BUSINESS DIVESTITURES (Details) (Primerica, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011
Primerica
Noncash or Part Noncash Divestitures
Percentage of ownership sold to public investor through IPO	34.00%
Percentage of ownership sold to private equity firm	22.00%
Percentage of ownership contributed for employees and agent stock-based awards	4.00%
Percentage of ownership retained	40.00%
Percentage of reinsurance	90.00%
After-tax gain (loss) on the sale of business	$ 26	$ (11)

Represents the percentage of ownership contributed for employees and agent stock-based awards.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the percentage of reinsurance of the risk associated with the in-force insurance policies.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the percentage of ownership sold to public investor through IPO.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the percentage of ownership sold to private equity firm.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Other income (loss) amounts, net of tax expense or benefit, relating to a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity, exclusive of the following elsewhere enumerated categories: income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e957-107759

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

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- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 159

-Paragraph 18

-Subparagraph f

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 18

-Paragraph 20

-Subparagraph a (1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Details

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