SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
ASSETS
Derivative investments	$ 3,151				$ 1,076				$ 3,151	$ 1,076
Other investments	1,069				1,038				1,069	1,038
Cash and invested cash	4,510				2,741				4,510	2,741
Other assets	2,536				2,458				2,536	2,458
Total assets	202,906				193,824				202,906	193,824
Liabilities
Short-term debt	300				351				300	351
Long-term debt	5,391				5,399				5,391	5,399
Other liabilities	4,762				3,194				4,762	3,194
Total liabilities	188,742				181,018				188,742	181,018
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders Equity
Preferred stock - 10,000,000 shares authorized; Series A - 10,072 and 10,914 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, respectively	0				0				0	0
Common stock - 800,000,000 shares authorized; 291,319,222 and 315,718,554 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, respectively	7,590				8,124				7,590	8,124
Retained earnings	4,126				3,934				4,126	3,934
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	2,448				748				2,448	748
Total stockholders' equity	14,164				12,806				14,164	12,806	(262)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	202,906				193,824				202,906	193,824
Revenues:
Net investment income (loss)									4,652	4,541	4,178
Realized gain (loss)									(151)	(180)	(538)
Other revenue									477	458	405
Total revenues	2,570	2,548	2,804	2,714	2,662	2,613	2,605	2,527	10,636	10,407	8,499
Expenses
Operating and administrative									1,422	1,412	1,284
Total expenses	3,019	2,409	2,363	2,246	2,409	2,310	2,275	2,179	10,037	9,173	9,020
Income (loss) before federal income taxes, equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries, less dividends									599	1,234	(521)
Federal income tax expense (benefit)									297	283	(106)
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries, less dividends									(90)	(93)	55
Net income (loss)	(513)	143	325	339	196	246	255	283	294	980	(485)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	(513)	143	325	339	196	246	255	283	294	980	(485)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in (income) loss of subsidiaries greater than distributions									(90)	(93)	55
Realized gain (loss)									(151)	(180)	(538)
Change in federal income tax accruals									338	414	9
(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt									(8)	(5)	64
Other									(21)	70	55
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities									1,277	1,720	937
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Proceeds from sale of subsidiaries/businesses, net of cash disposed									0	321	327
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities									(2,125)	(5,630)	(7,852)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Payment of long-term debt, including current maturities									(525)	(405)	(522)
Issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs									298	749	788
Increase (decrease) in commercial paper, net									(100)	1	(216)
Issuance (redemption) of Series B preferred stock and issuance (repurchase and cancellation) of associated common stock warrants									0	(998)	950
Issuance of common stock									0	368	652
Repurchase of common stock									(576)	(25)	0
Dividends paid to common and preferred stockholders									(61)	(42)	(79)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									2,617	2,467	5,173
Net increase (decrease) in cash and invested cash									1,769	(1,443)	(1,742)
Cash and invested cash at beginning-of-year				2,741					2,741
Cash and invested cash as of end-of-year	4,510				2,741				4,510	2,741
Stockholders' Equity Parenthetical Information
Preferred stock - shares authorized (in shares)	10,000,000				10,000,000				10,000,000	10,000,000
Common stock - shares authorized (in shares)	800,000,000				800,000,000				800,000,000	800,000,000
Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS
Investments in subsidiaries	16,818				15,485				16,818	15,485
Derivative investments	305				55				305	55
Other investments	29				135				29	135
Cash and invested cash	622				582				622	582	990
Loans and accrued interest to subsidiaries	2,605				2,759				2,605	2,759
Other assets	286				257				286	257
Total assets	20,665				19,273				20,665	19,273
Liabilities
Common and preferred dividends payable	23				16				23	16
Short-term debt	300				350				300	350
Long-term debt	5,641				5,649				5,641	5,649
Loans from subsidiaries	58				0				58	0
Other liabilities	479				452				479	452
Total liabilities	6,501				6,467				6,501	6,467
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders Equity
Preferred stock - 10,000,000 shares authorized; Series A - 10,072 and 10,914 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, respectively	0				0				0	0
Common stock - 800,000,000 shares authorized; 291,319,222 and 315,718,554 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, respectively	7,590				8,124				7,590	8,124
Retained earnings	4,126				3,934				4,126	3,934
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	2,448				748				2,448	748
Total stockholders' equity	14,164				12,806				14,164	12,806
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	20,665				19,273				20,665	19,273
Revenues:
Dividends from subsidiaries									875	712	767
Interest from subsidiaries									125	99	94
Net investment income (loss)									2	0	(5)
Realized gain (loss)									3	4	(1)
Other revenue									0	5	1
Total revenues									999	812	858
Expenses
Operating and administrative									2	99	26
Interest - subsidiaries									5	6	8
Interest - other									310	290	195
Total expenses									317	395	229
Income (loss) before federal income taxes, equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries, less dividends									682	417	629
Federal income tax expense (benefit)									(68)	(106)	(50)
Income before equity in income of subsidiaries, less dividends									750	523	679
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries, less dividends									456	(457)	1,164
Net income (loss)									294	980	(485)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income (loss)									294	980	(485)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in (income) loss of subsidiaries greater than distributions									456	(457)	1,164
Realized gain (loss)									3	4	(1)
Change in fair value of equity collar									0	0	3
Change in federal income tax accruals									(32)	190	69
(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt									8	5	(64)
Other									22	22	4
Change in legal accruals									(70)	70	0
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities									701	390	544
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Purchases of investments									0	0	(50)
Sales or maturities of investments									105	0	37
Capital contribution to subsidiaries									(17)	(125)	(1,260)
Proceeds from sale of subsidiaries/businesses, net of cash disposed									0	459	320
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities									88	334	(953)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Payment of long-term debt, including current maturities									(525)	(405)	(522)
Issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs									300	749	788
Increase (decrease) in commercial paper, net									(100)	1	(216)
Increase (decrease) in loans from subsidiaries, net									58	(97)	(291)
Increase (decrease) in loans to subsidiaries, net									154	(683)	0
Common stock issued for benefit plans and excess tax benefits									1	0	0
Issuance (redemption) of Series B preferred stock and issuance (repurchase and cancellation) of associated common stock warrants									0	(998)	950
Issuance of common stock									0	368	652
Repurchase of common stock									(575)	(25)	0
Dividends paid to common and preferred stockholders									(62)	(42)	(79)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									(749)	(1,132)	1,282
Net increase (decrease) in cash and invested cash									40	(408)	873
Cash and invested cash at beginning-of-year				582				990	582	990	117
Cash and invested cash as of end-of-year	$ 622				$ 582				$ 622	$ 582	$ 990
Stockholders' Equity Parenthetical Information
Preferred stock - shares authorized (in shares)	10,000,000				10,000,000				10,000,000	10,000,000
Common stock - shares authorized (in shares)	800,000,000				800,000,000				800,000,000	800,000,000