SCHEDULE III - CONDENSED SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA		$ 8,403	$ 9,134	$ 9,510
Future Contract Benefits		22,887	21,576	20,708
Unearned Premiums	[1]
Other Contract Holder Funds		80,209	78,903	77,362
Insurance Premiums		3,256	2,987	3,246
Net Investment Income		4,990	4,874	4,827
Benefits and Interest Credited		7,750	7,256	7,552
Amortization of DAC and VOBA		1,004	1,276	1,271
Other Operating Expenses		3,468	3,403	3,319
Premiums Written
Annuities Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA		3,583	3,597	3,558
Future Contract Benefits		1,943	2,485	2,095
Unearned Premiums	[1]
Other Contract Holder Funds		21,713	21,202	21,162
Insurance Premiums		475	331	418
Net Investment Income		1,038	1,033	1,004
Benefits and Interest Credited		1,084	1,130	1,259
Amortization of DAC and VOBA		430	388	330
Other Operating Expenses		1,397	1,296	1,317
Premiums Written
Retirement Plan Services Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA		194	201	216
Future Contract Benefits		4	4	4
Unearned Premiums	[1]
Other Contract Holder Funds		18,719	17,878	16,583
Net Investment Income		899	859	846
Benefits and Interest Credited		538	515	497
Amortization of DAC and VOBA		27	28	30
Other Operating Expenses		396	386	385
Premiums Written
Life Insurance Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA		4,446	5,145	5,496
Future Contract Benefits		12,658	11,400	10,595
Unearned Premiums	[1]
Other Contract Holder Funds		39,459	39,332	38,706
Insurance Premiums		773	703	649
Net Investment Income		2,643	2,562	2,541
Benefits and Interest Credited		4,593	4,071	3,938
Amortization of DAC and VOBA		468	734	831
Other Operating Expenses		721	688	650
Premiums Written
Group Protection Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA		180	191	240
Future Contract Benefits		2,262	2,280	2,347
Unearned Premiums	[1]
Other Contract Holder Funds		161	168	170
Insurance Premiums		1,998	1,939	2,163
Net Investment Income		168	176	184
Benefits and Interest Credited		1,353	1,324	1,638
Amortization of DAC and VOBA		79	126	80
Other Operating Expenses		611	580	573
Premiums Written
Other Operations [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Future Contract Benefits		6,020	5,407	5,667
Unearned Premiums	[1]
Other Contract Holder Funds		157	323	741
Insurance Premiums		10	14	16
Net Investment Income		242	244	252
Benefits and Interest Credited		182	216	220
Other Operating Expenses		343	453	394
Premiums Written

[1] Unearned premiums are included in Column C, future contract benefits.