Derivative Instruments (Schedule Of Collateral Amounts With Rights To Reclaim Or Obligation To Return Cash) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Collateral Posted by Counter-Party (Held by LNC)	$ 922	$ 894
Collateral Posted by LNC (Held by Counter-Party)	(489)	(630)
AA- [Member]
Collateral Posted by Counter-Party (Held by LNC)	74	53
Collateral Posted by LNC (Held by Counter-Party)		(32)
A plus [Member]
Collateral Posted by Counter-Party (Held by LNC)	32	10
Collateral Posted by LNC (Held by Counter-Party)	(212)	(217)
A [Member]
Collateral Posted by Counter-Party (Held by LNC)	495	466
Collateral Posted by LNC (Held by Counter-Party)	(277)	(381)
A- [Member]
Collateral Posted by Counter-Party (Held by LNC)	59	67
Collateral Posted by LNC (Held by Counter-Party)
BBB+ [Member]
Collateral Posted by Counter-Party (Held by LNC)	262	298
Collateral Posted by LNC (Held by Counter-Party)