After-tax expense associated with strenghtening reserves for the Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit business.

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- Details

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- Definition

Total death benefit coverage in force for the Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit business.

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- Definition

Value of the underlying mutual fund investments for the Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits business.

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The known and estimated current and future amount recoverable as of the balance sheet date from reinsurers and other third parties for Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit (GMDB) claims paid or incurred by the ceding insurer and associated GMDB claims settlement expenses, including estimated amounts for GMDB claims incurred but not reported, and future policy benefits, net of any related valuation allowance.

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Total number of underlying contractholders for the Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit business.

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The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit insured events that have occurred on or before a particular date (ordinarily, the balance sheet date) whether or not reported to the insurer at that date

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- Definition

Benefits paid on reinsured Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit contracts, net of ceded reinsurance

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Total liability for future policy benefit and claim reserves for the Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit business net of reinsurance and other amounts recoverable.

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Total liability for future policy benefit reserves for the Reinsured Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit business.

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Mean investment performance assumption for equity funds not subject to the growth interest rate hedge program

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The income statement impact of changes in Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit reserves (benefits expense)

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- Definition

Pre-tax expense associated with strenghtening reserves for the Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit business.

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Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Contracts (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits Reserve Table Details [Abstract]
Balance at January 1			$ 1,277,000,000	$ 1,138,000,000	$ 1,285,000,000
Add: Unpaid Claims			40,000,000	37,000,000	36,000,000
Less: Reinsurance and other amounts recoverable			58,000,000	51,000,000	53,000,000
Balance at January 1, net			1,259,000,000	1,124,000,000	1,268,000,000
Add: Incurred benefits	213,000,000		213,000,000	(20,000,000)
Less: Paid benefits	78,000,000		78,000,000	124,000,000
Ending balance, net			1,259,000,000	1,124,000,000	1,268,000,000
Less: Unpaid Claims			40,000,000	37,000,000	36,000,000
Add: Reinsurance and other amounts recoverable			58,000,000	51,000,000	53,000,000
Ending balance			1,277,000,000	1,138,000,000	1,285,000,000
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Reserving Assumptions [Abstract]
Mean Investment Performance Assumption Equity Funds	4.75%		4.75%	5.00%
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Contracts Text Details [Abstract]
GMDB future policy benefit reserves			1,277,000,000	1,138,000,000	1,285,000,000
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Mutual Fund Investment Balance			13,300,000,000	16,600,000,000
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Death Benefit Coverage In Force			6,200,000,000	5,200,000,000
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits Total Contractholders			495,000	530,000
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Reserve Strengthening Abstract [Line Items]
Pre Tax Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Reserve Strengthening	70,000,000	52,000,000
After Tax Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Reserve Strengthening	45,000,000	34,000,000
Volatility-related impacts due to equity market conditions
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Reserve Strengthening Abstract [Line Items]
Pre Tax Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Reserve Strengthening	34,000,000
After Tax Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Reserve Strengthening	22,000,000
Interest rate impacts
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Reserve Strengthening Abstract [Line Items]
Pre Tax Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Reserve Strengthening	23,000,000
After Tax Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Reserve Strengthening	15,000,000
Impacts of overall market declines
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Reserve Strengthening Abstract [Line Items]
Pre Tax Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Reserve Strengthening	13,000,000
After Tax Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Reserve Strengthening	$ 8,000,000