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, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Parent Company [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Parent Company [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Parent Company [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS
Investments in subsidiaries												$ 17,557	$ 15,758
Derivative Assets	2,652				3,151				2,652	3,151		389	305
Other investments	1,098				1,069				1,098	1,069		30	29
Cash and invested cash	4,230				4,510				4,230	4,510		844	622	582	990
Loans and accrued interest to subsidiaries												2,585	2,605
Other assets	2,580				2,536				2,580	2,536		27	289
Total assets	218,869				201,491				218,869	201,491		21,432	19,608
Liabilities
Common and preferred dividends payable												33	23
Short-term debt	200				300				200	300		300	300
Long-term debt	5,439				5,391				5,439	5,391		5,589	5,641
Loans from subsidiaries												55	58
Other liabilities	5,139				4,410				5,139	4,410		423	499
Total liabilities	203,896				188,390				203,896	188,390		6,459	6,507
Payables for collateral on investments	4,181				3,733				4,181	3,733		59	(14)
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders Equity
Preferred stock - 10,000,000 shares authorized; Series A - 9,532 and 10,072 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, respectively	0				0				0	0		0	0
Common stock - 800,000,000 shares authorized; 271,402,586 and 291,319,222 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, respectively	7,121				7,590				7,121	7,590		7,121	7,590
Retained earnings	4,044				2,831				4,044	2,831		4,044	2,831
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	3,808				2,680				3,808	2,680		3,808	2,680
Total stockholders' equity	14,973				13,101				14,973	13,101	11,686	14,973	13,101
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	218,869				201,491				218,869	201,491		21,432	19,608
Revenues:
Dividends from subsidiaries												635	875	712
Interest from subsidiaries												128	125	99
Net investment income (loss)									4,698	4,652	4,541	1	2	0
Realized gain (loss)									(190)	(148)	(180)	(6)	(3)	(4)
Other revenue									491	477	458	25	25	25
Total revenues	2,964	2,954	2,899	2,715	2,569	2,547	2,807	2,718	11,532	10,641	10,415	783	1,024	832
Expenses
Operating and administrative									1,564	1,423	1,412	10	27	119
Interest - subsidiaries												5	5	6
Interest - other												291	310	290
Total expenses	2,564	2,536	2,457	2,407	3,058	2,393	2,399	2,288	9,964	10,138	9,280	306	342	415
Income before federal income tax benefit, equity in income of subsidiaries, less dividends									1,568	503	1,135	477	682	417
Federal income tax expense (benefit)									282	274	262	(85)	(68)	(106)
Income before equity in income of subsidiaries, less dividends												562	750	523
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries, less dividends									751	(529)	379
Net income (loss)	320	428	322	243	(541)	150	301	311	1,313	221	902	1,313	221	902
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities									1,119	1,771	1,127	1,119	1,771	1,127
Unrealized other-than-temporary impairment on available-for-sale securities									2	25	(19)	2	25	(19)
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments									44	130	(22)	44	130	(22)
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(5)	0	(2)	(5)	0	(2)
Change during the period, Funded Status of Employee Benefit Plans									(32)	(97)	29	(32)	(97)	29
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									1,128	1,829	1,113	1,128	1,829	1,113
Comprehensive income (loss)									$ 2,441	$ 2,050	$ 2,015	$ 2,441	$ 2,050	$ 2,015
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