Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 554	$ 401
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities	13,497	12,047
Sales, maturities and repayments of equity securities	148	114
Sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	793	611
Sales, maturities and repayments of real estate and real estate joint ventures	22	18
Sales, maturities and repayments of other limited partnership interests	194	68
Purchases of fixed maturity securities	(13,970)	(13,399)
Purchases of equity securities	(7)	(39)
Purchases of mortgage loans	(844)	(979)
Purchases of real estate and real estate joint ventures	(66)	(77)
Purchases of other limited partnership interests	(264)	(257)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	376	76
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(371)	(146)
Net change in policy loans	(3)	(1)
Net change in short-term investments	(1,769)	312
Net change in other invested assets	(542)	(60)
Other, net	1	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,805)	(1,712)
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances: Deposits	15,211	20,528
Policyholder account balances: Withdrawals	(13,982)	(19,239)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	363	915
Long-term debt repaid	(342)	(439)
Return of capital	(47)	0
Financing element on certain derivative instruments	81	(19)
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,284	1,746
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	3	(12)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(964)	423
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,928	2,574
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	964	2,997
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Net cash paid during the period for interest	329	348
Net cash paid during the period for income tax	$ 21	$ 89