Shares and Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
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)	282,085,602	311,391,263	285,570,764	313,192,667
Shares to cover exercise of outstanding warrants (in shares)	10,150,192	10,150,292	10,150,231	10,150,292
Shares to cover conversion of preferred stock (in shares)	154,112	174,603	154,305	174,613
Shares to cover non-vested stock (in shares)	1,110,662	816,834	1,060,676	794,095
Average stock options outstanding during the period (in shares)	507,944	633,711	554,614	796,792
Assumed acquisition of shares with assumed proceeds from exercising outstanding warrants (in shares)	(4,887,102)	(3,846,217)	(4,760,822)	(3,758,105)
Assumed acquisition of shares with assumed proceeds and benefits from exercising stock options (at average market price for the year) (in shares)	(346,700)	(400,374)	(380,239)	(517,329)
Shares repurchaseable from measured but unrecognized stock option expense (in shares)	(1,768)	(36,857)	(8,224)	(104,962)
Average deferred compensation shares (in shares)	1,187,598	1,031,814	1,206,501	1,053,100
Weighted-average shares, as used in diluted calculation (in shares)	289,960,540	319,915,069	293,547,806	321,781,163
Deferred compensation plan mark to market adjustment	$ 4	$ 1	$ (2)	$ 0
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on AFS Securities [Member]
Components And Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year			2,947	1,072
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards	0	105	0	105
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period			1,276	627
Change in foreign currency exchange rate adjustment			(6)	22
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and other contract holder funds			(261)	(168)
Income tax benefit (expense)			(395)	(136)
Less: Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss)			(103)	(38)
Less: Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI, and DFEL			1	(15)
Less: Income tax benefit (expense)			36	19
Balance as of end-of-period	3,627	1,556	3,627	1,556
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			(110)	(129)
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards	0	(5)	0	(5)
Increases attributable to: Gross OTTI recognized in OCI during the period			(79)	(27)
Increases attributable to: Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL			12	8
Increases attributable to: Income tax benefit (expense)			26	7
Decreases attributable to: Sales, maturities or other settlements of AFS Securities			62	67
Decreases attributable to: Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI, and DFEL			(8)	(13)
Decreases attributable to: Income tax benefit (expense)			(20)	(19)
Balance as of end-of-period	(117)	(111)	(117)	(111)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member]
Components And Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year			119	(15)
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards	0	3	0	3
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period			37	(34)
Change in foreign currency exchange rate adjustment			2	(14)
Less: Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss)			(7)	(9)
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL			4	0
Income tax benefit (expense)			(16)	18
Less: Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL			1	1
Less: Income tax benefit (expense)			2	3
Balance as of end-of-period	150	(37)	150	(37)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment [Member]
Components And Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year			1	1
Foreign currency translation adjustment arising during the period			(8)	(6)
Income tax benefit (expense)			3	2
Balance as of end-of-period	(4)	(3)	(4)	(3)
Funded Status of Employee Benefit Plans [Member]
Components And Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year			(278)	(181)
Adjustment arising during the period			1	5
Income tax benefit (expense)			0	(2)
Balance as of end-of-period	$ (277)	$ (178)	$ (277)	$ (178)
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Changes In Preferred And Common Stock Number Of Shares [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-period	9,632	10,914	10,072	10,914
Conversion of convertible preferred stock (in shares)	0	(60)	(440)	(60)
Balance as of end-of-period (in shares)	9,632	10,854	9,632	10,854
Common stock [Member]
Changes In Preferred And Common Stock Number Of Shares [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-period	285,412,303	313,456,824	291,319,222	315,718,554
Conversion of convertible preferred stock (in shares)	0	960	7,040	960
Stock compensation/issued for benefit plans (in shares)	230,198	30,772	334,395	182,906
Retirement/cancellation of shares (in shares)	(6,473,530)	(5,149,393)	(12,491,686)	(7,563,257)
Balance as of end-of-period (in shares)	279,168,971	308,339,163	279,168,971	308,339,163
Common stock as of end-of-year:
Assuming conversion of preferred stock (in shares)	279,323,083	308,512,827	279,323,083	308,512,827
Diluted basis (in shares)	286,820,300	316,821,550	286,820,300	316,821,550