Derivative Instruments (Schedule Of Collateral Amounts With Rights To Reclaim Or Obligation To Return Cash) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Collateral Posted by Counter-Party (Held by LNC)	$ 2,037	$ 1,534
Collateral Posted by LNC (Held by Counter-Party)	126	85
AA- [Member]
Collateral Posted by Counter-Party (Held by LNC)	$ 145	$ 64
Collateral Posted by LNC (Held by Counter-Party)
A plus [Member]
Collateral Posted by Counter-Party (Held by LNC)	$ 198	$ 47
Collateral Posted by LNC (Held by Counter-Party)	2
A [Member]
Collateral Posted by Counter-Party (Held by LNC)	1,512	$ 1,163
Collateral Posted by LNC (Held by Counter-Party)	79	85
A- [Member]
Collateral Posted by Counter-Party (Held by LNC)	175	$ 233
Collateral Posted by LNC (Held by Counter-Party)	45
BBB+ [Member]
Collateral Posted by Counter-Party (Held by LNC)	$ 7	$ 27
Collateral Posted by LNC (Held by Counter-Party)