Reinsurance (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Effects Of Reinsurance [Line Items]

Components of reinsurance recoverables

(In millions)
			March 31,		December 31,		Collateral and Other Terms
Line of Business		Reinsurer(s)	2018		2017		at March 31, 2018
Ongoing operations
	Global Health Care, Global Supplemental Benefits, Group Disability and Life, COLI	Various	$	446	$	454	Recoverables from approximately 85 reinsurers, used in the ordinary course of business. Current balances range from less than $1 million up to $76 million. Over 70% of the balance is from companies rated as investment grade by Standard & Poor's, and 12% is secured by assets in trusts or letters of credit.
	Total recoverables related to ongoing operations			446		454
Acquisition, disposition or runoff activities
	Individual Life and Annuity (sold in 1998)	Lincoln National Life and Lincoln Life & Annuity of New York		3,382		3,436	Both companies' ratings are sufficient to avoid triggering a contractual obligation to fully secure the outstanding balance.
	GMDB	Berkshire		915		928	100% secured by assets in a trust.
		Other		35		34	100% secured by assets in a trust or letters of credit.
	Retirement Benefits Business (sold in 2004)	Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity		832		850	100% secured by assets in a trust.
	Supplemental Benefits Business (2012 acquisition)	Great American Life		277		283	100% secured by assets in a trust.
	Other run-off reinsurance	Various		58		61	100% secured by assets in trusts.
	Total recoverables related to acquisition, disposition or runoff activities			5,499		5,592
Total reinsurance recoverables			$	5,945	$	6,046

Effects of Reinsurance

	Three Months Ended
(In millions)	March 31, 2018		March 31, 2017
Ceded premiums
Individual life insurance and annuity business sold	$	37	$	39
Other		98		81
Total ceded premiums	$	135	$	120
Reinsurance recoveries
Individual life insurance and annuity business sold	$	57	$	70
Other		47		29
Total reinsurance recoveries	$	104	$	99

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

Effects Of Reinsurance [Line Items]

Account value, net amount at risk, contractholder average age

(Dollars in millions, excludes impact of reinsurance ceded)	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Account value	$	9,762	$	10,109
Net amount at risk	$	2,120	$	2,112
Number of contractholders		240,000		245,000

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	2018		2017		at March 31, 2018
GMIB	Berkshire	$	337	$	359	100% secured by assets in a trust.
	Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada		199		221
	Liberty Re (Bermuda) Ltd.		181		197	100% secured by assets in a trust.
Total GMIB recoverables reported in other assets		$	717	$	777