Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts, Face Value Amount Threshold for Rate Increase

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Future gross mean rate of return on variable and interest-sensitive life insurance and variable annuities, including product weighted average Separate Account fees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axaeq_FutureRateOfReturnGrossMeanRate
Namespace Prefix:	axaeq_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The increase (decrease) in the fair value of the reinsurance contracts accounted for as derivative instruments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Increase (Decrease) in Fair Value of Policy Liability

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

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

- Definition

Amount of expense related to deferred policy acquisition costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(7)(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 30
-Section 35
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49177698&loc=d3e10157-158409

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 235
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-16(Column I))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574960-122915

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 235
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-18(Column I))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e575016-122915

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480726&loc=d3e6691-158385

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35755530&loc=d3e11264-158415

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of fees and commissions from financial services and banking activities and correspondent clearing. Includes fees from depositor accounts, credit cards, merchant discounts, and fiduciary and trust activities, guarantee fees, investment advisory, management, and administrative fees, transfer agent fees, and insurance commissions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations before deduction of income tax expense (benefit) and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, and addition of income (loss) from equity method investments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount, after effects of policies assumed or ceded, of expense related to the provision for policy benefits and costs incurred.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 4K
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65897068&loc=SL4591552-111686

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 19
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68079674&loc=SL4569616-111683

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64809438&loc=SL4573702-111684

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 4J
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65897068&loc=SL4591551-111686

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64809438&loc=SL4573702-111684

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis=axaeq_A2016AssumptionUpdatesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis=axaeq_IncreaseinCostofInsuranceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis=axaeq_LongtermLapsesPartialWithdrawalRatesandElectionAssumptionsUpdatesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteedInsuranceContractTypeOfBenefitAxis=us-gaap_GuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis=axaeq_UpdateRTMAssumptionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteedInsuranceContractTypeOfBenefitAxis=axaeq_VISLMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis=axaeq_LongTermLapseAssumptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis=axaeq_ImpactOfLumpSumPaymentOptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - ASSUMPTION UPDATES AND MODEL CHANGES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Policyholders’ benefits increase (decrease)		$ 907	$ 1,364	$ 975					$ 2,338	$ 3,246	$ 3,462	$ 2,771	$ 2,474
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, net increase (decrease)											846	646
Income (loss) from operations, before income taxes		20	2,034	(175)					1,857	1,876	2,255	622	1,038
Face value amount threshold for rate increase													1
Net income (loss)	$ 1,712	$ 121	$ 1,615	$ (54)	$ (1,144)	$ 175	$ 600	$ 1,075	$ 1,559	$ 1,679	3,394	706	1,060
Mean (RTM) assumption														7.00%	9.00%
Increase (decrease) in the fair value of the reinsurance contract asset											174	(268)	(141)
2016 Assumption Updates
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Policyholders’ benefits increase (decrease)											23	(135)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, net increase (decrease)											247	193
Fees and commissions											88	35
Income (loss) from operations, before income taxes											1,700	(23)
Net income (loss)											1,100	$ (15)
Increase in Cost of Insurance
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Income (loss) from operations, before income taxes													71
Net income (loss)													46
Long-term Lapses, Partial Withdrawal Rates and Election Assumptions Updates \| GMIB
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Policyholders’ benefits increase (decrease)													(864)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, net increase (decrease)													(32)
Income (loss) from operations, before income taxes													(636)
Net income (loss)													(413)
Increase (decrease) in the fair value of the reinsurance contract asset											1,500		(746)
Increase (decrease) in fair value of policy liability											$ (447)		786
Update RTM Assumptions
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Income (loss) from operations, before income taxes													(527)
Net income (loss)													$ (342)
Mean (RTM) assumption													7.00%		9.00%
Update RTM Assumptions \| GMIB
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Policyholders’ benefits increase (decrease)													$ 570
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, net increase (decrease)													(73)
Update RTM Assumptions \| Variable and Interest Sensitive Life
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Policyholders’ benefits increase (decrease)													29
Long Term Lapse Assumption \| GMIB
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Policyholders’ benefits increase (decrease)													53
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, net increase (decrease)													(12)
Income (loss) from operations, before income taxes													74
Net income (loss)													48
Increase (decrease) in the fair value of the reinsurance contract asset													216
Increase (decrease) in fair value of policy liability													101
Impact of Lump Sum Payment Option
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Income (loss) from operations, before income taxes													103
Net income (loss)													67
Impact of Lump Sum Payment Option \| GMIB
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Policyholders’ benefits increase (decrease)													(47)
Increase (decrease) in the fair value of the reinsurance contract asset													(263)
Increase (decrease) in fair value of policy liability													$ (320)