INVESTMENTS (DERIVATIVES) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives	$ (458)	$ (555)	$ 706
Notional Amount	50,926	42,714
Asset Derivatives	13,585	12,055
Liability Derivatives	4,211	1,320
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	(1,497)	(316)
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	51	659
Futures
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Amount	5,086	7,089
Asset Derivatives	1	2
Liability Derivatives	1	3
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	(826)	(84)
Swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Amount	3,529	1,359
Asset Derivatives	13	8
Liability Derivatives	67	21
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	(290)	(45)
Options
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Amount	11,465	7,358
Asset Derivatives	2,114	1,042
Liability Derivatives	1,154	652
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	727	14
Floors
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Amount	1,500	1,800
Asset Derivatives	11	61
Liability Derivatives	0	0
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	4	12
Swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Proceeds from Derivative Instrument, Financing Activities	1,007
Notional Amount	18,933	13,718
Asset Derivatives	246	351
Liability Derivatives	1,163	108
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	(224)	(8)
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(154)
Futures
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Amount	6,926	8,685
Asset Derivatives	0	0
Liability Derivatives	0	0
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	0	(81)
Swaptions
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Amount	0	0
Asset Derivatives	0	0
Liability Derivatives	0	0
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	87	118
Credit default swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Amount	2,757	2,442
Asset Derivatives	20	16
Liability Derivatives	15	38
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	15	(14)
Foreign currency Contracts
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Amount	730	263
Asset Derivatives	52	5
Liability Derivatives	6	4
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	45	7
Margin
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Amount	0
Asset Derivatives	107
Liability Derivatives	6
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	0
Collateral Contracts
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Amount	0
Asset Derivatives	712
Liability Derivatives	748
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	0
Net investment income (loss)
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	(462)	(81)
GMIB reinsurance contracts
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Amount	0	0
Asset Derivatives	10,309	10,570
Liability Derivatives	0	0
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	(261)	(141)
GIB and GWBL and Other Features
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Amount	0	0
Asset Derivatives	0	0
Liability Derivatives	164	184
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	(20)	(56)
SCS, SIO, MSO and IUL indexed features liability
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Amount	0	0
Asset Derivatives	0	0
Liability Derivatives	887	310
Gains (Losses) Reported In Earnings (Loss)	(754)	(38)
U.S. Treasury, government and agency
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Available-for-Sale Securities, Amount Derecognized in Period	995
Available-for-Sale Securities, Fair Value of Amount Derecognized	888
Treasury Inflation Protected Securities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives	$ (97)	$ (4)

Available-for-Sale Securities, Amount Derecognized in Period

No definition available.

Name:	axaeq_AvailableforSaleSecuritiesAmountDerecognizedinPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	axaeq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Available-for-Sale Securities, Fair Value of Amount Derecognized

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axaeq_AvailableforSaleSecuritiesFairValueofAmountDerecognized
Namespace Prefix:	axaeq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of net gains and losses recognized in income during the period on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments in fair value hedges and related hedged items designated and qualifying in fair value hedges, on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges, and on derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, including guarentees and other features treated as derivatives backing insurance products.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axaeq_DerivativeInstumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeNet1
Namespace Prefix:	axaeq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 12
-Section 13
-Sentence Column B

+ Details

Name:	invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value, after offset of derivative liability, of financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset, before offset against an obligation to return collateral under a master netting arrangement. Includes assets elected not to be offset. Excludes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51825145&loc=SL20226008-175313

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 9
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51825145&loc=SL20226006-175313

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=d3e41678-113959

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value, after offset of derivative asset, of financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset, elected not to be and before offset against a right to receive collateral under a master netting arrangement. Includes liabilities elected not to be offset. Excludes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=d3e41678-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 9
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51825145&loc=SL20226006-175313

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51825145&loc=SL20226008-175313

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value of the assets less the liabilities of a derivative or group of derivatives.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73719730&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73719730&loc=d3e13495-108611

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativesFairValueLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow provided by derivative instruments during the period, which are classified as financing activities, excluding those designated as hedging instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 23
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3505-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromDerivativeInstrumentFinancingActivities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net change in the difference between the fair value and the carrying value, or in the comparative fair values, of derivative instruments, including options, swaps, futures, and forward contracts, held at each balance sheet date, that was included in earnings for the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnDerivatives
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=axaeq_EquityContractsFuturesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_EquitySwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_StockOptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateFloorMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=axaeq_InterestRateContractsFuturesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=axaeq_MarginMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=axaeq_CollateralContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=axaeq_GmibReinsuranceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=axaeq_GuaranteedIncomeBenefitGuaranteedWithdrawalBenefitAndOtherFeaturesLiabilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=axaeq_NonGmxbEmbeddedDerivativeInsuranceProductsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: