Reinsurance (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Effects Of Reinsurance [Line Items]

Components of reinsurance recoverables

(In millions)
			March 31,		December 31,		Collateral and Other Terms
Line of Business		Reinsurer(s)	2017		2016		at March 31, 2017
Ongoing operations:
	Global Health Care, Global Supplemental Benefits, Group Disability and Life	Various	$	478	$	478	Recoverables from approximately 80 reinsurers including the U.S. Government, used in the ordinary course of business. Current balances range from less than $1 million up to $93 million. Excluding the recoverable from the U.S. Government of $39 million, over 60% of the balance is from companies rated investment grade by Standard & Poor's, and 13% is secured by assets in trusts or letters of credit.
	Total recoverables related to ongoing operations			478		478
Acquisition, disposition or runoff activities:
	Individual Life and Annuity (sold in 1998)	Lincoln National Life and Lincoln Life & Annuity of New York		3,551		3,586	Both companies' ratings are sufficient to avoid triggering a contractual obligation to fully secure the outstanding balance.
	GMDB	Berkshire		1,052		1,085	100% secured by assets in a trust.
		Other		42		44	100% secured by assets in a trust or letters of credit.
	Retirement Benefits Business (sold in 2004)	Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity		904		921	100% secured by assets in a trust.
	Supplemental Benefits Business (2012 acquisition)	Great American Life		293		297	100% secured by assets in a trust.
	Other run-off reinsurance	Various		66		67	100% secured by assets in trusts.
	Total recoverables related to acquisition, disposition or runoff activities			5,908		6,000
Total reinsurance recoverables			$	6,386	$	6,478

Effects of Reinsurance

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(In millions)	2017		2016
Ceded premiums:
Individual life insurance and annuity business sold	$	39	$	41
Other		81		95
Total ceded premiums	$	120	$	136
Reinsurance recoveries:
Individual life insurance and annuity business sold	$	70	$	68
Other		29		96
Total reinsurance recoveries	$	99	$	164

Variable Annuity [Member] | Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member]

Effects Of Reinsurance [Line Items]

Future policy benefits for GMDB business

	For the period ended
	March 31,		December 31,
(In millions)	2017		2016
Balance at January 1	$	1,224	$	1,252
Add: Unpaid claims		16		18
Less: Reinsurance and other amounts recoverable		1,129		1,164
Balance at January 1, net		111		106
Add: Incurred benefits		-		4
Less: Paid benefits (recoveries)		(1)		(1)
Ending balance, net		112		111
Less: Unpaid claims		18		16
Add: Reinsurance and other amounts recoverable		1,094		1,129
Ending balance	$	1,188	$	1,224

Account value, net amount at risk, contractholder average age

(Dollars in millions, excludes impact of reinsurance ceded)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Account value	$	10,755	$	10,650
Net amount at risk	$	2,335	$	2,458
Number of contractholders		280,000		285,000

Variable Annuity [Member] | Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit [Member]

Effects Of Reinsurance [Line Items]

Components of reinsurance recoverables

(In millions)
		March 31,		December 31,		Collateral and Other Terms
Line of Business	Reinsurer(s)	2017		2016		at March 31, 2017
GMIB	Berkshire	$	360	$	370	100% secured by assets in a trust.
	Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada		220		227
	Liberty Re (Bermuda) Ltd.		197		202	100% secured by assets in a trust.
Total GMIB recoverables reported in other assets		$	777	$	799