Federal Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income tax expense (benefit), continuing operations [Abstract]
Current	$ 23	$ 13	$ (138)
Deferred	259	261	400
Federal income tax expense (benefit)	282	274	262
Reconciliation of effective tax rate differences [Abstract]
Tax rate times pre-tax income	549	176	398
Effect of:
Tax-preferred investment income	(141)	(144)	(120)
Tax credits	(34)	(34)	(28)
Goodwill	(2)	260	0
Change in uncertain tax positions	(94)	8	2
Other items	4	8	10
Federal income tax expense (benefit)	282	274	262
Effective tax rate	18.00%	55.00%	23.00%
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes	1,568	503	1,135
Dividends-received deduction	128	135	103
Federal income tax asset (liability) [Abstract]
Current	(27)	(159)
Deferred	(2,982)	(2,153)
Total federal income tax asset (liability)	(3,009)	(2,312)
Deferred Tax Assets
Future contract benefits and other contract holder funds	1,189	837
Deferred gain on business sold through reinsurance	96	125
Reinsurance related embedded derivative asset	75	59
Investments	311	396
Compensation and benefit plans	293	306
Net operating loss	26	23
Net capital loss	32	59
Other	41	144
Deferred tax asssets tax credits	222	208
Deferred tax assets VIEs	35	97
Total deferred tax assets	2,320	2,254
Deferred Tax Liabilities
DAC	1,332	1,322
VOBA	246	370
Net unrealized gain on trading securities	150	131
Intangibles	157	160
Net unrealized gain on AFS securities	3,283	2,259
Other	134	165
Total deferred tax liabilities	5,302	4,407
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	(2,982)	(2,153)
Unrecognized tax benefits [Abstract]
Unrecognized tax benefits, that, if recognized, would impact income tax expense and effective tax rate	69	205
Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	211	218
Increases for prior year tax positions	0	1
Decreases for prior year tax positions	(49)	(10)
Increases for current year tax positions	5	8
Decreases for current year tax positions	0	(6)
Decreases for settlements with taxing authorities	(2)	0
Decreases for lapse of statute of limitations	(88)	0
Balance as of end-of-year	77	211	218
Recognized interest and penalty expense related to uncertain tax positions	(61)	6	7
Accrued interest and penalty expense related to unrecognized tax benefits	11	72
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	73
Capital loss carryforwards	90
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax Credit Carryforward, Amount	66
Alternative Minimum [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax Credit Carryforward, Amount	$ 156