SCHEDULE I - CONSOLIDATED SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	$ 111,191
Carrying Value	113,479
Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	91,219	[1]
Fair Value	92,787	[1]
Carrying Value	92,787	[1]
Equity Securities [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	116
Fair Value	99
Carrying Value	99
Other Liabilities [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Derivative Liabilities	226
U.S. Government Bonds [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member] | Bonds [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	361	[1]
Fair Value	386	[1]
Carrying Value	386	[1]
Foreign Government Bonds [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member] | Bonds [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	402	[1]
Fair Value	444	[1]
Carrying Value	444	[1]
State And Municipal Bonds [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member] | Bonds [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	4,498	[1]
Fair Value	5,184	[1]
Carrying Value	5,184	[1]
Public utilities [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member] | Bonds [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	12,850	[1]
Fair Value	13,311	[1]
Carrying Value	13,311	[1]
All other corporate bonds [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member] | Bonds [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	65,987	[1]
Fair Value	66,238	[1]
Carrying Value	66,238	[1]
Mortgage-Backed And Asset-Backed Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	6,553	[1]
Fair Value	6,645	[1]
Carrying Value	6,645	[1]
Hybrid And Redeemable Preferred Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	568	[1]
Fair Value	579	[1]
Carrying Value	579	[1]
Banks, trusts, and insurance companies [Member] | Equity Securities [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	36
Fair Value	25
Carrying Value	25
Industrial, miscellaneous and all other [Member] | Equity Securities [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	59
Fair Value	54
Carrying Value	54
Nonredeemable preferred securities [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	21
Fair Value	20
Carrying Value	20
Trading Securities [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	1,748
Fair Value	1,869
Carrying Value	1,869
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	13,190
Fair Value	13,020
Carrying Value	13,190
Real Estate [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	11
Carrying Value	11
Policy loans [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	2,491
Carrying Value	2,491
Derivative Investments [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	465	[2]
Fair Value	1,081	[2]
Carrying Value	1,081	[2]
Other Investments [Member]
Summary of investments, other than investments in related parties [Line Items]
Cost	1,951
Fair Value	1,951
Carrying Value	$ 1,951

[1] Investments deemed to have declines in value that are other-than-temporary are written down or reserved for to reduce the carrying value to their estimated realizable value.

[2] Derivative investment assets were offset by $226 million in derivative liabilities reflected in other liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.