Investments (Details - FMUCG mortgages credit quality) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Number Of Issues For Fixed Maturities With Decline In Fair Value From Amortized Cost [Abstract]
Number Of Issues Fixed Maturities One Year Or Less Investment Grade	160
Number Of Issues Fixed Maturities One Year Or Less Below Investment Grade	69
Number Of Issues Fixed Maturities More Than One Year Investment Grade	53
Number Of Issues Fixed Maturities More Than One Year Below Investment Grade	17
Investment Text Details [Abstract]
Fixed maturities pledged as collateral to brokers as required under certain futures contracts	$ 54,000,000
Trading and hybrid securities excluded from gross unrealized appreciation	12,000,000		30,000,000
Investments supporting run-off settlement annuity business	3,100,000,000		3,000,000,000
Gross unrealized appreciation of investments supporting run-off settlement annuity business	915,000,000		851,000,000
Gross unrealized depreciation of investments supporting run-off settlement annuity business	8,000,000		25,000,000
Corporate Securities Included In Short Term Investments	702,000,000		4,100,000,000
Federal Government Securities Included In Short Term Investments	203,000,000		164,000,000
Money Market Funds Included In Short Term Investments	151,000,000		40,000,000
Increase To Commercial Mortgage Loan Valuation Reserve Pre Tax	10,000,000
Increase To Commercial Mortgage Loan Valuation Reserve After Tax	7,000,000
Commercial Mortage Loans With Increased Valuation Reserves Industrial Number	3
Commercial Mortage Loans With Increased Valuation Reserves Retail Number	1
Average Recorded Investment Impaired Commercial Mortgage Loans	176,000,000	166,000,000
Mortgage Loans Restructured	119,000,000		65,000,000
Modified Loans Note 1	100,000,000		55,000,000
Modified Loans Note 2	19,000,000		10,000,000
Paydown Of Modified Loan Note 1	46,000,000
Remaining Amount Of Modified Loan Note 1 Reclassified To Good Standing	54,000,000
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	2,946,000,000		3,301,000,000
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Table [Abstract]
Reserve balance, January 1,	19,000,000	12,000,000	12,000,000
Increase in valuation reserves	10,000,000	16,000,000
Charge-offs upon sales and repayments, net of recoveries	(3,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Transfers To Other Long Term Investments	(16,000,000)	0
Transfers to foreclosed real estate	(3,000,000)	0
Reserve balance, September 30,	7,000,000	27,000,000	19,000,000
Financing Receivables Credit Quality Text Details [Abstract]
Problem And Potential Problem Mortgage Loans	215,000,000		336,000,000
Portfolio's Aggregate Debt Service Coverage Ratio	1.57		1.40
Portfolio's Loan-To-Value Ratio	65.00%		70.00%
Impaired Commercial Mortgage Loans Gross [Member] | Impaired commercial mortgage loans with valuation reserves
Impaired Commercial Mortgage Loans And Valuation Reserves [Line Items]
Impaired Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment	73,000,000		154,000,000
Impaired Commercial Mortgage Loans Gross [Member] | Impaired commercial mortgage loans with no valuation reserves
Impaired Commercial Mortgage Loans And Valuation Reserves [Line Items]
Impaired Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment	60,000,000		60,000,000
Impaired Commercial Mortgage Loans Reserves [Member] | Impaired commercial mortgage loans with valuation reserves
Impaired Commercial Mortgage Loans And Valuation Reserves [Line Items]
Impaired Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment	(7,000,000)		(19,000,000)
Impaired Commercial Mortgage Loans Reserves [Member] | Impaired commercial mortgage loans with no valuation reserves
Impaired Commercial Mortgage Loans And Valuation Reserves [Line Items]
Impaired Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment	0		0
Impaired Commercial Mortgage Loans Net [Member] | Impaired commercial mortgage loans with valuation reserves
Impaired Commercial Mortgage Loans And Valuation Reserves [Line Items]
Impaired Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment	66,000,000		135,000,000
Impaired Commercial Mortgage Loans Net [Member] | Impaired commercial mortgage loans with no valuation reserves
Impaired Commercial Mortgage Loans And Valuation Reserves [Line Items]
Impaired Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment	60,000,000		60,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.30x Or Greater [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio Below 50 Percent Member [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	278,000,000		225,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.30x Or Greater [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 50 Percent to 59 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	703,000,000		444,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.30x Or Greater [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 60 Percent to 69 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	572,000,000		646,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.30x Or Greater [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 70 Percent to 79 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	194,000,000		117,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.30x Or Greater [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 80 Percent to 89 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	45,000,000		99,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.30x Or Greater [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 90 Percent to 99 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	14,000,000		36,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.30x Or Greater [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 100 Percent Or Above [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	0		0
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.20x To 1.29x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio Below 50 Percent Member [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	8,000,000		55,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.20x To 1.29x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 50 Percent to 59 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	105,000,000		47,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.20x To 1.29x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 60 Percent to 69 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	75,000,000		140,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.20x To 1.29x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 70 Percent to 79 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	155,000,000		132,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.20x To 1.29x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 80 Percent to 89 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	42,000,000		81,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.20x To 1.29x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 90 Percent to 99 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	