Derivatives (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended													3 Months Ended						3 Months Ended												3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended										3 Months Ended											3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended							3 Months Ended							3 Months Ended						3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 Maturity 12 20 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Maturity 12 20 2012 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Maturity 12 20 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Maturity 12 20 2016 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Maturity 3 20 2017 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Maturity 3 20 2017 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 AA [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 AA [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 AA- [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 AA- [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 A plus [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 A plus [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 A [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 A [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 A- [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 A- [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 BBB [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 BBB [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Unrealized Gain (Loss) on AFS Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Unrealized Gain (Loss) on AFS Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Unrealized Other Than Temporary Impairment on Available For Sale Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Unrealized Other Than Temporary Impairment on Available For Sale Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Unrealized Other Than Temporary Impairment on Available For Sale Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Unrealized Other Than Temporary Impairment on Available For Sale Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member] Net investment income [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member] Net investment income [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Funded Status of Employee Benefit Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Funded Status of Employee Benefit Plans [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Funded Status of Employee Benefit Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Funded Status of Employee Benefit Plans [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Cash flow hedges [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Cash flow hedges [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Cash flow hedges [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cash flow hedges [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Fair value hedges [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Fair value hedges [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest Rate Contract [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Net investment income [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Net investment income [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member] Interest Expense [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member] Interest Expense [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member] Net investment income [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member] Net investment income [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Fair value hedges [Member] Interest Expense [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Fair value hedges [Member] Interest Expense [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Fair value hedges [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Fair value hedges [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Fair value hedges [Member] Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Fair value hedges [Member] Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Fair value hedges [Member] Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member] Interest Expense [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Fair value hedges [Member] Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member] Interest Expense [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Net investment income [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Net investment income [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Realized gain (loss) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Realized gain (loss) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Net investment income [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Net investment income [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] Cash flow hedges [Member] Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Realized gain (loss) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Realized gain (loss) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Equity Market Contract [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Equity Market Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Realized gain (loss) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Equity Market Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Realized gain (loss) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Equity Market Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Equity Market Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Equity Market Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Equity Market Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Credit Risk Contract [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Credit Risk Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Realized gain (loss) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Credit Risk Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Realized gain (loss) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Credit Risk Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Credit Risk Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Derivative investments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Credit Risk Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Other Liabilities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Credit Risk Contract [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Other Liabilities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Indexed Annuity Contracts Embedded Derivatives [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Realized gain (loss) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Indexed Annuity Contracts Embedded Derivatives [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Realized gain (loss) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Indexed Annuity Contracts Embedded Derivatives [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Future contract benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Indexed Annuity Contracts Embedded Derivatives [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Future contract benefits [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 GLB Embedded Derivative Reserves [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Realized gain (loss) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 GLB Embedded Derivative Reserves [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Realized gain (loss) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 GLB Embedded Derivative Reserves [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Future contract benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 GLB Embedded Derivative Reserves [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Future contract benefits [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Available For Sale Securities Embedded Derivatives [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Net investment income [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Available For Sale Securities Embedded Derivatives [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Net investment income [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Reinsurance Related [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Realized gain (loss) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Reinsurance Related [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Realized gain (loss) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Reinsurance Related [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Reinsurance Related Embedded Derivatives [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Reinsurance Related [Member] Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments [Member] Reinsurance Related Embedded Derivatives [Member]
Outstanding derivative instruments with off-balance-sheet risks
Notional Amounts	$ 56,598		$ 51,360																																							$ 2,545	$ 2,852						$ 2,205	$ 2,512									$ 1,175	$ 1,675									$ 36,178	$ 30,232				$ 340	$ 340					$ 94	$ 4						$ 16,411	$ 16,401				$ 47	$ 48	$ 148	$ 148			$ 0	$ 0			$ 0	$ 0					$ 0	$ 0
Asset Carrying or Fair Value	2,244		3,151																																							127	168						101	130									215	319									156	568				26	38					0	0						1,749	2,096				(3)	0	0	0			0	0			0	0					0	0
Liability Carrying or Fair Value Loss	1,712		2,800																																							0	0						0	0									0	0									0	0				0	0					0	0						0	0				0	0	10	16			480	399			1,064	2,217					158	168
Maturity of the notional amounts of derivative financial instruments
Remaining Life Less Than 1 Year	11,235																																													3,060																									94											8,041							40
Remaining Life - 1 - 5 Years	9,858																																													9,774																									61											23							0
Remaining Life - 6 - 10 Years	15,050																																													11,595																									179											3,168							108
Remaining Life - 11 - 30 Years	20,445																																													15,122																									100											5,176							47
Remaining Life Over - 30 Years	10																																													7																									0											3							0
Remaining Life - Total Years	56,598																																													39,558																									434											16,411							195
Change in our unrealized gain on derivative instruments in accumulated OCI
Balance as of beginning-of-year																						2,947	1,072	(119)	(110)	(113)	(129)	119	(15)			(2)	1	2	1	(279)	(278)	(182)	(181)
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standard																												0	3
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period																																																			(40)	(6)									1	1														(3)	2
Change in foreign currency exchange rate adjustment																						10	14					(9)	(9)
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL																												4	4
Income tax benefit (expense)																												15	3
Less: Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss)																														2	2																						0	1	(6)	(1)							1	1
Less: Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL																												0	1
Less: Income tax benefit (expense)																												1	(1)
Balance as of end-of-period																						2,933	1,186	(119)	(110)	(113)	(129)	89	(20)			(2)	1	2	1	(279)	(278)	(182)	(181)
Gains (losses)
Gains (losses)	50	76																																						(5)	0			12	13		(7)	(1)									12	13							(3)	(6)	(413)	(61)				2	1					(4)	(5)				(672)	(199)	(135)	(19)				3	4					104	48			1,153	289			0	1	10	11
Gains (losses) on derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges
Gain (loss) recognized as a component of other comprehensive income with the offset to net investment income	(4)	0
Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) to be Reclassified within Twelve Months	20
Information related to fair value hedges
Gain (loss) recognized as a component of OCI with the offset to interest expense	1	1
Open credit default swap liabilities
Credit rating of underlying obligation				BBB+	BBB+	BBB+	BBB+	BBB	BBB
Maturity date of open credit default swap liabilities				Dec. 20, 2012	Dec. 20, 2012	Dec. 20, 2016	Dec. 20, 2016	Mar. 20, 2017	Mar. 20, 2017
Credit default swaps, number of instruments	9		9	4	4	3	3	2	2
Fair Value of open credit default swap liabilities	(10)		(16)	0	0	(7)	(12)	(3)	(4)
Maximum potential payout of open credit default swap liabilities	148		148	40	40	68	68	40	40
Credit risk related contingent features collateral
Maximum potential payout	148		148	40	40	68	68	40	40
Less: Counterparty thresholds	0		0
Collateral requirement if netting agreements not in place	10
Nonperformance risk adjustment	6
Exposure associated with collateralization events	61
Collateral support agreements
Collateral Posted by Counterparty (Held by Entity)	2,286		3,170							34	35	59	219	624	848	1,232	1,681	335	387	2	0
Collateral Posted by LNC (Held by Counterparty)	$ (116)		$ (120)							$ 0	$ 0	$ (3)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (82)	$ (120)	$ (31)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0