the year (in shares)	636,989	707,704	401,369
Assumed acquisition of shares with assumed proceeds from exercising outstanding warrants (in shares)	(4,658,020)	(5,148,473)	(2,945,429)
Assumed acquisition of shares with assumed proceeds and benefits from exercising stock options (at average market price for the year) (in shares)	(427,425)	(464,813)	(275,543)
Shares repurchaseable from measured but unrecognized stock option expense (in shares)	(65,882)	(139,673)	(85,511)
Average deferred compensation shares (in shares)	1,110,722	1,198,468	1,564,954
Weighted-average shares, as used in diluted calculation (in shares)	314,950,051	319,213,747	285,635,603
Deferred compensation plan mark to market adjustment	$ (4,000,000)	$ (1,000,000)
Components and changes in accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards	0	0	31,000,000
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on AFS Securities [Member]
Components and changes in accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	1,072,000,000	49,000,000	(2,654,000,000)
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards	0	181,000,000	(84,000,000)
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the year	3,414,000,000	2,528,000,000	6,204,000,000
Change in foreign currency exchange rate adjustment	(5,000,000)	(6,000,000)	26,000,000
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and other contract holder funds	(993,000,000)	(1,196,000,000)	(2,371,000,000)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(864,000,000)	(478,000,000)	(1,366,000,000)
Less: Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss)	(129,000,000)	(135,000,000)	(569,000,000)
Less: Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) on derivatives included in net income (loss)	0	135,000,000	(45,000,000)
Less: Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI, and DFEL	(13,000,000)	9,000,000	161,000,000
Less: Income tax benefit (expense)	50,000,000	(3,000,000)	159,000,000
Balance as of end-of-year	2,716,000,000	1,072,000,000	49,000,000
Unrealized Other Than Temporary Impairment on Available For Sale Securities [Member]
Components and changes in accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	(129,000,000)	(115,000,000)	0
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards	0	0	(18,000,000)
Increases attributable to: Gross OTTI recognized in OCI during the year	(58,000,000)	(98,000,000)	(357,000,000)
Increases attributable to: Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL	11,000,000	10,000,000	82,000,000
Increases attributable to: Income tax benefit (expense)	16,000,000	30,000,000	96,000,000
Decreases attributable to: Sales, maturities or other settlements of AFS Securities	103,000,000	87,000,000	154,000,000
Decreases attributable to: Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI, and DFEL	(22,000,000)	(20,000,000)	(29,000,000)
Decreases attributable to: Income tax benefit (expense)	(28,000,000)	(23,000,000)	(43,000,000)
Balance as of end-of-year	(107,000,000)	(129,000,000)	(115,000,000)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member]
Components and changes in accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	(15,000,000)	11,000,000	127,000,000
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the year	185,000,000	(27,000,000)	(120,000,000)
Change in foreign currency exchange rate adjustment	7,000,000	4,000,000	0
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and other contract holder funds	(1,000,000)	(4,000,000)	22,000,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	(66,000,000)	9,000,000	(13,000,000)
Less: Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss)	(10,000,000)	14,000,000	8,000,000
Less: Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI, and DFEL	0	(1,000,000)	0
Less: Income tax benefit (expense)	4,000,000	(5,000,000)	(3,000,000)
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL	(1,000,000)	(4,000,000)	22,000,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	(66,000,000)	9,000,000	(13,000,000)
Less: Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL	0	(1,000,000)	0
Less: Income tax benefit (expense)	4,000,000	(5,000,000)	(3,000,000)
Balance as of end-of-year	116,000,000	(15,000,000)	11,000,000
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment [Member]
Components and changes in accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	1,000,000	3,000,000	6,000,000
Change in foreign currency exchange rate adjustment	0	(3,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	1,000,000	(1,000,000)
Balance as of end-of-year	1,000,000	1,000,000	3,000,000
Funded Status of Employee Benefit Plans [Member]
Components and changes in accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	(181,000,000)	(210,000,000)	(282,000,000)
Adjustment arising during the year	(149,000,000)	45,000,000	111,000,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	52,000,000	(16,000,000)	(39,000,000)
Balance as of end-of-year	(278,000,000)	(181,000,000)	(210,000,000)
Common stock warrant [Member]
Series B Preferred Stock Issuance and Redemption [Abstract]
Outstanding warrant to purchase common stock (in shares)	10,150,292
Exercise price of warrant (in dollars per share)	$ 10.85
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Changes in preferred and common stock (number of shares) [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year (in shares)	10,914	11,497	11,565
Conversion of convertible preferred stock (in shares)	(842)	(583)	(68)
Balance as of end-of-year (in shares)	10,072	10,914	11,497
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Changes in preferred and common stock (number of shares) [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year (in shares)	0	950,000	0
Issuance (redemption) of Series B preferred stock (in shares)	0	(950,000)	950,000
Balance as of end-of-year (in shares)	0	0	950,000
Common stock [Member]
Changes in preferred and common stock (number of shares) [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year (in shares)	315,718,554	302,223,281	255,869,859
Stock issued (in shares)	0	14,137,615	46,000,000
Conversion of convertible preferred stock (in shares)	13,472	9,328	1,088
Stock compensation/issued for benefit plans (in shares)	248,553	414,712	436,100
Retirement/cancellation of shares (in shares)	(24,661,357)	(1,066,382)	(83,766)
Balance as of end-of-year (in shares)	291,319,222	315,718,554	302,223,281