30,000,000		35,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.20x To 1.29x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 100 Percent Or Above [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	0		10,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.10x To 1.19x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio Below 50 Percent Member [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	0		3,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.10x To 1.19x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 50 Percent to 59 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	25,000,000		26,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.10x To 1.19x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 60 Percent to 69 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	0		42,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.10x To 1.19x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 70 Percent to 79 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	133,000,000		120,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.10x To 1.19x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 80 Percent to 89 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	131,000,000		79,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.10x To 1.19x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 90 Percent to 99 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	0		30,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.10x To 1.19x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 100 Percent Or Above [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	30,000,000		50,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.00x To 1.09x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio Below 50 Percent Member [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	50,000,000		50,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.00x To 1.09x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 50 Percent to 59 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	52,000,000		0
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.00x To 1.09x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 60 Percent to 69 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	24,000,000		0
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.00x To 1.09x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 70 Percent to 79 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	46,000,000		159,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.00x To 1.09x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 80 Percent to 89 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	0		72,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.00x To 1.09x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 90 Percent to 99 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	0		58,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.00x To 1.09x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 100 Percent Or Above [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	36,000,000		51,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio Less Than 1.00x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio Below 50 Percent Member [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	0		9,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio Less Than 1.00x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 50 Percent to 59 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	0		53,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio Less Than 1.00x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 60 Percent to 69 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	0		77,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio Less Than 1.00x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 70 Percent to 79 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	16,000,000		33,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio Less Than 1.00x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 80 Percent to 89 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	58,000,000		71,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio Less Than 1.00x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 90 Percent to 99 Percent [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	58,000,000		116,000,000
Debt Service Coverage Ratio Less Than 1.00x [Member] | Loan To Value Ratio 100 Percent Or Above [Member]
Schedule Of Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan	66,000,000		135,000,000
Portion At Amortized Cost Disclosure [Member]
Gross Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Fixed Maturities By Type [Abstract]
Federal government and agency	513,000,000		552,000,000
State and local government	2,201,000,000		2,185,000,000
Foreign government	1,211,000,000		1,173,000,000
Corporate	10,643,000,000		9,460,000,000
Federal agency mortgage-backed	135,000,000		9,000,000
Other mortgage-backed	83,000,000		73,000,000
Other asset-backed	779,000,000		777,000,000
Total	15,565,000,000		14,229,000,000
One Year Or Less [Abstract]
Investment grade	348,000,000
Below investment grade	101,000,000
More Than One Year [Abstract]
Investment grade	231,000,000
Below investment grade	45,000,000
Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Gross Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Fixed Maturities By Type [Abstract]
Federal government and agency	917,000,000		958,000,000
State and local government	2,486,000,000		2,456,000,000
Foreign government	1,339,000,000		1,274,000,000
Corporate	11,981,000,000		10,485,000,000
Federal agency mortgage-backed	137,000,000		9,000,000
Other mortgage-backed	90,000,000		79,000,000
Other asset-backed	906,000,000		926,000,000
Total	17,856,000,000		16,187,000,000
One Year Or Less [Abstract]
Investment grade	342,000,000
Below investment grade	98,000,000
More Than One Year [Abstract]
Investment grade	219,000,000
Below investment grade	33,000,000
Unrealized Gain [Member]
Gross Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Fixed Maturities By Type [Abstract]
Federal government and agency	404,000,000		406,000,000
State and local government	286,000,000		274,000,000
Foreign government	130,000,000		103,000,000
Corporate	1,356,000,000		1,070,000,000
Federal agency mortgage-backed	2,000,000		0
Other mortgage-backed	12,000,000		10,000,000
Other asset-backed	134,000,000		160,000,000
Total	2,324,000,000		2,023,000,000
Unrealized Loss Or Write Down [Member]
Gross Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Fixed Maturities By Type [Abstract]
Federal government and agency	0		0
State and local government	(1,000,000)		(3,000,000)
Foreign government	(2,000,000)		(2,000,000)
Corporate	(18,000,000)		(45,000,000)
Federal agency mortgage-backed	0		0
Other mortgage-backed	(5,000,000)		(4,000,000)
Other asset-backed	(7,000,000)		(11,000,000)
Total	(33,000,000)		(65,000,000)
One Year Or Less [Abstract]
Investment grade	(6,000,000)
Below investment grade	(3,000,000)
More Than One Year [Abstract]
Investment grade	(12,000,000)
Below investment grade	$ (12,000,000)