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Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Changes In Unrealized Gains (Losses) Within Level 3 Financial Instruments Carried At Fair Value And Still Held) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) within Level 3 financial instruments carried at fair value and still held      
Change in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income $ (717)us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss $ 1,758us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss $ 2,454us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
Derivative investments [Member] | Realized Gain (Loss) [Member]      
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) within Level 3 financial instruments carried at fair value and still held      
Change in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (15)us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lnc_RealizedGainLossMember		 [1] (752)us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lnc_RealizedGainLossMember		 [1] 823us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lnc_RealizedGainLossMember		 [1]
Indexed annuity and IUL contracts embedded derivatives [Member] | Realized Gain (Loss) [Member]      
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) within Level 3 financial instruments carried at fair value and still held      
Change in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (37)us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= lnc_IndexedAnnuityContractsMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lnc_RealizedGainLossMember		 [1] (44)us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= lnc_IndexedAnnuityContractsMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lnc_RealizedGainLossMember		 [1] (10)us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= lnc_IndexedAnnuityContractsMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lnc_RealizedGainLossMember		 [1]
GLB embedded derivative reserves [Member] | Realized Gain (Loss) [Member]      
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) within Level 3 financial instruments carried at fair value and still held      
Change in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (678)us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= lnc_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsEmbeddedDerivativeReservesMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lnc_RealizedGainLossMember		 [1] 2,444us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= lnc_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsEmbeddedDerivativeReservesMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lnc_RealizedGainLossMember		 [1] 1,472us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= lnc_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsEmbeddedDerivativeReservesMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lnc_RealizedGainLossMember		 [1]
VIEs' liabilities - derivative instruments [Member] | Net Investment Income [Member]      
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) within Level 3 financial instruments carried at fair value and still held      
Change in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income 14us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= lnc_VariableInterestEntitiesLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lnc_NetInvestmentIncomeMember		 [2] 101us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= lnc_VariableInterestEntitiesLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lnc_NetInvestmentIncomeMember		 [2] 163us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= lnc_VariableInterestEntitiesLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lnc_NetInvestmentIncomeMember		 [2]
Credit default swaps [Member] | Realized Gain (Loss) [Member]      
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) within Level 3 financial instruments carried at fair value and still held      
Change in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income $ (1)us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lnc_RealizedGainLossMember		 [1] $ 9us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lnc_RealizedGainLossMember		 [1] $ 6us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lnc_RealizedGainLossMember		 [1]
[1] Included in realized gain (loss) on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
[2] Included in net investment income on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).