SCHEDULE III - CONDENSED SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	$ 9,510	$ 8,207	$ 8,886
Future Contract Benefits	20,708	20,057	17,251
Other Contract Holder Funds	77,362	75,512	74,548
Insurance Premiums	3,246	2,988	2,687
Net Investment Income	4,827	4,859	4,754
Benefits and Interest Credited	7,552	7,211	6,372
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	1,271	1,114	938
Other Operating Expenses	3,319	3,232	3,028
Annuities Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	3,558	3,062	2,770
Future Contract Benefits	2,095	1,569	138
Other Contract Holder Funds	21,162	21,070	21,269
Insurance Premiums	418	173	116
Net Investment Income	1,004	1,034	1,044
Benefits and Interest Credited	1,259	959	835
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	330	365	390
Other Operating Expenses	1,317	1,252	1,113
Retirement Plan Services Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	216	148	173
Future Contract Benefits	4	2
Other Contract Holder Funds	16,583	16,223	15,310
Net Investment Income	846	830	827
Benefits and Interest Credited	497	474	470
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	30	37	48
Other Operating Expenses	385	368	363
Life Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	5,496	4,749	5,713
Future Contract Benefits	10,595	10,347	9,058
Other Contract Holder Funds	38,706	37,280	36,997
Insurance Premiums	649	558	486
Net Investment Income	2,541	2,530	2,452
Benefits and Interest Credited	3,938	3,783	3,283
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	831	655	447
Other Operating Expenses	650	658	628
Group Protection Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	240	248	230
Future Contract Benefits	2,347	2,249	2,033
Other Contract Holder Funds	170	183	200
Insurance Premiums	2,163	2,252	2,084
Net Investment Income	184	180	165
Benefits and Interest Credited	1,638	1,778	1,562
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	80	57	53
Other Operating Expenses	573	574	537
Other Operations [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Future Contract Benefits	5,667	5,890	6,022
Other Contract Holder Funds	741	756	772
Insurance Premiums	16	5	1
Net Investment Income	252	285	266
Benefits and Interest Credited	220	217	222
Other Operating Expenses	$ 394	$ 380	$ 387