Shares and Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 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)	277,883,878	304,779,641	282,989,766	310,357,508
Shares to cover exercise of outstanding warrants (in shares)	10,150,192	10,150,292	10,150,218	10,150,292
Shares to cover conversion of preferred stock (in shares)	153,886	173,664	154,165	174,293
Shares to cover non-vested stock (in shares)	1,141,821	815,594	1,087,724	801,261
Average stock options outstanding during the period (in shares)	513,722	500,578	540,976	698,054
Assumed acquisition of shares with assumed proceeds from exercising outstanding warrants (in shares)	(4,840,576)	(5,153,660)	(4,787,407)	(4,223,290)
Assumed acquisition of shares with assumed proceeds and benefits from exercising stock options (at average market price for the year) (in shares)	(352,501)	(342,848)	(371,115)	(459,168)
Shares repurchaseable from measured but unrecognized stock option expense (in shares)	(210)	(31,025)	(5,553)	(80,317)
Average deferred compensation shares (in shares)	0	1,105,447	0	1,070,549
Weighted-average shares, as used in diluted calculation (in shares)	284,650,212	311,997,683	289,758,774	318,489,182
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			2,804	3,232
Change in foreign currency exchange rate adjustment			9	2
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and other contract holder funds			(724)	(791)
Income tax benefit (expense)			(779)	(837)
Less: Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss)			(148)	(83)
Less: Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI, and DFEL			1	(10)
Less: Income tax benefit (expense)			51	33
Balance as of end-of-period	4,353	2,843	4,353	2,843
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			(96)	(48)
Increases attributable to: Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL			14	11
Increases attributable to: Income tax benefit (expense)			31	13
Decreases attributable to: Sales, maturities or other settlements of AFS Securities			112	91
Decreases attributable to: Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI, and DFEL			(14)	(18)
Decreases attributable to: Income tax benefit (expense)			(35)	(25)
Balance as of end-of-period	(98)	(110)	(98)	(110)
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	4	0	4
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period			67	188
Change in foreign currency exchange rate adjustment			(7)	(1)
Less: Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss)			(11)	(3)
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL			9	(1)
Transfers from derivative instruments to bonds through basis adjustment			13	0
Income tax benefit (expense)			(30)	(65)
Less: Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL			2	0
Less: Income tax benefit (expense)			3	1
Balance as of end-of-period	177	112	177	112
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			(6)	3
Income tax benefit (expense)			2	(1)
Balance as of end-of-period	(3)	3	(3)	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			(2)	(3)
Income tax benefit (expense)			1	1
Balance as of end-of-period	$ (279)	$ (183)	$ (279)	$ (183)
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Changes In Preferred And Common Stock Number Of Shares [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-period	9,632	10,854	10,072	10,914
Conversion of convertible preferred stock (in shares)	(100)	0	(540)	(60)
Balance as of end-of-period (in shares)	9,532	10,854	9,532	10,854
Common stock [Member]
Changes In Preferred And Common Stock Number Of Shares [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-period	279,168,971	308,339,163	291,319,222	315,718,554
Conversion of convertible preferred stock (in shares)	1,600	0	8,640	960
Stock compensation/issued for benefit plans (in shares)	60,238	32,712	394,633	215,618
Retirement/cancellation of shares (in shares)	(4,157,191)	(6,712,700)	(16,648,877)	(14,275,957)
Balance as of end-of-period (in shares)	275,073,618	301,659,175	275,073,618	301,659,175
Common stock as of end-of-year:
Assuming conversion of preferred stock (in shares)	275,226,130	301,832,839	275,226,130	301,832,839
Diluted basis (in shares)	282,361,186	306,899,902	282,361,186	306,899,902