Segment Information (Earnings) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Revenues
Premiums	$ 114	$ 406	$ 265	$ 786
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	556	575	1,120	1,119
Net investment income	724	656	1,454	1,548
Other revenues	138	125	295	248
Net investment gains (losses)	16	71	82	75
Net derivative gains (losses)	(495)	582	(382)	143
Total revenues	1,053	2,415	2,834	3,919
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims	359	636	773	1,225
Interest credited to policyholder account balances	259	167	523	606
Capitalization of DAC	(133)	(217)	(287)	(494)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	4	416	30	454
Interest expense on debt	49	59	100	119
Other expenses	448	629	933	1,265
Total expenses	986	1,690	2,072	3,175
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	6	227	236	227
Net income (loss)	61	498	526	517
Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues
Premiums	114	406	265	786
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	524	541	1,054	1,057
Net investment income	739	760	1,472	1,468
Other revenues	138	125	295	248
Net investment gains (losses)	0	0	0	0
Net derivative gains (losses)	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	1,515	1,832	3,086	3,559
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims	337	588	700	1,136
Interest credited to policyholder account balances	260	276	526	561
Capitalization of DAC	(133)	(217)	(287)	(494)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	159	209	275	388
Interest expense on debt	17	17	34	34
Other expenses	448	620	933	1,261
Total expenses	1,088	1,493	2,181	2,886
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	132	93	284	193
Operating earnings	295	246	621	480
Operating Segments [Member] | Retail [Member]
Revenues
Premiums	74	118	148	300
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	516	528	1,037	1,028
Net investment income	415	384	815	758
Other revenues	136	123	292	245
Net investment gains (losses)	0	0	0	0
Net derivative gains (losses)	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	1,141	1,153	2,292	2,331
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims	165	170	311	403
Interest credited to policyholder account balances	227	235	456	475
Capitalization of DAC	(128)	(204)	(276)	(457)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	158	207	272	377
Interest expense on debt	0	0	0	0
Other expenses	432	585	898	1,160
Total expenses	854	993	1,661	1,958
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	100	57	220	131
Operating earnings	187	103	411	242
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate Benefit Funding [Member]
Revenues
Premiums	29	236	97	353
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	8	7	17	15
Net investment income	293	317	589	600
Other revenues	2	2	3	3
Net investment gains (losses)	0	0	0	0
Net derivative gains (losses)	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	332	562	706	971
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims	164	369	372	606
Interest credited to policyholder account balances	33	41	70	86
Capitalization of DAC	0	0	(2)	(3)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	1	1	3	8
Interest expense on debt	0	0	0	0
Other expenses	6	9	18	19
Total expenses	204	420	461	716
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	45	50	86	89
Operating earnings	83	92	159	166
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate & Other [Member]
Revenues
Premiums	11	52	20	133
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	0	6	0	14
Net investment income	31	59	68	110
Other revenues	0	0	0	0
Net investment gains (losses)	0	0	0	0
Net derivative gains (losses)	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	42	117	88	257
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims	8	49	17	127
Interest credited to policyholder account balances	0	0	0	0
Capitalization of DAC	(5)	(13)	(9)	(34)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	0	1	0	3
Interest expense on debt	17	17	34	34
Other expenses	10	26	17	82
Total expenses	30	80	59	212
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(13)	(14)	(22)	(27)
Operating earnings	25	51	51	72
Significant Reconciling Items [Member]
Revenues
Premiums	0	0	0	0
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	32	34	66	62
Net investment income	(15)	(104)	(18)	80
Other revenues	0	0	0	0
Net investment gains (losses)	16	71	82	75
Net derivative gains (losses)	(495)	582	(382)	143
Total revenues	(462)	583	(252)	360
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims	22	48	73	89
Interest credited to policyholder account balances	(1)	(109)	(3)	45
Capitalization of DAC	0	0	0	0
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	(155)	207	(245)	66
Interest expense on debt	32	42	66	85
Other expenses	0	9	0	4
Total expenses	(102)	197	(109)	289
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	$ (126)	$ 134	$ (48)	$ 34